SMILE A LOT!

In another of her unself-consciously oddball joys, Carlson (How About a Hug?, 2001, etc.) suggests that when life sends a downbeat in your direction you should put on a smile. Simply lifting the corners of your mouth is “easier than complaining,” notes the frog narrator of this upbeat undertaking. In a text that is a model of easy communication, the frog notes that a smile can win friends, confound bullies, and soften the hard times. A little ingenuity never hurt, either, as when you get oatmeal with prunes for breakfast: Smile, ask Mom if you can help her make chocolate chip pancakes tomorrow, and then feed the oatmeal and prunes to your baby sister when Mom is busy elsewhere. In artwork that is all elbows and charm and a bellyful of color, Carlson makes an undeniable case for grins over grumps. And if the frog’s smile looks a little strained at times, understand that taking the high road requires some effort, but it sure is worth it. Carlson knows how to make dry humor work for three-year-olds. Try that neat trick some time. It makes smiling down the bullies seem like child’s play. (Picture book. 3-8)