Smile!
Baby Faces Series
on Goodreads (290)
What’s inside...
A group of babies smile for the camera. Share the warmth of a smile with these adorable babies!
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
0-2
Length
12 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What makes you smile the biggest, just like the babies in the book?
How do you think the babies are feeling when they smile? Can you show me with your own face?
Why do you think smiling is important in making friends?
How do you feel when you see someone else smiling?
Can you think of a time when your smile helped someone else feel better?
Tip: Role play these questions
Use facial expressions to mimic the smiles in the book, encouraging your child to do the same.
Discuss the importance of emotions and how a smile can influence one's feelings.
Encourage your child to talk about how seeing others smile makes them feel, linking it to the babies in the book.
After reading, spend a day noting and discussing moments when both of you smile naturally.
Relate personal family stories where smiles played a key role in communication or resolution of a situation, making it relevant and more engaging for the child.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Embracing Diversity
Explanation: In 'Smile!', children encounter diverse babies each expressing joy, showing that happiness is universal across different backgrounds.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to appreciate and respect people from varied cultures and ethnicities, promoting inclusivity in their daily interactions.
Example Lesson: Understanding Emotions
Explanation: The book focuses on smiles to convey the emotion of happiness, helping kids recognize and understand this expression.
Real-World Application: Kids can better interpret emotional cues in social settings, enhancing their empathy and social skills.
Example Lesson: Learning Through Repetition
Explanation: Each page of 'Smile!' uses repetitive language patterns to emphasize the smiling theme, making it easier for young readers to grasp.
Real-World Application: Repetition helps children retain information and apply this learning technique to other areas of education, such as vocabulary or math.
Example Lesson: Importance of Social Interaction
Explanation: By showing various babies smiling together, the book highlights the joy found in shared experiences with others.
Real-World Application: Encourages children to seek out and cherish interactions with peers, which is crucial for their social development and emotional wellbeing.
Example Lesson: Promoting Positive Self-Image
Explanation: The portrayal of happy, smiling faces can boost a child’s self-esteem, as they see themselves mirrored in the joyful expressions.
Real-World Application: Kids can develop a more positive view of themselves and others, fostering self-confidence and happiness in their own lives.