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Because Amelia Smiled Hardcover – Picture Book, September 11, 2012

4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 141 ratings

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Just try not to smile! A positively inspiring picture book from the creator of the Caldecott Honor–winning Interrupting Chicken.

Because Amelia smiles as she skips down the street, her neighbor Mrs. Higgins smiles too, and decides to send a care package of cookies to her grandson Lionel in Mexico. The cookies give Lionel an idea, and his idea inspires a student, who in turn inspires a ballet troupe in England! And so the good feelings that started with Amelia’s smile make their way around the world, from a goodwill recital in Israel, to an impromptu rumba concert in Paris, to a long-awaited marriage proposal in Italy, to a knitted scarf for a beloved niece back in New York. Putting a unique spin on "what goes around comes around," David Ezra Stein’s charmingly illustrated story reminds us that adding even a small dose of kindness into the world is sure to spur more and more kindness, which could eventually make its way back to you!
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Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Young Amelia grins as she and her parents splash through a city street. “And because Amelia smiled,” well, Mrs. Higgins, looking out her window, smiles, too. Happy, she sends cookies to her grandson teaching in Mexico, who shares them with his class. One of his students decides to teach dancing in the park, a video of it goes online, and a ballet club in England sees it and adds some new moves. They tour in Israel and . . . lots more happens after that until Amelia’s smile comes full circle. Stein, who won a Caldecott Honor for Interrupting Chicken (2010), uses a quite different style here. Realistic, heavily colored, and intensely detailed, the illustrations invite children to look closely and see the way people across the globe are connected: the smiles, the pets, the music. Certainly, there’s a lot to discuss here, and some adults may want kids to make connections with their own actions, but this is also just a lovely way to look at life. Preschool-Grade 1. --Ilene Cooper

Review

David Ezra Stein’s crayon art is playful and vivid.
—The New York Times

A playfully profound picture book that does its part in passing on good feelings.
—Kirkus Reviews

Realistic, heavily colored, and intensely detailed, the illustrations invite children to look closely and see the way people across the globe are connected: the smiles, the pets, the music. Certainly there’s a lot to discuss here, and some adults may want kids to make connections with their own actions, but this is also just a lovely way to look at life.
—Booklist

A series of kindly acts comes full circle in this heartwarming, yet never saccharine story from Stein. . . . Stein’s spreads are dense with colored pencil and crayon lines and crammed with visual information. . . . Night and day, light and shadow, groups of old and young people spending time together: it’s a satisfying portrait of the feast of life. Even youngest children will grasp the idea that good deeds and positivity beget more of the same.
—Publishers Weekly

Dynamic blends of crayon and watercolor create an impressionistic scene that still conveys eye-catching detail. The visual elements will capture readers’ attention, and the story offers valuable opportunities for discussion of how one person’s actions can influence events far beyond their own surroundings.
—School Library Journal

Salutary good humor and a series of related events are both reliable picture book patterns; their up-to-date transmission here, however, is particularly effective, as are Stein’s cheerfully energetic illustrations in pencil, water-soluble crayon, and watercolor. His main characters are scruffy and fascinatingly individual, his settings are exuberant with color and light, and both are sure to elicit smiles in any kind of weather.
—The Horn Book

Will nicely suit parents who hope to impart the value of pay-it-forward kindness to their children.
—Wall Street Journal

Teems with cheer and vigor, the illustrations bursting to the sides of each spread and rushing with color all around.
—Kirkus Reviews Children's blog

This book made me smile, it even made me get all misty-eyed from happiness, it darn well made me glad to be alive, and it made me want to stand on the corner and hand a copy to everyone I see.
—Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Candlewick; Illustrated edition (September 11, 2012)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 40 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0763641693
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0763641696
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 3 - 7 years
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ AD820L
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ Preschool - 2
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.15 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 10.15 x 0.41 x 10.92 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 141 ratings

About the author

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David Ezra Stein
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David Ezra Stein is the Caldecott-Honor illustrator and author of INTERRUPTING CHICKEN, DINOSAUR KISSES, I'M MY OWN DOG, and many other award-winning picture books, including LEAVES, winner of an Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Award. He lives in Kew Gardens, New York.

