Clarice Bean, Smile

With her school project overdue, the irrepressible Clarice ponders big themes, like the delicate balance of life on Earth, the nature of happiness, and how even the smallest person can make a difference.

Clarice Bean is thinking about all the endangered things: the BIG creatures, the LITTLE creatures, the plants and the trees. If only she can stop daydreaming, she might come up with a subject for her big school assignment—or is daydreaming part of the creative process? Meanwhile, it’s not just the planet that needs help; there’s her whole family too—like a forgetful granddad who keeps falling and a dad who is literally getting sick from a stressful office merger (whatever that may be). Welcome back to the beloved world of Clarice Bean, whose books have sold more than six million copies worldwide and garnered huge critical acclaim. As always, Lauren Child brings her signature quirky humor and enchanting black-and-white illustrations to this smile-inducing story about honoring your unique gifts—and using them to make things better.

Lauren Child is the author-illustrator of many picture books, including The New Small Person, Absolutely One Thing, and A Dog with Nice Ears, as well as the Charlie and Lola, Ruby Redfort, and Clarice Bean series. She has won numerous awards, including the prestigious Kate Greenaway Medal. Lauren Child lives in London.