Have you had a bad day? A bad week? It may not help to know that October is Positive Attitude Month, "dedicated to establishing, boosting or forcing ourselves to adopt positive attitudes". Sounds like fun, doesn't it?
We are rather more cheered to find that Oct. 2 was World Smile Day and that the now-famous smiley face was developed as its symbol.
Few things are more likely to bring a smile to your face than a charming children's book. Take a look at The Smiley Book of Colours by Ruth Kaiser, where happy faces are to be found in everyday objects such as mailboxes and bowls of macaroni and cheese. Emma Chichester Clark brings up the happy quotient when Melrose and Croc Find a Smile.
Kent Redeker's Don't Squish the Sasquatch doesn't show the usual pigs and ducks, but an array of funny and fantastic monsters like Miss Elephant-Shark and Mr. Octo-Rhino.
Fitting for the start of the school year is this school-supplies spoof on a traditional tale, The Little Red Pen by Janet Stevens.
Take a look at the CD collection, too, for some car tunes or something to listen to while everyone is getting ready for dinner.
One great choice to entertain kids and adults is the Barenaked Ladies' children's album Snack Time!
Smile, everybody!
