All for the Best: The Secret to Happiness

This book teaches such a great lesson about always looking for the best in situations, even bad ones.

All For The Best!: The Secret To Happiness is a picture book by Hans Wilhelm which is based upon a traditional Eastern folkstory. An old weaver stoically says that "It's all for the best" when one disaster after another befalls him - even when his grandson breaks his leg. Yet when the king's soldiers draft all able-bodied men in the town for war, his grandson is spared and the hidden bright side to seeming misfortune is revealed. A thoughtful tale and an important reminder to keep an upbeat outlook on life, All For The Best! would make an enduringly popular addition to any school and community library collection.

I am a Psychotherapist and work with adults, families and children. A large part of my practice is working with parents on parenting skills and helping parents encourage children to follow values that lead to happiness and fulfillment. I recently came across Hans Wilhelm's new book, All For the Best: The Secret to Happiness. This book teaches children to accept things "as the best" without reacting emotionally to what goes on and to maintain balance and stay focused on what they are doing -- primary values to happiness. The whimsical illustrations awaken the senses and highten the enjoyment. It's an excellent book to promote conversation with children on how to accept what comes, maintain balance and remain focused with the end result of happiness. As a therapist and grandparent, I recommend this book to any parent or grandparent to share with their children and grandchildren a message on how to be happy.

A really important message for children (and also for the rest of us), is not to get caught up in the fear or fuss in the minds of others but to keep our own balance, understanding that there is a perfection that exists behind appearances. This little book conveys that idea, as no other book for children does, to my knowledge. And this is particularly important today when fear has gotten so far out of control. I am planning to give copies of this book to the children in my family and in the families of my friends. Beautifully illustrated, simply told, the story will help them to establish a sense of tranquility and faith in the face of what appears to be terror and trauma.