The Horn Book Guide

YOUNGER FICTION

Lagercrantz, Rose

My Heart Is Laughing

120 pp. | Gecko | September, 2014 | Trade ISBN 978-1-877579-52-3 $16.95

(1) 1-3 Translated by Julia Marshall. Illustrated by Eva Eriksson. First grader Dani (My Happy Life) is still sad about best friend Ella moving away, but she's a sturdy kid. Then things get sticky at school: classmates Mickey and Vicky both like the same boy, but he likes Dani. Lagercrantz's text is funny and real; Eriksson's line drawings brilliantly portray expressions and body language. Salty and sweet, this is umami for the emerging reader.

Reviewer: Sarah Ellis | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2014