All the Ways to be Smart

Author: Davina Bell
Illustrator: Allison Colpoys
Publisher: Scribble

Smart is not just ticks and crosses,
smart is building boats from boxes.
Painting patterns, wheeling wagons,
being mermaids, riding dragons…

Author Davina Bell ‘can’t wait to share with you how smart you are the whole day through’. The illustrations depict children doing a colourful array of smart things – using their imagination and creativity, being kind, supportive and helpful, asking questions, daydreaming, storytelling, exploring nature, experimenting, being brave…

There are so many helpful and positive messages present in the pictures and poetic words of this book. It’s a joyous celebration of childhood and all the special, unique qualities that make each child so wonderful. Allison Colpoy’s ink, charcoal and pencil illustrations (we loved the jolts of neon orange) exude happiness and positivity, featuring a riot of diverse characters (from dinosaurs and ponies through to monsters, pirates and frogs; and, of course, children of all shapes, sizes and ethnicities).

The messages we found in this book:

Guidance:

Being smart takes many forms and encompasses so much more than high academic achievement. It also includes playing to your strengths and being true to yourself, being brave, creative and curious, showing respect and kindness to others, and being able to share skills and ideas and show generosity.

Hope & Inspiration:

There are so may helpful and inspiring messages in this book! Here are some of our test reader’s favourites: a picture of a girl diving from a high board (“feeling scared but taking chances”). A boy shown comforting a tearful dinosaur (“smart is kindness when there’s crying”). A simply beautiful double page spread illustration of a child in the branches of a tree (“sitting still and quiet for ages”).