Book Review: A Wonderful Day to Smile And To Dare!

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

Kids (and even adults) have wild imaginations. When I was a kid, I used to imagine monsters under my bed. I even think that someone is secretly staring at me while I sleep, or someone is on my back while I am facing the mirror. But we both know that it is crazy. Well, I still think that way sometimes, even if I am all grown-up (in age, but not in height).

I sometimes scare Bella at night so she can sleep (I know I’m kinda mean, but it is effective). I have no idea how she pictures these monsters, but, as expected, she really thinks they are scary and that they’re gonna eat her if she doesn’t sleep. Well then, I surely introduced to her the idea of monsters, and sometimes, I wonder if it is good. There are cute monsters, though, like Mike Wazowski of Monsters Inc.

But one book changed the way she looks at monsters. A Wonderful Day to Smile And To Dare! by Bosmat Libovsky is a well-illustrated book with a wonderful, fun story for children ages 3-8 (Bella is just 2.7, but she understands the story). You can see three monsters in the story and one girl, whom Bella refers to as “super” (it’s the cape). I read the story to her, and she gets excited whenever the girl dares the monsters and eventually wins.

The book is designed to help kids overcome their fears and difficulties, which are, in fact, their real-life monsters. The Draw Me A Monster process is an effective way to empower kids and gives them the courage to face whatever they fear and whatever is stopping them from being happy. In this story, the girl has a positive attitude. Instead of being scared, she would laugh and smile to shoo the monsters away. But aside from that, she would do other “strategies” to defeat the monster. Other than the pictures, I like the book’s tone, which is written in rhymes, which interests younger readers. I recommend that when you read it aloud, you use the right expression so the kids can easily relate.

Bella is still young and may not be aware of life difficulties and challenges just yet, but she very well knows that there could be monsters that will scare her. I took a different approach to telling her the story.  Instead of focusing on the deeper meaning of what the book really is, I encouraged her to shoo away her fear of monsters by smiling.

I told her, “If you think there is a monster, do not be afraid. Smile and just laugh at them. Monsters don’t like kids who are not scared of them and they will just go away. If you defeat the monster, you will become SUPER!” Bella smiled and nodded. I think, after reading the story, Bella now knows how to shrug off the monsters that she oftentimes thinks of before bedtime (which is partly my fault, and I fixed it already. So, don’t get mad at me.OK.)

Bella’s Reactions to the Book

If you ask me if she liked the book, she actually loves it. Every time we open our desktop Kindle, she would ask for “The Girl”.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.