#855 of 1001 · December 3, 2022

What does happiness mean to you? Where does it come from? Are you content to let it find you, or do you believe you must actively seek it out? Let us consider these questions as we flip through Juliette Saumande and Eric Puybaret’s In Search of Happiness. Young Alexander lives with his grandfather In the town of Prudence, where the people are never upset because they fervently avoid risk. The boy dreams of leaving this timid community and striking out on his own. He attempts to follow a bird named Paradiso who is heading for the Land of Happiness, but he quickly becomes lost. He visits the Isle of Treats, the Gorge of the Spoiled Ones, the Glacier of the Frozen Ones, the Valley of the Delighted, and many other marvelous locales. Upon returning home, Alexander finally realizes that the mythical Land of Happiness exists wherever people are happy. Satisfied at last, he invites his grandfather to join him on a new adventure to parts unknown. Saumande’s text, translated from French by Andrew Weller, rings with allegorical power. Puybaret’s smooth-textured illustrations conjure up strange and beautiful vistas not soon forgotten. #search #happiness #boy #grandfather #bird #land #journey #book #books #childrensbooks #beautifulbooks #picturebook #picturebooks #picturebookillustration #picturebookillustrations #picturebookart #childrensbookillustration #childrensliterature #illustration #kidlit #kidsbooks #bookworm #booklover #booklovers #bibliophile #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagrammers #instabook #instabooks