We all have grumpy days, when we just aren't in the mood to smile or be
smiled at. I've certainly had my share of them. In Sam McBratney's I Love It When You Smile,
delightfully illustrated by Charles Fuge, Roo, a grayish young
kangaroo, is determined to be miserable despite the vibrant terrain, the
gorgeous weather and the best attempts of his mother to snap him out of
it.
The text, which is rendered in a playful font, varies
from one sentence to several per page, with words that slant and swirl
to creatively align with the action on the page. Each of the full-color
illustrations spans two pages. For a fun twist, some of those pictures
are aligned vertically rather than horizontally, so readers have to turn
the book now and then in order to read through it.
Fuge's
illustrations are adorable, full of bright colors - especially green,
with the lush grass and leaves - and expressive animal faces. While
McBratney only mentions two specific characters, Roo and his mom, Fuge
includes a trio of friends who trail Roo throughout the day. There's a
white duck with tear-drop eyes and an orange beak and legs, a tiny bee
that buzzes around Roo's ears, and an earnest, whiskery brown mouse. Roo
and his mother look much the same, with gangly limbs, broad noses,
swiveling ears and rich brown eyes. Mom is usually smiling, though,
while Roo mostly looks grouchy, glum or confused.
Roo's mother
is a very patient soul, and this comes across well in both text and
illustrations. She tries her best to entertain her son, grinning in an
effort to coax a smile out of him, showering him with leaves, tossing
him in the air, leading him to their favorite hollowed-out tree,
anything she can think of. But he's just so stubborn. Will she ever get
him to crack a smile? Or will she get dragged down in the process?
Whether you sympathize with Roo or his mother - and most of us probably
can honestly say we've experienced both sides of this coin - I Love It When You Smile is a sweet and funny tale sure to bring a smile.
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