View source for Pass It On by Sophy Henn

{{infobox
|title=Pass It On
|author=Sophy Henn
|reviewer= Anne Thompson
|genre=For Sharing
|summary= This is a delightful picture book about finding joy in everyday situations. Filled with cheery illustrations this should put a smile on faces. 
|rating=4.5
|buy=Yes
|borrow=Yes
|pages=32
|publisher=Puffin
|date=February 2016
|isbn= 978-0723299868
|website= http://www.sophyhenn.com/
|video=
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0723299862</amazonuk>
|amazonus=<amazonus>0723299862</amazonus>
}}

A small girl wakes up one morning, yawns in the morning sun and then bounces through the day finding joy in everyday situations and encouraging those around her to enjoy them too. Even on gloomy grey days she has the happy knack of finding something to smile about. This is most definitely a ''glass half full'' little person. By the end of book the reader probably will be too!

Sophy Henn may only have been creating picture books for a relatively short time but her style is both distinctive and appealing. Like her previous books this is a story with comparatively brief text and yet it conveys its message eloquently.  We are asked to be more observant of our surroundings and when we see something that cheers us to ''smile a smile and pass it on''.  The story accepts that sometimes this may be difficult but then we should just look a little harder. It is hard to resist such a positive message and the book also reinforces the idea that spreading happiness to others is likely to result in us receiving some more back in return.  This would be an uplifting book to share with very young children but would also promote discussion with slightly older ones about behaviour and kindness.

I really like Sophy Henn's illustrations; they are vibrant, childlike, uncluttered and full of colour. My particular favourite is the double page spread for the rainy day complete with an elephant, family of penguins and small children in sou'westers and mackintoshes dancing in puddles. Rain has never looked so much fun!

My one note of caution would be that some of the very young children who I read this book to were not familiar with the phrase '''pass it on''' which obviously is at the heart of the book and the understanding of its message. However, perhaps the story gives parents the ideal opportunity to introduce this concept. 

This is definitely recommended, particularly if you are feeling a little gloomy. Thank you to the publishers, Puffin Books, for providing this review copy. 

The Sophy Henn book which is the biggest hit with nursery children at my school is the wonderful [[Where Bear? by Sophy Henn|Where Bear?]]

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{{amazonUStext|amazon=0723299862}}

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