Today, the first Friday in October, is World Smile Day!!! A day set aside for smiling and happiness and being kind to one another. The idea is to create a ripple effect of kindness. One person passing it on to another and another and ………..
I love ripple effects. I know that when I wag my tail at school, every person in that building feels it somehow. Awesome!
This world famous Smiley Face was created by Mr Harvey Ball in 1963. FIFTY years ago!!!! For a history of Mr Ball’s creation you can visit the Smile Day website HERE.
For my part today, I’m going to share with you a fun little smiley book —
Smile
by John A. Rowe
a minedition book
published by Penguin Young Readers Group in 2008
suitable for ages 3 and up
Themes – smiles, kindness, joy
It begins —
Once upon a time in a far away land there lived a king who never, ever smiled. He was called King Grumpy.
The cover of this book features the cutest little pup with the happiest little grin. Greatness!!
But back to King Grumpy — he rules in Grumpy Land. The Queen is Grumpy and the five princes are all grumpy. Everyone in the land is grumpy. It’s a dark, dark place. Then, little Prince number six is born and chaos ensues! There is something wrong with his little face!!! Call all the doctors in the land! The pup is ill! He might be contagious!!
And contagious he was!! That strange thing on his face happens to be a smile! And over time it spread throughout the castle and then throughout the land. The King started smiling, then the Queen and all the little princes, then all the folks everywhere became happy! Light and Joy filled the land. Prince Smiley “reminded people how to smile again.”
Smiling IS contagious! Try it! Spread the JOY!!
Please visit the website for the Harvey Ball World Smile Foundation for more ways of spreading JOY throughout the world.
Here is an inspiring little story that I came across. It will make you smile!
I have a friend, Ms Barbara Gruener, who is all about Smiles and Kindness and Spreading Joy. She has a website called Corner on Character and every post she puts out there is an inspiration and a call to spread kindness. She recently had a post about a little girl at her school who wanted to spread some of that JOY. Read the story HERE. PLEASE read the story! And then go get some sticky notes. You’ll be glad you did!
You can find some Smiley Face Sticky Notes at Cafepress HERE.
Make some of these yummy, smiley cookies! You might even think about using bacon instead of chocolate!
The World Smile Day website has a whole list of activities and printable materials to help you celebrate this big day.
Your next stop should be to visit Susanna Hill’s blog where she keeps a list of Perfect Picture Books and lots of useful and fun resources! This post is brought to you by — Perfect Picture Book Friday!
And here’s a little song to sing you on your way! The Smiley Face Song from Mr Harvey Ball! He’s got some Rhythm!
Now go out and spread some joy!
One little SMILE at a time!
Your wagging, smiling friend
Rhythm
Reading With Rhythm 
thank you for this fantastic reminder!
Your welcome! 😀
The perfect pick for all the King Grumpies in my life. Thank-you.
I’m sorry that you have Grumpies of any kind in your life! You must send them lots of smiles! 😀
World Smile Day! who knew! I will make sure to pass on lots of smiles as I work at the library today. I wish I knew where that old smiley face pin was…. I guess I’ll just have to make one for the day. thanks for sharing your book and your smile!
I hope that you had an awesome Smiley Day Ms Heavenrich!! 😀
Rhythm, I LOVE the sound of this book! Never heard of it and am hoping my library system has it 🙂 Every time I see (and paint) smiley faces, I think of my aunt (sending her here) AND that scene in “Forrest Gump” (the movie) when he’s attributed with the creation (among many other things in that movie) of the smiley face when he wipes his face on a t-shirt 🙂
Of course, now that I just finished watching the video of Zach and Vincent, I’m sobbing! How beautiful…
And it’s absolutely amazing how the absolute SIMPLEST idea can become SO BIG! That Harvey was one clever, talented guy 😀 Thanks for sharing all this, Mom Person 🙂
Wasn’t that Mr Ball something?! Does your aunt have a smiley face herself? I’ll bet you do for sure! 🙂
Lovely! 😀 🙂 😮 o:O
Aaaahhhh. I don’t know how to make all those funny smiley faces! I wish i could make a drooley one. 🙂
Now that is a catchy song! I didn’t know it was World Smile Day today, however I do have a day off work, so I have been smiling regardless, which is a good thing. I shall celebrate the rest of the day in toothy style though.
I hope that you enjoyed your Smiley Day off! 🙂
It’s World Smile Day, but you have me crying! Beautiful book and the video is so heartwarming and inspiring. Thanks so much for sharing this, Rhythm!
I hope that they are tears of JOY! I make therapists cry pretty often. I have that way about me I guess. Some smiles, some laughter, and some tears. 🙂
Love this modern day fable. Great book for the classroom. And, your activities were great. Saw the smiley face mentioned on the Today Show this morning. Hope everyone read’s Barbara’s sweet post on what the little girl proposed. Can you imagine what it would be like to have her as a counselor/teacher. 🙂
We have some pretty good counselors in Glen Rose, but that Ms Gruener is a real wonder! 🙂
Ooops, I missed the smiley song video. Ok, I’m smiling again!
I hope it got you dancing! 🙂
Dogs make me smile, Rhythm, so consider your smile passed on. :))
🙂 🙂 🙂
WoW! This post makes me SMILE. Thank you for the sweet shout out … you’ve made my day extra special! … and for encouraging others to get some Post-Its and get busy spreading joy. I am SO looking for this book and adding it to my shelf.
Smiles,
Barbara
I think that it probably doesn’t take much to get you smiling! 🙂 I think you will like this book. 🙂
This really made me smile! Signed up to receive posts on Corner on Character! You were right, what an awesome story about the youngster who had lunch with her counselor and made post it notes for fellow students!
I’m glad you have connected to Corner on Character! It will bring you a Smile every day! 🙂
O gosh, that book looks sweet. And you have just the BEST smile, Rhythm!
Thanks Ms Marple!! 🙂
I didn’t realise it was Smile Day, but we must have been on the same way link as my book choice this week was all about kindness and paying it forward. Loved your book and the link to Corner on Character too. The video was beautiful. Thanks for sharing Rhythm.
I think we must think alike! 🙂
😀 On a completely unrelated note, have I recommended the Read It Daddy blog to you yet? Or do you already know about it? It’s at readitdaddy dot blogspot dot co dot uk and it’s one of the best kid’s book blogs I’ve ever come across. My KidLit tbr list has grown exponentially since discovering it. Oh, and I nominated you for best children’s book blog in a blog award comp the other day. Just FYI. 🙂
I have not heard of Read It Daddy, but I’ll go check it out. And thanks for the nomination! I didn’t know what that was all about! 🙂
Mmmm, smiley chocolate chip cookies. That will turn any frown upside down.
They really would be better with bacon though. 🙂
What an all-around wonderful post, Rhythm! Love the book and activities, and the video about Vincent and Zac was just so sweet – what a great kid Vincent is! Thanks so much for sharing! (And I’m sure everyone who looks at your beautiful face and wagging tail can’t help but smile! :))
Thanks Ms Hill!!!! 🙂
What fun! Thanks a BUNCH for sharing!
You’re welcome! 🙂
Yay! 😀 BEST DAY EVER!!! 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀
What a lovely smile you have:-)
Thanks Misaki!!
Oh you made me smile … but I was confused about substituting bacon for the chocolate. 🙂