How to Be Happy with Who You Are | Puffin Chapter Book | Full-colour, Gorgeous Illustrations | Perfect Introduction to Sudha Murty | Ages 5+: A 4 in 1 ... | Giftable Hardback Edition | Ages 5+
‘True happiness comes not from comparison, but from accepting who we are.’
The young Princess of the Sea wants to be like her friends—strong like a mountain, sweet like a river, or full of life and colour like a tree. But with each change, she faces new surprises.
With the turn of seasons and shifting forms, she learns a gentle you shine brightest as yourself. A magical, thoughtful tale about nature, change and self-acceptance, this charming chapter book is the ideal introduction to the imaginative world of Sudha Murty.
Sudha Murty was born in 1950 in Shiggaon in north Karnataka. She did her MTech in computer science, and is now the chairperson of the Infosys Foundation. A prolific writer in English and Kannada, she has written nine novels, four technical books, three travelogues, one collection of short stories, three collections of non-fiction pieces and two books for children.
Her books have been translated into all the major Indian languages and have sold over three lakh copies around the country. She was the recipient of the R.K. Narayan's Award for Literature and the Padma Shri in 2006.
How to Be Happy With Who You Are is a lovely children’s story told in a fable-like tone. It follows a young Princess of the Sea who, teased by her friends, begins to believe that being a sea princess isn’t important—that the vast sea doesn’t really offer anything.
Saddened, she asks her father, the King of the Sea, to let her live the lives of her friends so she can be as happy as they are. But as she experiences their worlds, she learns her lesson the hard way—realizing the importance of the sea and discovering the true value of who she is.
The illustrations are vivid and enchanting—so expressive they could tell the story even without words. Yet, this being a Sudha Murty tale, her simple yet profound storytelling shines through. I loved the father-daughter relationship—the King’s patience, his gentle attempts to guide her, and his wisdom in letting her learn her own lesson rather than forcing understanding upon her.
The message is timeless: don’t compare your life to others, because everyone’s happiness carries unseen struggles. The story beautifully conveys that being content with who you are and grateful for what you have is the real path to happiness. What I particularly loved is how the author lets readers absorb this lesson through the princess’s journey rather than spelling it out in a preachy tone.
Overall, How to Be Happy With Who You Are is a charming and thoughtful children’s book about self-acceptance, gratitude, and finding joy in your own life—one that resonates with readers of all ages.
”True happiness comes not from comparison, but from accepting who we are. When we overlook what we lack and start valuing what we have, we find joy in simply being ourselves. Always count your blessings.”
- Sudha Murthy, How to be Happy with Who You Are
Princess of the sea was ridiculed for her salty water by her friends. She rushed to her wise father, the king of the sea and explained her predicament. The king patiently heard her woes and turned her into different life forms, each for a span of one year.
Each life form had its flaws — people blamed the river for floods, yet they destroyed trees and mountains to satisfy their own needs
Sudha Murthy weaves her wisdom into a playful story that can be enjoyed by children and adults alike. The key takeaways are succinctly expressed in the acknowledgement section of the book. The glossy pages gorgeously illustrated by Shruti Hemani give wings to the imagination of young minds.
Let this chapter book be the first lesson your child learns in their growing years and the adults too can derive happiness from the nuggets of wisdom it offers.