The Smile Shop

by Satoshi Kitamura

A story about a boy, a benevolent shopkeeper, and a shared smile.

A small boy has saved all his pocket money, and today’s the day he’ll buy something special just for himself!

There’s lots to see and smell at the market, from tasty pies to colorful toys and noisy instruments. But before he can even make up his mind, disaster strikes and he loses his money down a drain. Oh no! But wait, what’s this? A store called the Smile Shop? Could he buy a smile? A small one, perhaps, to cheer himself?

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction, Money, Emotion, Storytime, Photography

Hardcover

Published January 1, 2020

About the author

Satoshi Kitamura was born in 1956. After dropping out of school to pursue art, Kitamura decided not to attempt a 10-year apprenticeship as a potter and instead worked as a graphic artist. He was not trained as an artist, but at the age of 19 began to do commercial work as an illustrator for adverts and magazines. He moved from Tokyo to London in 1979 where he worked mainly at designing greeting cards.
Satoshi Kitamura has won several awards, including the Mother Goose Award, the National Art Library Award from the Victoria and Albert Museum, and a Nestle Children’s Book Prize Silver Medal. He lives in Japan.

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

On a day I really needed a smile, I found one! Here at The Smile Shop. From the message to the artwork! It all made me smile. It’s such a cute read!

I almost returned this cutie to the library without reading it. My greedy little book hands tend to pile on the books without thinking about reading time and due dates. But at the last minute, I pulled this one out, sat down, and read. And thank goodness I did.

Readers follow along as a boy, with money in hand, travels through streets and markets filled with people and products and trinkets of all shapes and sizes. Where is he headed? Where will he spend his coins? Come see and find out.

The hustle and bustle of the streets and the filled to the brim pages will have you flipping through again and again. I loved this sweet, sweet story about the value and joy of a simple smile.

Pick this one up at your local library. It will surprise you!

[La Coccinelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This little story has a great premise. A boy has saved his money. He sets out for the market, looking for something to buy. There are so many options! But then something happens and his money (literally) goes down the drain. Defeated, he walks on, only to see a shop with a sign that says: "Smile". Thinking they must sell smiles, he goes inside... only to find that some of the best things in life can't be bought.

I love the story... but I hate the pictures. They're scribbly and rather ugly, and it almost pains me to think of how cute this book could have been with different illustrations.

This might work well as something to read aloud in a group setting, though. The less closely you look at the pictures, the better it seems.

[Judith Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

BIG fans of Satoshi Kitamura in our family!

[Shiloah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read by Meredith (18) with a Russian accent for fun. 😀

[Gmr · Rating 4 out of 5]

When a young boy heads out into his neighborhood to spend his precious savings, he's in for delight and disappointment. He delights in all that surrounds him, and the possibility of what he could buy...but when it all of a sudden disappears, he's down in the dumps. At that time, he steps into a very special shop...a smile shop, if you will...and discovers that even without coin or riches exchanged, some things are more valuable still, and can change a frown upside down in a hurry.

With a more sombre color palette, the illustrations in this one really leave their mark as they high the important things, the best things that life has to offer. It emphasizes that material things are all well and fine, but kindness shared, a smile given is just as important in our crazy, fast-paced world.


**copy received for review, opinions are my own

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

A young boy has saved his money and is excited to spend it. He plans to buy something special. But then he drops it down a drain. He has only one coin left! Now he can't buy anything after all. Then he sees a smile shop and wonders if perhaps he can buy a small smile for one coin. The owner of the Smile Shop teaches him a valuable lesson...you can't buy a smile but you can exchange one.

[Novita · Rating 3 out of 5]

LUCU???!?!

Ada toko namanya Smile dan dikira anak kecil ini tokonya jualan senyum beneran😭

Beneran graphic novel yang bahas anak kecil lugu dan emang sejatinya anak kecil begini sih....

[Ms. B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute Japanese/British import about the power of a smile. Pair this with Humbug Potion: An A B Cipher by Lorna Balian which has a similar theme.

[Aneesa · Rating 3 out of 5]

:D

[Ayaka Kawamoto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent picture book to teach the importance of being kind and the power that smiles hold 📚
The boy was walking in the market excitedly wondering what to buy with his saved money! Foods? Musical instruments? Toys? Books? But some of his money went down the drain… He was so sad. Then he found a shop called ‘Smile’. The man behind the counter said to him “Smile is something you can only exchange and share.” The boy was smiling surrounded by lots of smiley photos the the smile shop.

Satoshi Kitamura is a Japanese picture book author and illustrator who used to write and draw in the UK before going back to Japan.

I’m going to read this book to the children to teach kindness and the power that smiles have for a PSHE lesson.

