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

This was a beautiful book encouraging children to appreciate the simple things in life. I love the pictures, which were vibrant. The text is simple. I think since the people in the book are from a different culture, it will show children that even though we are different, there are still many ways we are the same.

fill with bright and colorful illustrations, We are taken through a journey of what brings happiness to a little girl. Her love of a traditional bread backing in the oven, the fields of flowers and birds singing. Wonderful to read in the classroom or storytime.

My Heart Fills With Happiness / Ni Sâkaskineh Mîyawâten Niteh Ohcih, is a lovely board book written by Monique Gray Smith and illustrated by Julie Flett. What fills your heart with happiness?The sun on your face. The smell of warm bannock baking in the oven. Holding the hand of someone you love. This book offers all readers a reminder to reflect on and cherish the moments in life that bring us joy. Monique Gray Smith wrote My Heart Fills with Happiness to support the wellness of Indigenous children and families, and to encourage young children to reflect on what makes them happy.

My Heart Fills With Happiness / Ni Sâkaskineh Mîyawâten Niteh Ohcih is a sweet book with fabulous intentions. I like seeing the dual languages, and the clear and open questions about what might make readers happy. I think seeing how many simple things can make everyone happy can help readers of all ages stop to enjoy the simple things a little more, but all see how much alike we are underneath it all. Language, heritage, faith, and ability might make us all different but we can all find happiness in sunshine, fresh baked treats, and the people we love. Two ideas that are important, sweet, and well done with the simple text and lovely illustrations.

The cover of this book caught my attention because it was beautiful and fun and felt carefree so I was a bit surprised to open it up and find that the dual language inside is Plains Cree. So I looked up the author, Monique Gray Smith, to make sure I could do this book justice.

We did a segment in a Children's Literature class on how children's books are STILL lacking in diversity and one of the least recognized areas was that of the Indigenous population. Monique is making a dent in that though. Through Orca Publishers you can find many of her other books written in both English and Plains Cree.

This board book doesn't have one single narrator, but many when many different children experience when their heart fills with happiness. From looking at the face of someone you love to listening to stories, there are many beautifully illustrated moments throughout. It ends with the question, "What fills YOUR heart with happiness?"

While I can appreciate the book being from outside of the Lakota and Cree population and use moments like the bannok, dance regalia, and drumming to teach the significance of these moments in the culture, this is truly a book written for Lakota and Cree children. They'll be able to see the reflection of themselves in this book and have the ability to be read the Cree translation, which I could not do. I sincerely urge libraries and schools to carry this book as they have a duty to reflect all groups of people and this is one that needs to be available on shelves.

The illustrations in My Heart Fills with Happiness are simplistically beautiful. Anything more and it could have been overdone, but Julie Flett was spot on with this book. The colors are vibrant and the ability to convey the happiness told by the words with so little is a true feat.

Oh how I ❤️ MY HEART FILLS WITH HAPPINESS! The illustrations are exquisite, the text so sweet, and I found my whole being filling with peace. A wonderful book to read aloud to young children. Will bring a smile to all! 5/5

Thanks to Orca Book Publishers and NetGalley for the review copy, in exchange for my honest opinions.

#NiSâkaskinehMîyawâtenNitehOhcih #NetGalley

This is the story about a little girl and what she treasures most in life. It is a great story for sparking a conversation on gratitude with the little ones in your life. This works in and out of the classroom!

This series with two languages is bound to be a hit! I loved this sweet story of what makes us happy. I think that families will cherish the story. The illustrations are absolutely stunning.

A lovely book about joy and gratitude. Written in both English and Plains Cree, it has roots in one cultural experience but finds happiness in things that are universal (singing, seeing the face of someone you love, for example).

The illustrations are visually striking, beautiful and would be a great addition to any diverse library. #WeNeedDiverseBooks

Thank you to #NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an advance e-copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

As it turns out, the small things in life are what make life worth living. This book is a great way to teach young children about finding joy in the small everyday things like baking, listening to stories, and drumming. The book lists many things that makes the author happy and ends by asking what makes the reader's heart fill with happiness, encouraging children to think of their own joys.

"My Heart Fills With Happiness" contains many beautiful illustrations of Cree people and belongs on every bookshelf.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is such a delightful picture book, with all the quiet moments that make us happy. Written especially for First Nation children, with pictures that reflect the culture, it is also in both English and in Plains Cree.

The pictures are wonderful, as picture books should be. The things that bring happiness include smelling bannock in the oven.

<img class="alignnone wp-image-600 size-full" src="http://www.reyes-sinclair.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Screen-Shot-2018-06-12-at-10.41.08-PM.png" alt="My heart fills" />

As well as dancing.

<img class="alignnone wp-image-599 size-full" src="http://www.reyes-sinclair.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Screen-Shot-2018-06-12-at-10.41.23-PM.png" alt="My heart fills" />

All in all, a wonderful collection of simple things that make one happy.

Thanks to Netgalley to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.