What will make different people happy? A small boy learns that this not easy to figure out - but making other people happy is the best way to be happy yourself. ( )

If you can snag a copy, snatch it up, this one is delightful.

A little boy narrates this book, full of childlike drawings, telling us all about the difference between what makes HIM happy and what makes EVERYBODY ELSE happy, and how, now that he's big, he knows what (for example) hiding in the closet doesn't make Mommy happy even though he thinks it's fun, or that now he knows that even though Mommy isn't really happy when he splashes water on the floor pretending to be a fish she's happy to let him play because that makes him happy.

There's a very sophisticated message about... family, and friendship, and, yes, happiness in this book. I can't get enough of it.

One note: This book was printed in the 60s, and there is a very small illustration on one page (where he's explaining that Grandpa doesn't really like pretending to be a horse, but does so because it makes his grandson happy) where the boy has what's probably an "Indian Headdress" on. This isn't specifically mentioned, and it took me a couple of glances to realize that's what it was. However, if this concerns you (and I admit I was disappointed to see it in what is otherwise a very good book), read this book before you buy it so you can judge the impact for yourself. ( )