日本人絵本作家・きたむらさとしさんの作品「スマイルショップ」📚
ある男の子は、自分が貯めたお金で何を買おうかわくわくしながら、歩いていました。食べ物？楽器？おもちゃ？本？でも、溝にお金を落としてしまいました。すると、「スマイルショップ」と書かれたお店を発見。店員さんが、「笑顔は唯一みんなで共有できるもの」と教えてくれました。笑顔いっぱいの写真がたくさん飾られたお店で、悲しそうな顔をしていた男の子も、自然と笑っていました。

笑顔が持つパワーを子供に教えるのにぴったりな絵本だと思うので、道徳の時間に読み聞かせをしようと思ってます😊

[Erin Buhr · Rating 4 out of 5]

A charming book that says your outlook, indeed your smile, brightens your whole world. This is a classic feeling book with brief text and detailed illustrations. It tells the story of a little boy with pocket money to burn who searches the market for the perfect thing to buy. I love the crowded market and it's diverse options. It makes me want to head to the farmers' market. The heart of the story, however, happens after the little boy loses his money and instead receives a unique gift. Community, dealing with disappointment, and what happiness really is are all tied into this book. It is an optimistic view of humanity that feels so needed right now.

[Bev · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great, heartwarming story with illustrations that invite you to stay and look awhile - so much to see! Our young protagonist is very proud of the fact that he’s on his way to buy something with his own money and we travel with him around a busy market and to several delightful shops whilst he tries to decide what he wants. Sadly an accident means he loses most of his money but he learns that indeed the best things in life ARE free. I particularly liked the way the people around him become greyed out after the loss of his money, it shows well how his mood has dropped. I think we all need to visit smile shops much more often.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is the thrill of the hunt when someone goes to a marketplace featuring a number of vendors selling a variety of merchandise. As the young boy wanders the market with his coins in his hands he stop to look at food stalls and various collectible items. And oh there is so much to see, buy unfortunately the young boy has a slight mishap which alters his purchase.
The illustrations are filled with many many well detailed items in an urban setting with people of all ages and interests. One illustration is a book stall with books piled on a table, in boxes, a do book carts.
This is a title that I could pour over the illustrations for long periods of time.
Loved this title.

[The Silvan Reverie | Sarah Street · Rating 4 out of 5]

A charming story about the simplicity of sharing a smile with a stranger (an impactful narrative for children in 2020-2021 as we all wear masks in public). I think the soft illustrations pair well with the tone of the book. Pages are full of intriguing things to look at and discover. Children will definitely feel the impact of the moment when the boy loses his money and I think feel the weight of the moral of the story. Beautifully told.

**Note: I was given a review copy of this book by Peachtree Publishing. Opinions are my own.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really lovely illustrations. I enjoyed how the boy explores his feelings about what to purchase with his money. It's a feeling that I think many children can relate to, as the sum of money is very small and things seem to cost so much. It's his joy in the entire journey that stands out, even as things don't turn out quite the way he wanted. Connections with others are more important than things, as many of us have relearned recently.

Thanks to Peachtree for the Advanced Reader Copy.

[Steven Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

A nice story about a little boy who goes to the market to buy something for the first time and manages to lose his money down a drain. The boy was very sad as he only had one coin left and he found a shop called smile shop. I won't say anymore but I read it to children in year to and they loved it.

[Marcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful picture book that has a quirky feel. A little boy wanders through a crowded city trying to decide how to spend his money. An accident causes him to realize that a smile can change the whole day. Terrific illustrations.

[Viviane Elbee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book really brought a smile to my face. I was wondering what the little boy was going to buy with all his saved money, but then he loses most of it when it falls into the drain. Yikes!

And then he sees a smile shop, which is totally unexpected.

Great book!

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Evocative, wonderfully detailed illustrations in this satisfying story about the pleasure of sharing a smile.

[Jae · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well designed book with a simple narrative and lots to look at. Definite potential to become a new classic.

[Chance Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very sweet. Fun illustrations with a smart use of color.

[Rajiv · Rating 4 out of 5]

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What immediately appeared to me to the story was the detailed illustrations. I loved the items the author put into the drawings. A child would instantly fall in love with the pages just by the images, even if they are not following the story. Each page has so many details that make you appreciate the author’s hard work into the book. I admire the author for charmingly narrating the story and providing detailed illustrations to complement it. Similarly, the plot also has a sweet message that portrays that even when you face challenges, you can always depend on good friends and people to turn to to make you feel better.

However, my only criticism is the colors. I always prefer children’s books to contain vibrant, bright colors to attract them to pick up the book. While I loved the amount of work put into the illustrations, I was not too fond of the color choices and wished the author had used brighter colors. Nevertheless, the characters and the images are adorable that will still make the reader enjoy the tale.

