Grow Happy
ISBN: 978-1-4338-2331-2My name is Kiko. I'm a gardener. I grow happy. Let me show you how.
Kiko shows the reader how she grows happiness: by making good choices, taking care of her body and mind, paying attention to her feelings, problem solving, and spending time with family and friends.
Kids will learn that they can play a pivotal role in creating their own happiness, just like Kiko.
A Note to Parents and Other Caregivers provides more strategies for helping children learn how to grow happiness.
Sage Foster-Lasser is an undergraduate student at the University of Texas at Austin, where she studies psychology and American studies. Grow Grateful is a follow-up to Grow Happy, her first children's book which she also coauthored with Jon Lasser.
Jon Lasser, PhD, is a psychologist, school psychologist, and Regents' Professor at Texas State University. His children's books include Grow Happy, Grow Grateful, Grow Kind, and What Boys Do. Follow him on Instagram.opens in new window
Christopher Lyles has illustrated numerous books for children, including When You Look Out the Window, Grow Happy and Grow Grateful. Inspired by vintage graphics and antique surfaces, he uses collage and mixed media applications to create his art. He lives in Simsbury, CT. Visit his websiteopens in new window and follow him on Instagramopens in new window.
Children are learning very early that the world is a tough place in which to grow up. Giving kids the tools to get it done will be a tremendous boost. And these three books contribute to that effort in a delightful way.
—Children’s Books Heal
All readers could learn from Grow Happy, but like gardening it's much more fun when you read it together.
—Plant Talk
This book should lead to many good discussions around well being and each person's ability to cultivate their own contentment.
—School Library Connection
I love that this book teaches kids that they have the power to make themselves happy.
—Mom's Radius
Wonderfully entertaining from beginning to end and with an invaluable life affirming message, Grow Happy is unreservedly and enthusiastically recommended for family, preschool, elementary school, and community library picture book collections.
—Midwest Book Review
A charming and to-the-point book for addressing mindfulness with young children, perfect for classrooms and libraries.
—School Library Journal
Creating and caring for a garden serves as an apt metaphor for self-care in this sensitive story from the father-daughter team of Lasser and Foster-Lasser…Crinkly, textured papers bring pleasing warmth to Lyles's mixed-media collages, creating an atmosphere of positivity to match the girl's confident attitude.
—Publishers Weekly
In Grow Happy, the authors help children to think metaphorically about growing happiness in a variety of strategic ways. This is a fun and meaningful way for children to learn more about cultivating happiness. This is crucial because so many children do not realize that their happiness is not dependent upon luck and circumstances. Parents will enjoy reading this book with their children and teachers can use it as a way of promoting wellbeing during literacy time.
—John Mark Froiland, PhD, NCSP (a.k.a., Dr. Happiness on Twitter @DrJohnMFroiland)
Research Director of Pearson Clinical Assessment; Associate Editor of School Psychology International; Positive Psychology Author
Grow Happy, by father and daughter team Dr. Jon Lasser and Sage Foster-Lasser, is a joyous, creative, loving, and beautifully illustrated story about a child, Kiko, who is growing a bountiful garden and, at the same time, developing a healthy, positive, happy self. Kiko shares how she makes good choices, takes care of her body and mind, and practices self-acceptance. Kiko experiences her feelings and finds solutions to her challenges through her own thoughtful actions and help and care from others. The illustrations by Chris Lyles bring the story alive — Kiko is a very appealing and fun character. The book will be a cherished read for children and their parents/caregivers and will be appreciated by teachers, counselors, and psychologists. I highly recommend this book and will definitely include it in my own library.
—Deborah J. Tharinger, PhD
Psychologist; Professor Emeritus, University of Texas at Austin
We teach our kids to read, do math, become productive. But what about how to be happy? Isn't that what we want most for them? If I'd had this book when my daughter was little I would have read it to her every day.
—Colin Beavan
Author of How To Be Alive: A Guide to the Kind of Happiness That Helps the World
This is a delightful book. Comparing the growth of children to the growth of plants is so clever and so right. I think all children will love this book as much as I did.
—Violet Oaklander, PhD
Author of Windows To Our Children
This book is part of the "Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) Social Emotional Learning Collectionopens in new window"
Books in this collection are accompanied by FREE resources, including puzzles and word games, designed to enhance both literacy skills and socioemotional engagement of young readers.
Visit the RIF Grow Happy pageopens in new window for these resources.
