Synopsis
Birdy starts every day by smiling at herself in the mirror. She says you can smile while doing just about anything—brushing your teeth, taking out the garbage, or eating broccoli. Okay, maybe not while eating broccoli. Even people with bad teeth (like our first president, George Washington) should show their toothy grins because there’s no such thing as a bad smile. So heed Birdy’s advice and practice your smile—you’ll need it while reading this book!
Publishers Weekly
In this cheerful advice manual, a redheaded optimist explains her philosophy. "I think the first person you see each day should look happy to see you," says Birdy, waving at herself in her bedroom mirror. She muses on the expression "say, ‘cheese!' " and when she attempts to let a smile be her umbrella, she gets drenched ("So I made up a new saying--‘Let an umbrella be your umbrella' "). Yet Birdy is no Pollyanna. She lists things one can try while smiling, such as "climb a tree" and "stand on your head," and when someone adds "eat broccoli" to her list, she chides the unseen contributor. And while Birdy enjoys being silly, she is not sugar-sweet: "My smile knows when to leave me alone... and when to come back." Keller's (Do Unto Otters) goofy, buoyant cartoons, underscored with curlicue display type, set an upbeat tone that's in keeping with Birdy's attitude. A flexible mirror embedded on the closing page, "so you can practice your smiling, too," gives instant confirmation of whether Birdy's advice has hit its mark. Ages 5–8. (Oct.)