Overall, “The Smile Shop” is a very nice children’s book that will put a smile on your face after reading.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pen, ink, watercolor, and gouache illustrations complement a simple story about the effects of a smile. (It is worth noting that those of us who have been masking during the pandemic have missed the smiles of others as well as flashing our pearly digits at those around us; thus, this picture book made me smile in remembrance of those days when smiles were readily available.) In this particular story, which is quite relatable to many youngsters, a young boy has saved up his money and now has enough to buy something special. Since this will be the first purchase he's ever made with his very own money, he wants to choose carefully. He heads to the market where he's tempted by delicious foods as well as other wares. He looks at books, tries on hats, but he isn't quite ready to make a decision. A mishap causes several of his coins to roll into a drain, and he is disappointed because he no longer can afford anything. The illustrations show his disappointment after losing his coins as they depict everyone around him in muted, grayish tones while he is still painted in colors. Things start to look up again for the boy when he stumbles upon a studio called Smile. Sorely in need of a smile after what's happened to him, he tries to buy one. The proprietor takes pity on the boy, smiles at him, gets him to smile, and takes his photograph. Suddenly, he has a whole new outlook on the day, and it seems that everyone around him has smiles on their faces. Readers may read this picture book and be reminded that smiling at someone really can turn their attitudes around and that a shared smile just might result in a brand-new perspective. I suspect most youngsters already instinctively know this.

[Olivia · Rating 3 out of 5]

See my full review here: https://www.yabookscentral.com/kidsfi...

THE SMILE SHOP is a cute story about a young boy who is shopping for something special. He has a little bit of money, but he is not sure what he will purchase. He looks at several things, but he isn't ready to commit to the purchase yet, when an accident causes him to drop and lose his money. He then stumbles upon a Smile Shop, where he learns that happiness can come from sharing a smile. He then shares the smile with others he sees, brightening days.

What I loved: The story has a simple premise about happiness and the power of a smile. Though the boy encounters some difficulty with the loss of his spending money, he manages to turn it around by finding something simple to enjoy. The use of color was interesting in the illustrations here, with colors disappearing when he is sad and returning when he feels happier. There are also a lot of details in the images that will appeal to children who like to examine illustrations.

What left me wanting more: The artistic style will appeal to some, but has a grainy appearance that makes it look like it is a little out of focus and facial expressions are not always clearly conveyed.

Final verdict: A story about the power of a smile, THE SMILE SHOP demonstrates that buying things is not necessary for happiness. Would recommend for early elementary school readers who can appreciate this simple message.

Please note that I received a review copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

[Kaethe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is part of my 365 Kids Books challenge. For a fuller explanation see my review for 101 Amazing Facts about Australia You can see all the books on their own shelf.

Good news, everyone! GoodReads managed to correct one of the lists! I am truly delighted to be back on the Reviewers list among so many people who provide such a useful and entertaining range of reviews from serious literary criticism to casual one liners to whimsical projects.

Now, about fixing the Readers list....

Quite like Millie's Marvellous Hat. What I loved was the Smile shop and its proprietor. Well, also the crowded street scenes. There was just so much to look at: faces and wares and interactions.

Library copy

[Jo Oehrlein · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of detailed pictures (sort of Richard Scarry in the detail, but without all the labels or the bright colors), but very simple text.

A child has saved up some coins and explores everything available to buy. But he trips and drops all but one coin. He no longer has enough money to buy anything.

He goes into the Smile Shop hoping to be able to afford a small smile. The man behind the counter says that he can't sell smiles -- they're given and shared. So the two smile and the man takes a picture of the boy. The boy goes outside and realizes that everyone around him is smiling.

Nice to contrast the before and after.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
A small boy has saved up his money to buy something special. He goes off to the the market to select what he would like to buy. There are so many things to choose from that the decision is very difficult. Then an accident sends his money down a street drain. He finds a shop called "smile" where he will be able to get something for free.
The author/illustrator is a self-taught artist who lives in Japan. The pictures are whimsical and a little old-fashioned at the same time. The message about the contagiousness of a smile is sweet - and ever so important in our consumer driven society.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

"A smile is really something you can only exchange and share!"

A boy has saved his money and is going to the market for the first time to buy something. There are so many wonderful things to look at that it's hard to decide what he wants to buy. But before he can make his decision, a skateboarder runs into him and most of the boy's money goes through the sewer grate. What can he possibly buy with one coin? At that moment, he sees a shop called Smile. Feeling that he needs a smile, he walks inside and asks if he can buy a small smile. The owner of the shop smiles at the boy and takes his picture, giving it to the boy for free.

[Kristi · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book follows the main character as he walks through a marketplace, trying to decide what to do with his pocket money that he saved up. When he loses the money, he encounters a smile shop. I liked the different market stalls/stores and how the story can lend itself to discussion regarding what would you like to save your money to buy. The smile shop itself, the skeptic in me thinks "is that photo really free?" BUT it does showcase how smiling itself can be exchanged for free. This book was received from Peachtree Publishing.

[Miss Pippi the Librarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great book for creating discussions.
You can talk about saving and spending, needs and wants, lost and found, money, cameras, smiles, markets, shopping, and business names.
It's a picture book that's a jumping off point for thinking, pondering, and sharing with others.

Reviewed from a library copy.