• Pre-school

Taking a Bath With the Dog and Other Things That Make Me Happy by:Scott Menchin

In order to answer her mother's question about what would make her smile, a girl first asks various people, animals, and even the moon what makes them happy.

Once There Was a Hoodie by:Sam McBratney

While trying to make friends, a Hoodie manages to scare off some sheep, cows, and children, before finding the one thing that will make him truly happy.

John Denver's Sunshine On My Shoulders by:Christopher Canyon

A picture book adaptation of John Denver's song Sunshine on my shoulders, which celebrates the simple things in life such as sunshine, being in nature, and loving relationships.

Augustus and His Smile by:Catherine Rayner

After searching mountains, forests, oceans, and deserts to find his smile, Augustus the tiger finds it when he looks in a puddle, and realizes that "happiness is everywhere around him."

I Love It When You Smile by:Sam McBratney

A grumpy little kangaroo is having a bad day until his mother finds a way to make him smile.

Share a Smile

From the CD "Share a Smile", by Laughing Pizza. Start at 2:33 minutes and sing with it and do motions until the end of the song. Use as an introduction to story time.

The More We Get Together

Sing it and do it with sign language. Teach the kids the signs.
Lyrics:
The more we get together, together, together,
The more we get together, the happier we’ll be.
“Cause your friends are my friends, and my friends are your friends.
The more we get together, the happier we’ll be.

Sunshine On My Shoulders

Sing the above book, rather than read it.

You Are My Sunshine

Use cardstock sticks of yellow smiley sun, bright green smiley face, grey cloud, bright pink smiley heart, snd orange smiley sun. Make enough so all of the children have one to hold up for different parts of the song.
Lyrics:
You are my sunshine, my only sunshine.
You make me happy when skies are gray.
You’ll never know, dear, how much I love you.
Please don’t take my sunshine away.

S-M-I-L-E cheer

Gimme an "S", etc. Put up magnetic letters as the kids shout the letters.

If You're Happy and You Know It.

...clap your hands.
...stomp your feet.
...Hooray.
...do all three.

Make a "Happy Guy" made from 2" Styrofoam balls, painted yellow. Stick a craft stick in the ball for a handle, glue on googly eyes, a red yarn smile. Wrap 2 pre-twisted and ends folded in pipe cleaners for arms and legs. Now you have a Happy Guy!