Smile Cry

Happy or sad, wailing or glad – how do you feel today?

Illustrated by Jess Racklyeft
Published by Exisle Publishing
Distributed by Simon & Schuster

About The Book

A fun, flip-over picture book for children that reads from both front and back. Smile Cry is an innovative picture book for young kids, showcasing the full emotional range of their formative years.

Readers’ follow three adorable characters — piglet, bunny and cat — as they react emotionally to a variety of events and circumstances from everyday life. From an 'ate all the pies' smile to an 'ice-cream plopping down cry'; from a 'cosy under blanket smile' to a 'need a band-aid quick cry', children will empathize with the tear-jerking calamity of a popped balloon or lost toy, or feel the smiley warmth of being tickled. It's the little things that touch the hearts of children the most, and Smile Cry typifies both the small joys and challenges that are the essence of childhood.

Younger kids will respond to the soft whimsical illustrations, while older readers will learn more about the range of their emotions — how it’s possible to cry with happiness and also smile with trepidation. The clever ‘flip book’ format means that the ‘Smile’ story reads from front to back, while the ‘Cry’ story reads from back to front, with both delicious narratives meeting in the middle. A heartfelt picture book that will be treasured for years, Smile Cry is perfect for ages 3 and upwards.

About The Author

Tania McCartney is an award-winning Australian author of both children’s and adult titles. The founder of Kids’ Book Review and the 52-Week Illustration Challenge, she is a self-confessed book nut, as well as an experienced editor, illustrator and speaker. Tania lives in Canberra with her family.

About The Illustrator

Photo credit: Penny Lane

Jess Racklyeft is a children’s book illustrator based in Melbourne. She has illustrated 35 picture books, and won several awards including a CBCA Picture Book of the Year Award (2022). Working primarily in watercolours, she also likes to experiment with collage, digital and acrylic mediums, as well as create greeting cards, abstract paintings and work on client projects. Her study is found by a farm in inner city Melbourne and filled to the brim with picture books.

Product Details

  • Publisher: Exisle Publishing (March 2, 2016)
  • Length: 32 pages
  • ISBN13: 9781921966989
  • Ages: 4 - 8

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