A Bottle of Happiness: questions to ask and activities to try
Rich people on one side of the mountain, happy people on the other. A Bottle of Happiness is a timeless fable about what makes us happy, and whether it can be shared.
What age is it for? A Bottle of Happiness is best for ages 4–8. Good for: What happiness is, and whether you can share it.
A Bottle of Happiness (Pippa Goodhart and Ehsan Abdollahi)
- Age
- 4-8
- Best for
- What happiness is, and whether you can share it
Read it and talk about the two sides of the mountain. Which side would your child rather live on, and why?
What it helps with
- What makes people happy
- Money versus happiness
- Sharing and trading
- Kindness between different communities
Comprehension and discussion questions
Pick two or three, not all of them. “I don’t know” is a fine answer, and you can always come back to it another day.
- “What were the two sides of the mountain like?”
- “What did the boy want?”
- “What did he trade?”
- “How did the rich people react?”
- “Can you bottle happiness?”
- “What would you put in a bottle of happiness?”
5-minute activities to try together
Happiness jar
Fill a jar with notes of happy moments and open it on a sad day.
Share a story
Trade a story with someone for a smile.
Free printables: A Bottle of Happiness worksheet and activity pack
This book’s one-page worksheet with the questions and activities above, plus our activity pack: printable scenario cards, three 5-minute activities and a “What could I try?” page for practising everyday skills together. Enter your email and download them straight away.
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If your child liked this, try
Blue Monster Wants It All! (Jeanne Willis and Jenni Desmond)
- Best for
- Always wanting more, and what really makes us happy
- Age
- 3-7
The Smile Shop (Satoshi Kitamura)
- Best for
- Losing something, and finding kindness is worth more than money
- Age
- 3-7
To Market! To Market! (Anushka Ravishankar and Emanuele Scanziani)
- Best for
- Nonsense rhyme, and the fun of a busy market
- Age
- 3-7
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By the Growing Wise team · Last reviewed: 10 October 2026
Growing Wise offers educational ideas for parents and carers. It is not a substitute for professional medical, developmental or mental-health advice. As an Amazon Associate, Growing Wise earns from qualifying purchases.