I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A cute story and cute illustrations. The story flows well. I think kids will enjoy it. Portrays a good message.

We all have some sharks in our lives. You know, those people who always seem to be cranky and no one wants to be around them. Little do a lot of us realize that if we try to spread happiness with those sharks anyway, we could quite possibly make them turn around and be less cranky. That's the message of this story in a nutshell.

Ripple is a dolphin who has just moved to a new aquarium. She kind of reminds me of Pollyanna in her desire to meet new friends and to share the happiness. She makes a conscious choice to be happy and attempts to teach this to the other creatures in the aquarium through a fun game of smiling. You'll actually find this game familiar, as it is a regular favorite to play with kids to get them to smile. It even works on Snark the Shark.

I love the idea of this story, spreading joy and happiness, even to those who seem to be cranky. Sometimes those cranky people just need to be acknowledged! I can see kids playing this game like crazy with each other after reading this book. The authors also provide other activities that kids can do to be happy and to develop a happiness mindset. These exercises are more for the older kids who may be reading this story, though I think the picture book itself could be read to even younger children.

I adore the illustrations in this book. You actually cannot help but smile as you look at Ripple and the other sea creatures. This book could probably also be used for identifying the different sea creatures if you are studying that in your classroom.

My only real criticism of the book is that the print seems a bit too small in the advance review copy that I read. It's especially noticeable on those pages that only have about a line of print. I know we want to emphasize the happiness in the story via the pictures, but the print is just as important!

Overall, I gave this book four stars. It would be a fun addition to both the classroom and home libraries.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my advance review copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Have you ever met someone who is mean, grumpy, and always seems angry? It Is Ripple's first day In a new aquarium and she can't wait to make friends, but when she looks around everyone looked so unhappy. Ripple finds out that everyone is afraid of the shark that lives in the tank. Ripple does not like to see everyone so down and out so she challenges the Bob, a blowfish, to test. All Bob has to do is stare at Ripple for seven seconds without smiling, easy right? At first Bob was sure he was going to win, until Ripple flashed him a big smile and Bob cracked up laughing. Bob turned around and did this to all the other creatures and everyone was having a great time, that is until Snark the Shark showed up. Ripple makes a deal with him. If Bob can make him smile then they can continue to have fun, but if they can't, they will stop playing. The deal was on and Bob went to work. He had Snark stare at him. Can Bob win the day and make Snark smile? Will all of the aquarium animals be able to go about their day happy and having fun or will they be forced to live miserable for the rest of their days? Read this incredible book to find out!

I love absolutely everything about this book! Ripple has a happy mindset and she won't let anyone bring her down. This is a goal that we all need to have, kids and adults. I love the section at the end of the book where the author gives you several happiness exercises to fit into your everyday life. And besides the amazing message this book gives, the illustrations are precious. You can't help but be happy when you look that these pictures. Do not miss this book!

This book teaches children that happiness is a choice that you make for yourself and you can spread positivity onto anyone, including a 'mean' shark.

My daughter is obsessed with fish and loves visiting aquariums and she had the biggest smile on her face pointing out all the aquatic life in Claudia’s colourful illustrations. Shawn and Amy have created a wonderful array of characters including Bob the blowfish. And then of course, there is Snark the shark. We all know someone who can be a bit of a happiness-shark at times and I loved Ripple’s no-nonsense approach. My favourite spread has everyone smiling – happiness really is infectious!

This bubbly story has a message for all of us, that choosing happiness is a mindset which has a ripple effect on the people around us. There is something endearing about Ripple and I loved the happiness mindset guide at the back of the book – Can you make a shark smile today?

I am very grateful to the publisher for providing me with an advanced digital copy via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

How to Make a Shark Smile was a wonderful kids book! It had a wonderful lesson of a positive mindset and kindness. It made me smile, and I'm sure it will make kids smile too! I loved how vibrant and colorful the pictures were! This book is sure to spread happiness and smiles and motivate kids to spread it too!

4.5 stars

This is a good starting point to use in the classroom to introduce the idea of growth mindset and identifying our fears and thinking of ways to resolve them.

It can also be used for friendship, bullying or inclusion topics.

I would love to use a hard copy of this book in my classroom.

How to make a shark smile is such a sweet book about friendship and being kind to others. All of the sea creatures are terrified of shark until dolphin comes along and changes their whole perspective!

