You Make Me Smile is a picture
book that details a day which begins normally then transforms into a special
tale of friendship. An unknown narrator begins the tale with a child waking up
on a cold winter day. He assumes it will be boring, but is given a promise that
it will soon become special. As the day progresses, the snow begins to fall
until it completely covers the ground. The child goes outside to play and then
creates a new friend and the narrator, a snowman. The child gives the snowman
his smile (hence the title) and they share a picture together. In the end, the snowman
talks of the transience of winter and not knowing what weather tomorrow will
bring and if he will be able to stay. But he assures the child that if he is
patient they can “share a snowy smile again someday.”
While this book was short and to
the point I thought it shared a very special meaning and I could see young
readers connecting to the text. I think that aside from the obvious meaning of
the text it can be used to describe several similar situations (i.e. death, or
a parent who is traveling). The text is accessible for young readers because
there are beautifully illustrated pictures that accompany descriptive yet
decodable words.
I would recommend this book to a
kindergarten teacher as a read aloud story or to a learning reader to increase
their confidence and passion for reading.
April McCoy, BGSU Student
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