I MISS YOUR SUNNY SMILE

An ode to a child’s love for their teddy bear.

When the day starts out dreary, a caregiver and child go on a hunt throughout the house to find the little one’s smile. In rhyming stanzas, the pair looks under the sofa, in the cookie jar, and while blowing bubbles, but it’s not until they uncover the teddy bear that the child’s smile returns. Adamson’s text has a gentle bounce, like a familiar lullaby, the text addressing the child directly as “you.” Zimanski’s illustrations bring the story to life. There are lovely details that add nuance, like the opening page’s rainy window, which contrasts with the final illustration of an inviting playground and brilliant sunshine, a visual echo of the child’s despondence at the book’s start and joy at the end. Adults will relate to the feeling of eagerly trying to cheer up their little ones, while children will no doubt connect with the love of a most precious stuffed animal or toy. Both the adult and child are White, and no gendered pronouns appear in the text save for the teddy bear, denoted as he. This story has a simple, contained arc making it the right fit for its intended audience.

A sweet childhood experience captured in an age-appropriate way.