Joy is an undeniably beautiful picture book. I was very taken with the illustrations by Isabelle Follath. The use of colour (or lack thereof) to show emotion (or lack thereof) is fantastic. I was really excited to see a story tackling the still often hidden issue of depression. Unfortunately, though, I suspect I'll be in the minority on this, but I didn't love the overall message of the book.

The story follows Fern, who loves spending time with her Nanna. Usually, Nanna has a clean house, is full of fun and smiles, and bakes delicious cakes. Lately, though, Nanna has been not quite herself. Fern's mom explains that Nanna seems to have lost her joy, and this prompts Fern to try to capture some joy to share with Nanna.

Unfortunately, catching joy is more difficult than catching butterflies and Fern is rather upset that she was unable to capture any to share with Nanna. While trying to explain her failings to Nanna, Fern relates all the fun things she did that day and, in doing so, magically and instantly brings joy back to Nanna.

As someone who has seen firsthand how depression can permeate not just the person suffering from the illness, but all of their loved ones, too, I know all too well how easy it is for children caught in its web to blame themselves for the situation. That this story implies that someone can be snapped out of a depressed state simply by being told a happy story does a disservice to those who truly suffer from depression.

I could have really loved this book if it showed a more realistic scenario; perhaps something like happy stories in conjunction with a visit to a doctor gradually help Nanna to find her joy again. But I am uncomfortable recommending this story as it is currently told.

Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group - Frances Lincoln Childrens for providing me with a free DRC of this book.

Joy is what makes your heart happy and your eyes twinkle.

Again, the children's books of today are truly too beautiful and mesmerising. The sheer ingenuity of these books astounds me.

"Joy" is the second children's book this year I've read dealing with grandparents, and it makes my heart so happy. This doesn't deal with a grandparent's illness, but rather their depression. I've never seen this in a children's book before, and it's certainly a welcome topic as it's never spoken about despite its prevalence.

The colours are so warm and the design is beautiful. Fern is designed like a kindly little girl and her grandmother immediately gives off an air of care and love.

"Most of all...she loved her smile."

Fern loves Nanna so much. But Nanna begins to get sicker, tired and seemingly so much older. I can relate so well to Fern

This book asks the question: what is joy? Fern decides that because the joy has gone out of Nanna's life, it's time to bring it back. Fern tries her best, as a sweet little kid would, to "catch" joy for Nanna from her surroundings. The representation of Fern's idea of joy is a swirling mass of colours - it shows a child's perception of an abstract concept.

Fern comes empty handed and without joy, but tells her grandmother about all the joy she has seen in the world. And it all makes her grandmother so happy. And so, Fern and Nanna spend time making joy in the park.

Conclusion

This book is about elderly depression, a very prevalent occurrence. But this book is also about how important young and kind little souls are in helping older people deal with depression and experience joy.

5★
This one is well named. JOY!
“‘What’s wrong with Nanna?’ Fern asked her mum.
‘I don’t know’, Mum replied.
‘It’s like the joy has gone out of her life.’
‘What’s joy?’ asked Fern.
‘Joy is what makes your heart happy
and your eyes twinkle.’

[My Goodreads review includes an illustration: Nanna, looking drab and Fern looking worried]

As good an explanation of JOY as any, I reckon. Nanna used to be a colourful, cheery baker of cakes.

[My Goodreads review includes an illustration: Cheery Nanna with her happy cat and Fern]

Now, even the cat and the plants seem moody and down in the dumps with Nanna.

[My Goodreads review includes an illustration: Nanna's living room in decline.]

Fern is going to try to fix that. The premise of the book is easy enough to understand, and Fern’s attempts to catch or trap some “joy” for Nanna are just the kind of thing a little girl might try.

[My Goodreads review includes an illustration: Fern trying to catching pretty things in a box in the park]

But try as she might, she has no luck. So, if she can’t bring the joy to Nanna, she’ll take Nanna to the joy!

[My Goodreads review includes an illustration: Fern and Nanna, wheeling merrily through the park!]

And the best sort of outing is a picnic! So we're treated to a delicious-looking happy ending!

[My Goodreads review includes an illustration: Fern and Nanna having a picnic and a nap in the park]

A great book to bring joy to anyone, and a wonderful way to show children how they can help other people find joy. Especially for grandparents and grandchildren, of course, but really, we'd all love to be in that park at that picnic, wouldn't we?

Many thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing/Frances Lincoln Children's Books for this delightful preview.

