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From the Author --------------- The Story Behind The Story: Thanks for checking out H is for Happy! I was inspired to make this book by my own experiences as a stay-at-home dad doing my best to teach my kids about feelings and empathy. Throughout those "beautifully chaotic" days I was fortunate to have front row seats to the daily emotional fireworks show put on by my two boys as I watched them explore - and explode, trying to understand their newfound emotions. I witnessed firsthand how challenging it can be for children to express their emotions without knowing the words to describe them. In search of a solution, I rummaged through all our hand-me-down picture books in search for a one that taught them about their feelings and how to express them. Unable to find any ABC books about feelings at home or the library, I set out during my kid's naptime to create one myself and titled it H is for Happy. Inspired by my 15 month old son's fascination with emojis on my phone - I wondered if those same little yellow faces could help them identify and name their own emotions, feelings and moods. I matched up letters of the alphabet with a corresponding emoji and gave it a ! My goal was to help them learn how to express feelings by "using your words" - and more importantly, let them know that everything they feel is okay and that everyone has feelings! To my amazement after just a few reads, my oldest began identifying and saying "Happy," "Tired," "Sad," and even "Daddy Proud." When he gave his most coveted Buzz Lightyear hoodie to his crying baby brother to make him "feel better," that's when I realized this might be more than just a little homemade ABC book. I'll never forget that "feel better" moment or hearing them say "happy" for the first time - it's the reason I decided to publish this book and the motivation to share it with as many parents and children as possible. I hope it has as positive an impact on you and your child's life as it has on mine - or, if nothing else, allows you to end your "beautifully chaotic" days as a parent with a happy thought and a smile from your child. A happy today starts with you. A happier tomorrow starts with our children. #choosehappy Read more ( javascript:void(0) ) About the Author ---------------- Evan Nimke is the author of H is for Happy: An Emoji ABC Book of Feelings and creator of Good Human Books. When he's not working on books for children, he's usually chugging coffee somewhere trying to keep up with his own wild and crazy kids. Evan is a proud midwesterner and lives in Chicago, IL with his wife, and two boys who are apparently ic to . For more "Picture Books with a Purpose" visit GoodHumanBooks.com and follow his caffeine-fueled journey into self-publishing @GoodHumanBooks! Read more ( javascript:void(0) )