My Heart is Laughing

Dani's been trying her best to stay happy ever since her best friend Ella moved away. But when some girls in Dani's class start being cruel to her, it starts a chain of rather unhappy events . . . It would all be okay if only Ella would move back. From the author of the critically acclaimed My Happy Life.

"First grader Dani, of My Happy Life (rev. 7/13), returns in an early chapter book that packs and emotional punch. She's still sad about her best friend Ella moving away, but Dani's a sturdy kid, a firm believer in positive thinking. Then things get sticky at school: classmates Mickey and Vicky both like the same boy, Cushion, but he likes Dani, so M & V ostracize Dani. When their retaliation gets physical--they start sneakily pinching Dani's arm at the lunch table--she fights back, inadvertently causing a food fight and getting herself into trouble. Thank goodness for Dani's patient father and no-nonsense teacher, not to mention the love and support of Ella, all of whom help Dani speak up for herself. Lagercrantz's text is funny, real, and full of fresh, convincing detail. Eriksson's line drawings brilliantly portray facial expressions and body language--Cushion's tentative approach to Dani; her teacher's big, solid, comforting hand enclosing her shoulder. When Dani magnanimously and publically forgives Mickey and Vicky, her pose conveys a nuanced mixture of genuine relief and neener-neener triumph. Salty and sweet, this is umami for the emerging reader." --starred, The Horn Book Magazine

"This charming follow up to My Happy Life (Gecko, 2013) brings back eternal optimist Dani as she navigates through the ups and downs of daily life. Wanting to escape any sorrowful happenings in her world, Dani chooses to view her life through somewhat rose-colored glasses. When reality unravels her sunny disposition in the form of bullying, Dani longs to be with her best friend, Ella, who moved away in the first installment of the series. Dani's close relationship with her father grows as he helps her navigate tricky relationships at school and at home. Eriksson's plentiful black-and-white line drawings expressively show joy and distress and perfectly complement the story. Lagercrantz has the ability to develop her characters fully, while keeping the story approachable for young readers just wanting to tackle chapter books. Genuine feelings such as humor, honesty, and heartbreak will leave readers yearning for Dani to return once again." --starred, School Library Journal

"Hurt feelings and jealousy on the playground lead two of Dani's classmate to pinch her arms repeatedly at the lunch table. When quiet Dani retaliates by squirting her tormentors with a squeeze-bottle of sauce, she misses her second target, splatting the teacher, instead. Upset, Dani runs home, where her father finds her locked in her room and inconsolable. When they both calm down, he discovers the bruises on her arms and, back at school, shows them to the teacher, who sets things straight. Translated from the Swedish and beautifully illustrated with Eriksson's expressive, cross-hatched ink drawings, the story portrays of hard truths about children's lives, while offering a satisfying narrative in which bullies are recognized for what they are and the main character finds the grace to forgive them. Like My Happy Life (2013), the previous book about Dani, this simple narrative may have been written and illustrated in Sweden, but its emotionally resonant story is universal. When Dani is upset, Lagercrantz portrays her state of mind in simple words and precise imagery: 'Thoughts flew around her head like startled birds, not knowing where to land.' Keep this volume in mind as an accessible chapter book for younger children and a riveting readaloud choice for the classroom." --starred, Booklist

"A forthright early chapter book about resilience. From the author-illustrator team that created My Happy Life (2013), this Swedish import also features Dani and her best friend, Ella. Dani still misses Ella, who has moved away, and Dani won't let anyone sit at Ella's desk just in case she comes back. Although her teacher tells her Ella is not coming back, Dani is 'not one to give up hope.' At lunchtime, thinking Dani needs to make new friends, her teacher seats her between two other girls, Vicky and Mickey, who proceed to bully and pinch Dani. In self-defense, Dani squirts them with sauce, getting some on the teacher too. Appalled, she runs home, where her father confronts her. All is sorted out in an age-appropriate way (the villains refuse to apologize; Dani tells them she forgives them anyway), and Dani continues to choose an optimistic view of life--buoyed by the unexpected appearance of Ella (for just one day). Lagercrantz writes an honest tale about the challenges of life, allowing her protagonist to feel sadness, confusion and loss as well as giving her agency in choosing joy. Eriksson's pen-and-ink illustrations, with their expressive body language, expertly bring the text to life. This deeply respectful book validates and celebrates the daily challenges of being a child in today's world." --Kirkus Reviews