The colorful vivid illustrations complement the story about being shy and what it takes to make someone smile. I voluntarily review an advance readers copy of this book.

Overall, David Smiles was a short story that excelled in the diversity of the characters and had beautiful illustrations! The story was simple and would be a quick read for children and the illustrations will definitely keep them engaged. The story overall centers on the friendship between David and a girl that he sees while biking, and how that encourages him to be confident. I appreciated the message that the story wanted to send, but wish that there was more substance and less of a focus on how David thought the girl was beautiful. Overall though, this is a solid choice for a children’s book and will hopefully spark conversations between parents and children.

Thank you to Leaf & Literature, LLC. and NetGalley for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

In a Nutshell: Lovely illustrations, good intent, silly story.

//Spoiler Alert.// I have no choice but to reveal the whole story of this picture book. There’s no other way I can explain my negative feelings.

David, a little boy of unspecified age (he might be 5 or 6?) gets distracted on the road while riding his bicycle when he sees a “beautiful girl” playing by the road.
David, injured and taken home by his mom, still thinks about the girl because she is “beautiful”.
David KNOWS that the girl is *kind* because she is beautiful. (This has to be among the worst non sequiturs ever!)
He also realises “how much he liked her and wanted to be around her.” (Mind you, they haven’t even met yet! He’s only seen her once!)
David walks around the whole block to look for the girl. Apparently, his injuries are insignificant enough to be forgotten.
When he returns home disappointed, he finds the girl waiting for him. David’s first line to her after introducing his name is… I kid you not… “I was just out looking for you... You are so pretty, and I wanted to tell you that I really like you.” (Really, young David? For a shy guy, you sure go straight to the point!)
Instead of being creeped out, the girl also declares that she “really likes” David.
David smiles and the two become best friends.
Official moral of the story: Being around a kind person makes you smile.
Everyone happy except for moi.

Sorry, but this book is nothing but a collection of red flags. The story is creepy, and the message is a non sequitur. Going from “looks good’ to “is kind” is a huge leap of logic, and not even an accurate one. The story should explore the whys of such a weird assumption.

Also, was David around unkind people all his life, or was he just shy? If he was shy, how did he decide to go look for the “beautiful girl” all alone and even declared his feelings for her without skipping a beat?
ALSO, going to look for the girl simply because you found her beautiful? Ugh!
The blurb says, ‘David Smiles teaches us that a simple act of kindness can make someone’s world much brighter.’ Good message, except that it doesn’t come out from this story.

I have never ever given any children's book just a single star in my life! I feel horrible, but I cannot be kind to a book with such a storyline and allow impressionable children to reach an incorrect takeaway. Who needs more shallow humans around!?

Oh and just to clarify, the sole star belongs entirely to the illustrations – they are gorgeous inside as on the cover art.

Apologies to the team behind the book, but there’s no way I can recommend this. It needs major edits before it can pass muster as a children’s story.

My thanks to Leaf & Literature, LLC and NetGalley for the DRC of “David Smiles”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. Sorry this didn’t work out better. I won't be posting my review anywhere except Goodreads.

A wonderful children's book that beautifully illustrates the power of kindness and friendship. The story follows David, a shy boy who learns to embrace his true self with the help of his friend Mary. As they navigate through the ups and downs of childhood, readers are reminded of the importance of reaching out to others and the joy that comes from genuine connections. What I loved most about this book is its simple yet powerful message, delivered in a way that resonates with both children and adults alike.

Alright, listen up, young readers! David Smiles is the kind of book that'll tug at your heartstrings and leave you grinning from ear to ear. Picture this: you've got David, this shy little dude who's about as lively as a rock, until BAM! Along comes Mary, spreading kindness like confetti at a party. Suddenly, David's whole world lights up, and you're there for the ride. This book ain't just about smiling; it's about the ripple effect of one small act of kindness. So, if you're looking for a feel-good read that'll leave you with a goofy grin plastered on your face, grab a copy of David Smiles and get ready for some serious warm fuzzies!

Good story, my kids weren’t as engaged as others. I’m not sure what exactly was missing but something did feel off. The illustrations are beautiful.

This was a simple book and it was fun I did like this and so did my children. The imaging is good and it’s short and sweet I would recommend as it is fun and colourful but not something that I could read to them multiple times as they would get bored

David is a shy boy who crashes his bike and gets embarrassed, but brushes himself off and makes an amazing friend! It’s a sweet story, and the illustrations are beautiful. My toddler really liked the story.

Thank you NetGalley for the advance reader!

Very sweet book by a young writer. It talks about not being scared to show emotions and how a small gesture can help someone come out of their shell. Really enjoyed it

I liked the idea behind this BUT it was very poorly written and the attitude the boy in the story showed towards the girl was positively creepy. Not a story I would share with any age group.