Keep your eyes open for this new book coming out in August of 2022. This book is about a sad worm and how tears could be used for many things. The worm explores many ways to use tears and it is OK to cry. This book can help with social-emotional/affective needs and is a great way to help students use productive thinking skills to think of the many, varied, and usual ways we can use tears. Teachers can challenge students to think of other ways to use tears. This book will be used in my courses for gifted learners.

If You Cry like a Fountain is a delightful picture book for early readers, highlighting the practical uses of tears. Vola sends across the message that it is ok to cry if one is upset.

I was a little confused at the beginning with the way the story started. It looked like the tearful worm was being shamed for crying, but the author soon started narrating the benefits of crying in a quirky manner and tied the story together to send across a positive message.

The creative and witty narrator tells what happens when one ‘cries better!’ And, oh! The colourful illustrations made by the author herself are very interesting. I am sure kids would enjoy looking at them and spotting the different crying animals and objects.

I liked how the author included silly instances like using tears for making a fountain, or for boiling pasta (of course, no salt needed!) or making pear jam! Now imagine only if tears could be put to practical uses!

Parents/teachers can use this book as a resource for discussing feelings and emotions.

If You Cry like a Fountain is a funny and imaginative book which children in the age group of 3-7 years are sure to enjoy.

Thanks to Tundra Books via NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC of this novel. All opinions expressed are my own.

At first I wasn't fully sure where this book was going with its message. It started off causing the worm to cry more, and then goes on to explain all the ways you could use your tears in a fun way. I really loved when it all started to tie together and explain how everyone cries and that its okay to cry. I feel like kids and even adults need to hear that it is okay to have emotions and sometimes we just need to cry to release them. The illustrations are fun and different, and would definitely help keep a kids attention on the pages as they look at everything happening. Overall it has a great message that I feel like we all need to hear sometimes. Great book at school or home to bring acceptance to crying.

This book has cute pictures, but really sends out mixed messages on crying. I’m a nanny and do not have kids of my own, so I often feel like I am a harsher critic of children's books. I’ve read many over the years and I’m also very conscious of the message I’m bringing into other peoples homes and sharing with their children. This is not a book that I would share with my kiddos.

A charming, sweet book about the importance of tears and crying. Perfect for teaching kids that expressing emotions, like sad or happy tears, is an essential part of being human (or any creature!) Colorful and interesting illustrations showcase the many different places and experiences that may make us cry. I highly recommend this book for all young kids or people of any age who need a little reminder that everyone needs to shed a few tears every now and then.

I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This story is delightful and funny, showing what tears can be used for- for example, it would be the best pasta water because you dont even need to add salt! The artwork is also original and captivating. I also liked the message of the story that everyone cries and its okay to cry.

I liked the style of this writing and think lots of little ones would find it silly and fun! The message was a bit confusing in parts but as an educator I would use this story as an opener to a bigger discussion about feelings and emotions.

The illustrations were also super cute!

I found this book to provide kids with mixed messages about crying. Initially it seemed to shame kids about crying, then it attempted to redeem itself. Really the theme of this book was rather unclear and the images, while cute, were rather confusing for littles.

The drawings were cute, and I thought the idea of the book was somehow good, but the text felt a bit harsh. I do believe it was supposed to make the reader not cry? Maybe in a “Yes, it is okay if you do cry! But here’s what can happen if you do!” and then it goes on to explain that your tears can help water plants or fill a lake. For me, it was an okay read, but I am not the target audience and it may have different views from a child’s perspective. Nevertheless, a three star!

This humorous book, written from the point of view from an unseen narrator, highlights the practical uses for tears.

A very sad and tearful worm opens the story and when the narrator tries to cheer him up, the flood gates open wide and tears flow everywhere. Oh my! The narrator while trying to comfort and calm down the worm thinks of various ways that tears can actually be prolific. Really? His creative mind kicks into gear and he comes up with some wild scenarios in which the overflow of tears can be useful. The ideas are creative, successful and sometimes silly!

The occurances that the storyteller spins will bring smile to faces I'm sure. He ponders such things as: filling a pot with tears and then boiling up pasta ( no added salt needed please ), diluting paint then creating exquisite artwork from the mixture, and filling up rivers so they don't run dry, just to point out a few.

The quirky illustrations are delightful. They are full of humour and emotion which greatly enrich the text. I love a story that is imaginative and inspires readers to kick-start their own imaginations as well. I look forward to more books by Noemi Vola and I recommend this book.

I’m not too sure about what to make of this book. It definitely delivers on quirky. It’s a story about “practical “ ways to use tears. The advice isn’t practical, and it’s a little disturbing to see the worm crying while his friends benefit from his sadness. I would recommend the book to teens and above as a humorous book, but not to littles as a story about feelings. As such, I’m giving it a three because it’s humorous, but not a children’s book in my opinion. Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

If You Cry like a Fountain is a sweet little book that makes crying feel approachable and accepted. I love the premise of the book, and was surprised that the first few pages seemed a little anti-feeling (in the "keep your chin up" way). This could work well if discussed during the reading of the book, e.g., asking "why do you think some people feel like you shouldn't show your feelings?" or something along those lines, and turning it into a conversation piece. Left unaddressed, it seems dissonant with the themes of the rest of the book. After the first few pages, there are a series of possible uses for your tears, all of which are humorous and encouraging. Readers can watch the illustrated worm and friends as they dedicate their tears to different purposes, find themselves feeling better, and then feel sad all over again! Illustrated beautifully, with engaging pictures that will stand many re-readings and offer lots of details to talk about, I highly recommend this book for reading one-on-one and in small groups.

The message in the beginning of the book was a little harsh for my taste. While it may reflect real life, I think it overshadows the message that it is actually ok to cry.

“If you cry like a Fountain” by Noemi Vola is simply a great book for kids which made a successful attempt of portraying the crying in a very positive light. This story just debunks all the stereotypes which labels crying as something completely unacceptable. On the contrary, it encourages the reader to express strong emotions in the form of crying with no second thoughts.

If You Cry like a Fountain by Noemi Vola is a clever read for young children. A good-hearted, silly way to think about emotions and feelings, teaching the reader that everyone cries and silly things that happen if you can't stop crying or if you don't cry at all. Making it okay to have emotions I think that is very important for children to learn about at an early age, this book paves the way to have a healthy conversation with your young ones. The illustrations were colorful and engaging while you read the story, which is an added bonus.

Erm... I think this is supposed to be an absurdist guide to crying, and to show tears in such silly situations the laughter dries them out, all while we get a lesson in 'hey, little one, it's OK to feel things, OK?' stuff (or something else along those lines that can only sound plausible if spoken in a Neil-from-The-Young-Ones voice). Either way, I can't really see it being a success. A generous two stars.

Oh my goodness this was so silly and cute!! I love the illustrations too. I would have loved to see a message more directed towards the reader at the end, instead of just more silly things, but I can imagine a young kid reading this and loving it.

If You Cry like a Fountain is a charmingly illustrated picture book about some very funny uses for tears, including pasta water, mop water, brushing teeth, and other silly suggestions. This would be a good story to get a tearful child to start giggling.

Everybody cries, even Spider-Man and ET. All the animals too! There are many things your tears are good for. Great quirky illustrations.

Sure do wish the book had talked about tears of happiness, too.

When reading this book to young children, challenge them on other ways tears can be used.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Random House Canada.