LaRocca, Rajani. Lucas’s Tricky Day: Looking on the Bright Side. India Valle, Illus. Chicken Soup for the Soul KIDS Series. Charlesbridge, 10/2022. [30]pp. Picture Book. Trade $12.99 978-1-62354-283-2. GRADES Kindergarten – 2. ADDITIONAL.
What happens when something you were really looking forward to gets cancelled? Kids (and everyone) tend to get upset and can have a hard time getting over their disappointment. This small size, text-heavy picture book follows brown-haired Lucas as he goes from a happy jokester to sad and mopey after finding out that his friend is sick and their long-planned sleep-over can’t happen. His other friends notice his unhappiness and set out to help him. Valle’s digital illustrations show the change in Lucas’s emotions and feelings, plus the humorous ways his friends try to help him out and how he responds. Includes five ways to spread sunshine and a short story from a child about a friend helping make a situation better. Useful bibliotherapy about friendship and empathy.
Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library