Learn more at davidezrastein.com

Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
141 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the story engaging and well-written. They appreciate the positive message and important lesson it teaches. The book is described as cute and visually appealing.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

15 customers mention "Story quality"15 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the story quality. They find it uplifting, cute, and well-written. The story has an amazing message that is amazing for all ages. It's a simple story about karma, a favorite topic for their four-year-old grand daughter.

"...Great story line, and she loves the fact that her name is in it. Great book for kids with a positive message." Read more

"My daughter's name is Amelia, and she adores this book. It is a cute story about simple nice acts that continue to pay it forward without Amelia..." Read more

"...You'll be surprised with this technique using label paper. A wonderful-wonderful story." Read more

"This is my current favorite children's book. It whisks you around the world. All kinds of people. All ages. It's lovely...." Read more

10 customers mention "Message"10 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's message. They find it positive, mentioning that small acts can have an impact on others. The book teaches a great lesson in a fun context, and is thought-provoking. Readers mention the message is universal and important right now.

"I loved that this story showed the power of your smile. Very thought provoking." Read more

"...Great book for kids with a positive message." Read more

"...The book teaches a great lesson, all in a really fun context." Read more

"...The message is universal and so important right now. Amelia's one small action has an impact all around the world and eventually comes back to her." Read more

9 customers mention "Visual quality"9 positive0 negative

Customers like the visual quality of the book. They say it's a beautiful picture book and cute.

"...It is a stunningly beautiful book and teaches how an act of kindness can spread far and wide. Such a beautiful book that’s destined to be a classic." Read more

"Cute book, bought for my niece of the same name." Read more

"...It whisks you around the world. All kinds of people. All ages. It's lovely...." Read more

"This book is so cute Amelia is my nieces name and we bought it for her first birthday I think it has an amazing message in the story" Read more

Just opened & came ripped
5 out of 5 stars
Just opened & came ripped
I just opened this book before we left the house, for the car ride today. As I opened the book to read it aloud to my daughter Amelia, right on page 2, there is a rip. Not sure if this is a used book or not. Not happy about this. We have an EXTENSIVE children’s library & take amazing care of our books. Very disappointed the book got sold like this.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on September 20, 2024
    I loved that this story showed the power of your smile. Very thought provoking.
  • Reviewed in the United States on September 8, 2024
    I just opened this book before we left the house, for the car ride today. As I opened the book to read it aloud to my daughter Amelia, right on page 2, there is a rip. Not sure if this is a used book or not. Not happy about this. We have an EXTENSIVE children’s library & take amazing care of our books. Very disappointed the book got sold like this.
    Customer image
    5.0 out of 5 stars Just opened & came ripped
    Reviewed in the United States on September 8, 2024
    I just opened this book before we left the house, for the car ride today. As I opened the book to read it aloud to my daughter Amelia, right on page 2, there is a rip. Not sure if this is a used book or not. Not happy about this. We have an EXTENSIVE children’s library & take amazing care of our books. Very disappointed the book got sold like this.
    Images in this review
    Customer image
    Customer image
  • Reviewed in the United States on March 13, 2018
    Bought this for my daughter, whose name is Amelia, and she LOVES it. Great story line, and she loves the fact that her name is in it. Great book for kids with a positive message.
    2 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on January 10, 2016
    My daughter's name is Amelia, and she adores this book. It is a cute story about simple nice acts that continue to pay it forward without Amelia even knowing. The book teaches a great lesson, all in a really fun context.
    5 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on September 17, 2018
    My little Amelia is always spreading joy and kindness and when I saw this book I knew I had to add it to our family library. It is a stunningly beautiful book and teaches how an act of kindness can spread far and wide. Such a beautiful book that’s destined to be a classic.
    2 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on February 27, 2017
    This book should be given to every adult and child you know. The message is universal and so important right now. Amelia's one small action has an impact all around the world and eventually comes back to her.
    4 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on February 9, 2020
    Cute book, bought for my niece of the same name.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on January 11, 2013
    The story is spirited, well because Amelia is. Stein does an amazing job bringing Amelia's character and all those she affects around the world to life. Visit his web to see a tutorial on how he added some color details to the illustrations. You'll be surprised with this technique using label paper. A wonderful-wonderful story.

Top reviews from other countries

  • Shannon Harvey
    5.0 out of 5 stars Lovely Book
    Reviewed in Canada on January 6, 2015
    Love this book! Beautiful artwork, and a very positive story about how one person smiling at another can cause a chain reaction of kindness.