How to Make a Shark Smile is a fun social-emotional book about the power of making the choice to be happy.

In this story, Ripple, the dolphin helps all the other fish in his tank make the choice to be happy. His kindness and job quickly spreads throughout the whole fish tank. It even finds its way to the mean... SHARK!

Due to Ripple's encouragement, shark and all the other fish agree to choose to be happy and play together. In the end, they have an amazing time, and they are so glad they allowed happiness to take hold of their day.

How to Make a Shark Smile would be a great educational book to help those students that struggle with choosing to be happy. It is also a great resource that teaches about the power happiness has to help and encourage one another.

I would recommend this book for lower elementary school. The included strategies are realistic and would be very easy for these young students to understand and apply. The utilization of animals to help tell the story and practice the strategies will also apply to these young students.

How to Make a Shark Smile
How a positive mindset spreads happiness
by Shawn Achor; Amy Blankson
5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
SOURCEBOOKS Jabberwocky
Little Pickle Press
Children's Fiction
Pub Date :Feb 1, 2020
Reading level 4-8 years
40 pages

Description: A story about choosing happiness and the ripple effect of a positive mindset.Ripple the dolphin just moved to a new aquarium and is excited to make some friends! But as she swims around, she notices the water is still and quiet. The eels have no zing. The neon fishes don't glow. The seahorses aren't horsing around. Everyone's too afraid of a mean shark named Snark!Ripple is determined to show her new friends that they shouldn't be afraid―it's all about mindset. They can choose to be happy!But just as the aquarium begins to liven up, Snark the shark shows up ready to prove Ripple wrong. Can Ripple get Snark to smile too?

⭐🐟🐡MY REVIEW🐠🦈⭐
The illustrations were beautiful and very colorful and totally amazing. And I do mean AMAZING !!!!!!My youngest two granddaughter's age 1 and 2 and my daughter who is 4 loved the colors and the fish. They laughed throughout the book especially at the faces the fish made. The puffer fish was their favorite. It was short enough yet long enough to hold their attention, It's 40 pages.
I loved the story and the positive attitude it sets. I would say this would be a great book for teachers to have in their classrooms. The only bad thing about the book is the price. It will sell for $17.99 for hard cover which is way to expensive for most family's.
Many thanks to the Publisher , the Author , and NetGalley for a ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family.
#Howtomakeasharksmile #netgalley
#ShawnAchorAmyBlankson
♥️About the Author♥️
Shawn Achor spent over a decade at Harvard University studying the principles of happiness before penning the international bestseller, The Happiness Advantage. He is also the founder of Good Think. To teach his happiness principles to younger readers, he collaborated with his sister, Amy Blankson, to write Ripple's Effect.

Amy Blankson is a positive leadership consultant and among her many achievements, has been named a Point of Light by Presidents Bush and Clinton. As a mother of three, she hopes Ripple's Effect will inspire young people to make a positive difference in their world.

I loved this book! The illustrations were great and it does a really awesome job of explaining the concepts of mindset and mirror neurons to kids. The tips at the back were nice too. I can see using this in guidance or with individual students.

A wonderful story on the effect of a positive attitude and mindset on others. The best part is, anyone can learn to do this, if it doesn't come naturally. Just try it and see the positive "ripple" effect it has on those around you! Teaches children about a positive mindset and the importance of it.
#Edelweiss #netgalley

I absolutely adored this book! The illustrations were so cute and the story itself was engaging, fun and super silly for kids.

Overall I liked this book. The artwork is stunning for a children's book, very well done and so cute. The message is a good one I feel, coming off without being preachy. My little ones ages 3 and 5 liked the colorful fish, the faces on the fish and the 5 yr old got the message. She said all 'fish' should be friends especially living in the same tank and if Ripple makes people smile that is her special gift to help others.
The only negative I have is the writing style. For a children's book I felt it a little too advanced and should have been simplified and less wordy, more playful.

Thanks to Netgallet and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a great book that teaches kids the importance of an upbeat attitude and how such an attitude can be beneficial to others around them. The language used is easy and approachable without being preachy and the illustrations were great and sure to make kids smile.

Positive mindset and adorable illustrations!

