A Bottle of Happiness

There was once a big mountain with two villages on either side. The people on one side were rich and worked only to get richer. The people on the other side of the mountain were poor but had a wealth of stories and laughter. One day, a poor young boy decides to seek a new story and this leads him to the rich people's marketplace. He would love one of the ripe pieces of fruit, but what can a poor boy trade? Find out if it is possible to bottle and share happiness in this timeless fable, exquisitely illustrated in an eye-opening and unusual style.

About the Author :
Pippa Goodhart is the author of over a hundred children's books, including the prize-winning picture book You Choose, and the Winnie the Witch series which she writes under the pen name of Laura Owen. She trained as a teacher, and worked for many years in bookselling before becoming a mother and a writer. She also worte My Very Own Space, Junior Library Guild selection Ehsan Abdollahi is an illustrator and animator from Iran. He teaches at Tehran Art University. Ehsan is inspired by the environment and fabrics of South Iran (where he was born), and uses bold colours and rich patterns in his illustrations.

Review :
A modern yet timeless fable in which a child's observation sparks a paradigm shift for a society that values individual production and ownership. Two groups of humans live on either side of a mountain, leading disparate lives due to the range of resources available to them: One side catches fish, mines jewels, grows crops, and sells things among themselves, while the other side must eke out a living with crops grown in weak soil. What this second group lacks in material wealth, however, they more than make up for in close-knit community, freely sharing experiences and stories. The book's child protagonist, Pim--who is never gendered by the text--hails from the storytelling group. One day Pim ventures to the marketplace over the mountain in search of a new story but finds much more. Goodhart's prose, which captures both the wonder and pragmatism of many folktales, is supported by Abdollahi's vibrant, detailed patchworklike watercolors. The angular, almost cubist artistic style, featuring paper-white figures with large eyes and elongated limbs, lends the text a surreal, vaguely unsettling affect that echoes its anti-capitalist message. The text placement is visually dynamic in several spreads, though certain other design elements distract rather than support; for example, the cover's muted gray background clashes with its rounded, colorful display type. A richly illustrated, accessible critique of consumer culture and scarcity mentality. (Picture book. 4-8) A Bottle of Happiness, told by Pippa Goodhart is a joyous and resonant fable about the gift of sharing, with unusual and spectacular illustrations by the Iranian artist Ehsan Abdollahi. Inspired by Middle Eastern fabrics, images in watercolour with sharp cubist lines make richly patterned scenes of market squares, village life and dancing. it will make your heart dance, too. - The Sunday Times This is a charming and very uplifting and joyful story with a strong fairy tale feel and unusual illustrations which young readers can try to recreate themselves; their patchwork/collage style is very intricate and eye-catching, and is bound to stand out among other picture books. .. It's a lovely story which will entertain children as well as teach them about how material wealth and happiness don't necessarily go together. - School Librarian This imaginative story will have you hooked from the very first page. The perfect blend of distinctive and original but exquisite illustrations will transport you to another world. It is the ideal combination of light-hearted fiction with morals (like the importance of friendship and true values in life) thrown in for good measure. I would recommend this story to children of all ages; it is an excellent book, whether you're talking family fun or even a reading session in class. This is a heart-warming story for everyone and it will certainly pull all of your heart strings. It is so eye catching and attractive it is the first book I would pick off a crammed bookshelf. - English Association This is a simple fable about friendship, happiness and sharing which celebrates stories and storytelling. The illustrations are particularly striking and highly decorative with rich patterning inspired by Middle Eastern fabrics and a patchwork design with echoes of cubism. Colour is used effectively to contrast the warmth of the happiness on the poor side of the mountain with the drab greyness of the richer peoples on the other side. - Books for Keeps A Bottle of Happiness is a beautifully illustrated book. Ehsan Abdollahi has a strong and distinctive style using the most vivid colours and characters on every page. This book is so visually beautiful I feel it is an object each of us should have on a coffee table, or adorning a shelf. However, the beauty of this picture book extends and connects fully into the words and story too - it is in the style of a traditional fable created by Pippa Goodhart....The writer and illustrator individually call upon their own cultures and knowledge to create the story. This is the first title in the project, and judging by the high standard, we have much to look forward to. - Armadillo Magazine