Because Amelia Smiled by David Ezra Stein (Candlewick, 2012) is a circular book to emphasize our individual and unseen influence on others. When Amelia smiles, Mrs. Higgins smiles too and makes cookies for her son in Mexico. When he eats the cookies, he teaches his class a song about cookies and his student makes a decision. As each person makes a decision, the story travels around the globe, from New York to Mexico, Paris, Israel, and more. Eventually, someone’s choice makes Amelia smile, and the reader is convinced that the influence of that smile will travel the globe again.
The crayon, pencil, and watercolor illustrations are rich and full of detail. As I pour over the illustrations, I wonder which other people have been influenced and the ways the world will change because of the influence of the one. The whole book brings a smile to my face.
