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readmayahread's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.0
mariethelibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
I really adored this book. I could hear Miranda Hart while reading it and I love the message about kids putting too much pressure and responsibility on themselves. Its so sad but also funny and heartwarming.
ashuualert's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
hannabaorange's review against another edition
3.0
Good but hard to read as an adult haha my imagination just doesn't do fantasy like it used to...
marryallthepeople's review against another edition
4.0
Oh what a delight! For many reasons this book hit all the right points for me and I am going to write an inscription in the front cover and leave it for my daughter and I to read together in about 6 years!! It was lovely.
maireador20's review against another edition
1.0
1.5/5 good idea poorly executed. A very heavy handed story designed to teach children it's OK not to be happy all the time and that they are not responsible for adults' bad moods. Suitable for confident readers aged 7+, I'm sure some children will relate to Chloe and enjoy her adventures in MagicLand but I struggled to get through this myself, finding it overly verbose and irritatingly formatted, though I did like some of the illustration pages dotted throughout the text.
rachael_amber's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
amyboughner's review against another edition
5.0
Read this with my daughter as a bedtime story and we both very much enjoyed it. When I closed the book for the last time she asked me if there would be more.
amysreading_nook's review
4.0
“A smile is important in life, but so is being honest about how you are feeling, so those who love you can help you when your smile is flagging. There will be difficult days and times in every person’s life. And that’s all right. All you have to do is share, and ask for what you need”
“You never know what goodness a smile can bring”
SYNOPSIS:
Chloe Long has the worlds biggest smile, but there’s only one problem, she’s lost it. She’s looked everywhere for it – under the pillow, with her friends, with her parents, and in the mirror – but she just can’t find it. The more her smile stays gone, the more Chloe finds her life falling apart. Until one night, a giant and a fairy arrive at Chloe’s window and tell her they know where her smile is, and they can help her get it back. Chloe finds herself on an adventure, but she soon learns not every adventure is a good one….
REVIEW:
I am a big fan of Miranda Hart as a Comedian – absolutely adored her show, and enjoyed reading her autobiography – Is It Just Me? It also helps that Miranda stars in one of my new favourite shows – Call the Midwife. So I was thrilled to discover that Miranda had written a book – albiet a children’s book 😅
What I absolutely love about this book is that it deals with real issues – Chloe’s parents are struggling in their relationship and on the verge of divorce, and unintentionally, this is causing them to neglect Chloe. Miranda didn’t hold back on the impact this behaviour has on children and the effects it can have on their emotional wellbeing – Chloe internalises their behaviour, and like most children, feels she is to blame for their unhappiness. I feel this book really drums home the message that children should’t feel responsible for adults emotions; such an important message but shared in such a good way.
The story itself is so magical and heart-warming; I did find myself feeling sad throughout this book, and my heart just wrenched for Chloe. She is a character who has such an enormous heart and just wants the best for everyone, and I found myself getting so furious with her parents – just buy her a bloody duvet!!! Things aren’t all gloomy for Chloe though – she has a tiny rocket of a Gran who uplifts her life and her new friends Godfrey and Hoppy – I loved these characters, especially Godfrey’s powers to change size and shape – just magical. Chloe has such a wonderful imagination, that leads to her developing this Magic Land full of giant snakes and ladders, Sand King and Queen, and a wonderful land called Snuffledom – I would love to go to Snuffledom – fluffy baby animals of all kinds just waiting to be played with – sign me up 😍. Chloe has to deal with Magic Land slowly being taken over by some dark shadows – and finds that she is the only one that can save it.
I honestly just loved this story. It was sweet, but sad, and heart-warming all wrapped into one. There are also fabulous illustrations throughout by Kate Hindley which are so delightful. There are lovely (and corny) jokes and it really has Miranda’s style of writing stamped all over it. This story was a delight for me; it wasn’t just a random story it had a proper thought out message, and deals with some pretty hard hitting stuff that children do actually deal with. The only reason I gave it four stars because it is clearly written for an audience much younger than me – I will definitely be keeping an eye out for more stories from Miranda.