How to Make a Shark Smile is about Ripple, the new dolphin in the aquarium. Ripple is eager to make new friends, but the other inhabitants of the aquarium are hesitant. It turns out that Snark, the shark, has scared everybody to the point that they don't want to play. Ripple's contagious smile and positive mindset begin to change the aquarium for the better. Soon Snark shows up with the intention of ending the fun. Bob the blowfish challenges Snark to a smile challenge. Snark learns that sharks CAN smile and have fun after all.

I love the empowering feel of this book. Although Snark was a total "shark" at the beginning, he learned how to embrace happiness. Alternately, Ripple maintained her positive mindset and persevered to change the mindset of the rest of the tank while empowering others, such as Bob, to participate in the change.

The end of the book includes a section about "making a shark smile" and developing a happy mindset. This section includes tips on how to be mindful of how you're feeling and steps to take to move toward happiness. These simple exercises could be used in either or home or a school setting in order to help children gain control of their own happiness.

This book would be a great addition to school or classroom libraries as well as home libraries. Teachers, librarians, and parents could use this book to spark conversation about the power of perseverance and positivity. The talking points included at the end of the book are a great starting point for these conversations.

I received a free copy of this title from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

#NetGalley

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. A book about change and how small things can make a big difference.

Happiness is a state of mind and a choice you make. That is what Ripple the dolphin teaches Bob the Blowfish when he is stressed and afraid of Snark the shark.

A great message to teach kids. You choose happiness and happiness will choose you. It is contagious and it spreads when you offer it to the people around you.

I think the best part of this message is to not give up on unhappy people.

My feelings about this book are a bit conflicted. On the one hand, it has adorable illustrations and an overall good message about gratitude and being positive. On the other hand, the way the book glosses over bullying and encourages children to put themselves in dangerous situations while simultaneously ignoring actual mental illness makes this a potentially problematic read.

As someone who has dealt with mental illness (and depression in particular), the idea that we can choose to be happy has always felt like a bit of a slap in the face. What happens when a child is told over and over that they could be happy if they just tried a little harder? Their self-esteem takes a hit, that's what. They start to wonder if there's something wrong with them because they seem to be doing all the right things, but they're still under a cloud. This book perpetuates that mindset, and takes it even further by conflating fear with sadness.

The other fish in the tank seem to have a very good reason to be wary and frightened of Snark the shark. He is a shark, after all, and sharks eat fish. When Ripple the dolphin comes along and basically just tells them to get over themselves, I kind of wanted to slap her. The blowfish does point out that Ripple doesn't need to be as afraid because she's bigger and therefore not as vulnerable. But, as good as this observation is, it's not really used. Ripple continues to urge the others to get over their fear, basically telling them to ignore their own instincts. I'm not sure this is the best message... especially when it comes to bullying.

Because Snark could be seen as a bully, the way the blowfish is forced to face him is a bit cringe-worthy. If a child walks up to their own bully and tries the stunt shown in the book, they're liable to get punched in the face. Children need to learn how to discern safe situations from unsafe ones... and books like this--which basically imply that all situations are safe--don't really help.

Like I said, though, the illustrations are really cute. I love the facial expressions on the characters. And the aquarium's world is rendered in colourful detail. There's not much to dislike about the pictures in this book.

But the message is muddled and has the potential to cause more problems than it solves. By all means, search for the good in each day and keep track of the things you're grateful for. But don't expect doing that to be a magical cure for depression, or for it to resolve issues with bullies. Sometimes, kids are right to be afraid; we should let them listen to their gut rather than try to override their instincts.

This is one of those books with a very intended moral. It is not preachy. Our story focuses on choosing to be happy and sharing that with those around you.

Ripple is a dolphin who has just moved to a new aquarium and is excited to make some friends! But as she swims around, she notices the place is not so friendly. The eels have no zing, neon fishes don't glow, and seahorses aren't horsing around. Everyone's too afraid of the mean shark named Snark!

Ripple is determined to show her new friends that they shouldn't be afraid--it's all about mindset. The story glosses over the fact that sharks are predators.

Snark gets wind of Ripple’s plan and Snark the decides to prove Ripple wrong.
The message is smile and the whole world smiles with you. Of course that’s not always true, but it’s certainly worth doing.
I’ll read this with my k-4th graders. Then I’ll challenge them to practice the ripp