Taking a Bath with the Dog and Other Things That Make Me Happy

This is a lighthearted, irreverent tale about happiness and what it means to different people. This is one of my favorites to read to my niece (hers too!) I didnt know the author befoe I got this, but its a nice debut work..

In Taking a Bath with the Dog and Other Things that Make Me Happy a little girl named Sweet Pea tries to get her smile back by finding out what makes other people happy. The drawings are simple but confident and charming and the story makes it easy for very small children to relate to empathize with Sweet Pea's sadness and rejoice in her ultimate discovery of what makes her happy (hint: the title reveals one favorite happy-making activity) Definitely a keeper for anyone with young children.

Taking a Bath with the Dog and Other Things that Make Me Happy is a lighthearted picturebook for beginning readers. A little girl, Sweet Pea, is feeling sad, so one by one she asks everyone and everything the question: "What makes you happy?" A rabbit on an exercise wheel answers, "Running around." A bat answers, "Sleeping upside down". A man examining the rings on a tree stump answers, "Counting." At last Sweet Pea figures out that a whole range of activities make her happy - from blowing bubbles to drinking tea with Grandma. "Mom, you're smiling. You must be happy too!" The iconic pictures effectively illustrate each activity mentioned, making Taking a Bath with the Dog easier to comprehend for novice readers sounding out their very first words.