“You never know what goodness a smile can bring”
SYNOPSIS:
Chloe Long has the worlds biggest smile, but there’s only one problem, she’s lost it. She’s looked everywhere for it – under the pillow, with her friends, with her parents, and in the mirror – but she just can’t find it. The more her smile stays gone, the more Chloe finds her life falling apart. Until one night, a giant and a fairy arrive at Chloe’s window and tell her they know where her smile is, and they can help her get it back. Chloe finds herself on an adventure, but she soon learns not every adventure is a good one….
REVIEW:
I am a big fan of Miranda Hart as a Comedian – absolutely adored her show, and enjoyed reading her autobiography – Is It Just Me? It also helps that Miranda stars in one of my new favourite shows – Call the Midwife. So I was thrilled to discover that Miranda had written a book – albiet a children’s book 😅
What I absolutely love about this book is that it deals with real issues – Chloe’s parents are struggling in their relationship and on the verge of divorce, and unintentionally, this is causing them to neglect Chloe. Miranda didn’t hold back on the impact this behaviour has on children and the effects it can have on their emotional wellbeing – Chloe internalises their behaviour, and like most children, feels she is to blame for their unhappiness. I feel this book really drums home the message that children should’t feel responsible for adults emotions; such an important message but shared in such a good way.
The story itself is so magical and heart-warming; I did find myself feeling sad throughout this book, and my heart just wrenched for Chloe. She is a character who has such an enormous heart and just wants the best for everyone, and I found myself getting so furious with her parents – just buy her a bloody duvet!!! Things aren’t all gloomy for Chloe though – she has a tiny rocket of a Gran who uplifts her life and her new friends Godfrey and Hoppy – I loved these characters, especially Godfrey’s powers to change size and shape – just magical. Chloe has such a wonderful imagination, that leads to her developing this Magic Land full of giant snakes and ladders, Sand King and Queen, and a wonderful land called Snuffledom – I would love to go to Snuffledom – fluffy baby animals of all kinds just waiting to be played with – sign me up 😍. Chloe has to deal with Magic Land slowly being taken over by some dark shadows – and finds that she is the only one that can save it.
I honestly just loved this story. It was sweet, but sad, and heart-warming all wrapped into one. There are also fabulous illustrations throughout by Kate Hindley which are so delightful. There are lovely (and corny) jokes and it really has Miranda’s style of writing stamped all over it. This story was a delight for me; it wasn’t just a random story it had a proper thought out message, and deals with some pretty hard hitting stuff that children do actually deal with. The only reason I gave it four stars because it is clearly written for an audience much younger than me – I will definitely be keeping an eye out for more stories from Miranda.
lovelyreads13's review against another edition
5.0
I’m an avid fan of Miranda, both the comedian and TV show so I was curious to see if I would enjoy her first children’s book. Some of her other books have been a bit hit and miss for me but the premise of this book sounded like just my sort of thing.
The girl with the lost smile, is a moving story about a girl called Chloe Long who has lost her smile. She is a courageous, positive spirited and imaginative girl. As we step into her world, we discover why she has lost her smile, and with the help of her imagination, she finds hope.
I suppose you could say this book was classed as magical realism, as we learn about Chloe’s magic land and I thought this aspect was beautifully written. Chloe’s journey through the book, was quite emotional from time to time, and found a special place in my heart. One of my favourite reads of 2020 so far!
The girl with the lost smile, is a moving story about a girl called Chloe Long who has lost her smile. She is a courageous, positive spirited and imaginative girl. As we step into her world, we discover why she has lost her smile, and with the help of her imagination, she finds hope.
I suppose you could say this book was classed as magical realism, as we learn about Chloe’s magic land and I thought this aspect was beautifully written. Chloe’s journey through the book, was quite emotional from time to time, and found a special place in my heart. One of my favourite reads of 2020 so far!