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Make-Me-Smile Books for Tough Days

Some days are just tough. Here are two books that get my kids smiling, even when they feel miserable.

Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes is the one thing that drew Johnny and Lily out of their sick kid misery last week – and we’ve pulled it out a few times this week as well with all three kids not feeling well! It’s a great story about accepting whatever life throws at you.


The Seven Silly Eaters is a huge favorite of Emma’s. She asked me to read it to her class when she was “star of the week”, and her fellow kindergarteners also adored it! The rhyming text flows beautifully, and I adore the depiction of chaotic-yet-happy large family life. The illustrations are every bit as fantastic as the story, and the seven silly eaters learn to be a little bit less silly at the end!

What books are your favorites for “nobody feels good” days?

MaryAnne is a craft loving educator, musician, photographer, and writer who lives in Silicon Valley with her husband Mike and their four children.

19 thoughts on “Make-Me-Smile Books for Tough Days”

  1. And now I have Pete the Cat’s song in my head! At least it’s a happy song! I haven’t heard of the other one so I’ll have to check it out.

  2. We haven’t read these books, and they both look great. I think Anna’s K had something with Pete the Cat on the very first day of school, and she loved it. Anna doesn’t really have a “comfort book” that I would read to her, but she often pulls out her CareBears treasury when she is in a bad mood. Thanks for joining WMCIR!

  3. My favorite silly book is “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.” (NOT the movie version). But I also love the Seven Silly Eaters. We don’t own it but I remember checking it out of the library when Parker was a toddler.

    1. We need to read that book! Haven’t even bothered to see the movie, because friends who love the book didn’t enjoy the movie.

  4. 2 great books – I agree!!! We own the second one and it’s so much fun to read out loud – and love the ending! When not feeling great, sometimes it’s also fun to dwell in it a little with “One of Those Days” by Amy Krouse Rosenthal.

  5. Hmmm……. I know mine, but I’m stuck thinking of the kids, it seems to change. Right now they’re all about being read Harry Potter!

  6. We love Pete the Cat! We can’t help but smile when listening to the upbeat CD. One of my favorites.

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