Colorful illustration perfectly put together for a wonderful story. This is book presents a cute story with a little bit of a lesson and you don't even know it. I love this story and recommend it!

https://ianwoodnovellum.blogspot.com/2018/07/joy-by-corrinne-averiss-isabelle-folath.htmlGorgeously colored and sweetly painted by artist Isabelle Folath, this story by Corrinne Averiss follows young Fern in her seemingly forlorn attempt to find joy for her grandmother who appears to be missing hers. Just when Fern thinks her quest has failed, she discovers that her very recounting of her adventure brings joy to her Nanna.

I thought the art was awesome and the story beautifully told. I have some reservations about the wealth of 'unhealth' in the food on the picnic blanket in a book for young children! It's never a bad idea to promote healthy-eating especially in a biook for young children, but I was willing to let that slide since the rest of it was so well done. I recommend this.

When her beloved grandmother is sad, Fern wants to find a way to bring joy to her. She recognizes joy from the "Whoosh" feeling it gives her, but when she tries to capture it to take to her grandma, it is elusive--but she finds a different way to bring joy to her grandmother.

The illustrations are awesome--pretty and whimsical and perfect for conveying the "whoosh" described in the text. This was a lovely book.

I read a copy from the publisher via #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

A sweet story of a little girl who loves her Grandmother and notices that she is unhappy. She goes on a search to bring joy back to her life. It's a lovely example of looking at other's needs and helping kids to see outside themselves and that joy is something that can be shared and found everywhere. It's a little bit of a simplistic look at mental health or illness in the grandmother, but opens the conversation for kids and probably appropriate for kids 4-7.

The illustrations are lovely and colourful.

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

ARC Copy...a beautiful colourful exploration and search for what is joy and how can you bottle it up for someone who needs joy all render in gorgeous water colour illustrations.

Joy is everywhere. We can find it even in the most unusual place. That's what Fern told me.

It is a lovely picture book. Not only the illustration, the story is a heartwarming. It's so colorful. I enjoy looking at the picture on and on. I love this book.

What a beautiful book!! I am in love with the illustrations!!
Its a lovely book about a little girl who tries to catch joy for her nanna, only to find out its easy to find Joy but hard to catch it for others.
I need a copy of it for my son!! Great book for little kids!

Cute, simplistic story about depression.

As you can see here, Ferm remembers when her Nanna was happy.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-682" src="http://www.reyes-sinclair.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Screen-Shot-2018-06-28-at-12.21.00-AM.png" alt="JOY" />

But now she is sad.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-681" src="http://www.reyes-sinclair.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Screen-Shot-2018-06-28-at-12.21.19-AM.png" alt="JOY" />

So Fern goes off in search of ways to make her happy. She things she can capture the emotion on the wind. It remains elustive. But she finds that she brings joy to her grandmother simply by talking to her, being with her, and that is the greatest gift anyone can give.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-680" src="http://www.reyes-sinclair.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Screen-Shot-2018-06-28-at-12.23.28-AM.png" alt="JOY" />

Lovely story about finding simple things to bring you joy, as well as bringing joy to others.

#joy #netgalley

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

This book is so beautiful. I could feel the joy in the illustrations. Fern's grandma is sad and missing some joy in her life, so Fern goes out and tries to catch her grandma some joy to bring to her. She finds joy in the bounce of a dog, in the giggle of a baby on a swing, in the sparkle of sunlight on water, but isn't able to catch any of this joy. Saddened, she tells her grandma about trying to catch some joy for her, and to her surprise her tales of her antics bring her grandma joy anyway! Then they go out together to find some more things to be joyful about.

The illustrations are just gorgeous and so whimsical, and the message is a wonderful one of happiness being about intangible things that are best when shared with a loved one. This would make a beautiful gift and I need a copy for my own kids' shelves as well as copies for the children of all my friends. This one is definitely going on the list of gifts to give kids for birthdays this year.

Lovely book about a little girl Fern who tries to bring joy to her grandmother's life. She decides to collect joy wherever she spots the happiness but it's not that easy to catch joy!
The story might not be the most original -and in the end of the day all children's books have similarities- but the style of illustration is fantastic and the whole book is a real "joy" to look at.
Would definitely recommend to children between 3-8

Joy is a simple, short story for very young children about how they bring joy to other people just by living their own lives joyfully and spending time with their loved ones. As a grandmother who has been ill lately, as well as a teacher of the very young, I would love to share this book with the three year olds in my class. They are just beginning to understand the impact, positive and negative, of their actions.
I will need to get a hard copy when it comes out.