--- title: "Children's Book Notes: The Happy Jar" description: "Barb Szyszkiewicz, OFS reviews CatholicMom.com contributor Jake Frost's new children's book, \"The Happy Jar,\" a sweet story of the daddy-daughter bond." --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2017/05/02/childrens-book-notes-happy-jar#) # Children's Book Notes: The Happy Jar May 2, 2017 1:00:15 PM  |  by [Barb Szyszkiewicz](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/barb-szyszkiewicz-ofs) [![Book-Notes-720-x-340-dark-gold-outline-and-medium-blue-pen-_-Notes-light-blue-702x336](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Book-Notes-720-x-340-dark-gold-outline-and-medium-blue-pen-_-Notes-light-blue-702x336-235.png?width=702&height=336&name=Book-Notes-720-x-340-dark-gold-outline-and-medium-blue-pen-_-Notes-light-blue-702x336-235.png)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Book-Notes-720-x-340-dark-gold-outline-and-medium-blue-pen-_-Notes-light-blue-702x336-235.png) I'm always happy to review children's books. I may not be reading them along with (or ahead of) my kids anymore, but since I volunteer in the school library, I spend a few hours each week surrounded by children's books and children asking for book recommendations. Jake Frost's new picture book, ***[The Happy Jar](https://www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/1545100403/catholicmom)***, is one I'll definitely recommend to young readers, but I think it's most effective as a read-aloud. That's because ***[The Happy Jar](https://www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/1545100403/catholicmom)***, as the back-cover blurb indicates, is "about life's little moments and the love that transforms them into memories for a lifetime." Jake's inspiration for this book was an idea his oldest child came up with when she was only four years old. In the book, the little girl explains, > "Every night when we say our prayers, we also say something from the day that goes in our Happy Jar, and we thank Jesus for it." What a wonderful bedtime-prayer ritual, and what a great story of the daddy-daughter bond. Then again, the bond between father and child is the signature topic for [Jake Frost](http://catholicmom.com/author/jfrost/), and one he explores with great humor and tenderness. [tweet "Children's book celebrates the daddy-daughter bond. Review by @franciscanmom"] The illustrations in this book stand apart from many of the children's books that are published today. While these illustrations are brightly-colored, they're not garish or glaring. They're simple and engaging, just right for a bedtime-story book. When you read ***[The Happy Jar](https://www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/1545100403/catholicmom)*** with your young child, you'll be reminded that the best memories don't have to cost a lot of money. Many of the best memories don't cost any money: they're just based on time spent together, having fun, letting children use their imaginations and enjoying the world around you. After you read ***[The Happy Jar](https://www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/1545100403/catholicmom)*** with your young child, ask what they would like to add to their "happy jar" that day. I know it's early to be thinking about Father's Day already, but this book is a perfect gift for a small child to give to Daddy on Father's Day. [![](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/happy-jar-1.jpg?width=640&height=800&name=happy-jar-1.jpg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/happy-jar-1.jpg) **Buy this book through our Amazon link and support CatholicMom.com with your purchase!** **Be sure to check out [our Book Notes archive](http://catholicmom.com/category/book-notes/).** *Copyright 2017 Barb Szyszkiewicz, OFS*   ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2017%2F05%2F02%2Fchildrens-book-notes-happy-jar%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2017%2F05%2F02%2Fchildrens-book-notes-happy-jar%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2017%2F05%2F02%2Fchildrens-book-notes-happy-jar%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Children%27s%20Book%20Notes%3A%20The%20Happy%20Jar) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2017%2F05%2F02%2Fchildrens-book-notes-happy-jar%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2017%2F05%2F02%2Fchildrens-book-notes-happy-jar%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Barb Szyszkiewicz](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/BSzyszkiewicz%202022.jpg) ### [Barb Szyszkiewicz](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/barb-szyszkiewicz-ofs) Barb Szyszkiewicz, senior editor at [CatholicMom.com](http://catholicmom.com), is a wife, mom of 3 young adults, and a Secular Franciscan. Barb enjoys writing, cooking, and reading, and is a music minister at her parish. Find her blog at [FranciscanMom](http://franciscanmom.com) and her family’s favorite recipes with nutrition information at [Cook and Count](http://cookandcount.wordpress.com). Barb is the author of *[The Handy Little Guide to Prayer](https://amzn.to/2LQB2oL)* and * [The Handy Little Guide to the Liturgy of the Hours](https://amzn.to/3wbDB8k)*, available from Our Sunday Visitor. ## Related Blog Articles [ Book Notes: Poetry grounded in history Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2018/10/15/book-notes-poetry-grounded-in-history/) [ Children's Books About the Eucharist Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/childrens-books-about-the-eucharist) [ New Children's Books from a Catholic Illustrator Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/new-childrens-books-from-a-catholic-illustrator) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! 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