The joy in you by Cat Deeley

Illus. Rosie Butcher. Penguin Random House, 2020. ISBN: 9780593181416.
(Age: 4-7) This book is written for younger children and is based around the important concept of being you, and finding your joy. The main characters are a cute and cuddly koala parent and child, along with a gaggle of their animal friends.
It is written in a conversation style, as the two koalas snuggle in a tree. The parent koala is encouraging their young child to know that they can do anything and follow their dreams with whatever activity or task they choose.
We follow through the pages where their animal friends dance, sing, paint, learn and use their imagination. They are also encouraged to feel ALL their emotions, and that doing this is a perfectly wonderful thing to do.
I really enjoyed reading this book to my 6 year old and used it as a segue to a discussion about the things she loves to do, and how those things make her feel. We named the animals and the emotions.
This book could be used in a class situation during protective behaviours lessons (feelings), or as a lead in to a conversation/lesson about doing your best and following your passions.
The illustrations are bright and inject life into the story. They were quite engaging for my daughter, who is definitely an animal lover!
This book would be a good inclusion for any library/teacher reference section.
Lauren Fountain