My Heart Fills with Happiness: questions to ask and activities to try

What fills your heart with happiness? A gentle board book about noticing the simple joys of everyday life, from a loved one's face to dancing and drumming.

What age is My Heart Fills with Happiness for?

My Heart Fills with Happiness is best for ages 0–4.

My Heart Fills with Happiness (Monique Gray Smith and Julie Flett)

Age

0-4

Best for

Noticing what makes you happy, for the very youngest

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Only 50pMy Heart Fills with Happiness activity sheet3 printable pages: questions to talk about, a drawing and writing page, and notes for the grown-up. Instant PDF. See the sheet →

Just want the questions? Get the free question card ↓

What it helps with

• Naming happy feelings
• Noticing everyday joy
• Feeling loved
• Calm, close reading time

Comprehension and discussion questions for My Heart Fills with Happiness

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.

1. “What fills the child’s heart with happiness?”
2. “Which page do you like best?”
3. “Whose face makes you happy?”
4. “What smell makes you happy?”
5. “What do you like to do that makes you happy?”
6. “How does your body feel when you’re happy?”

For the full list of questions and more, download the PDF below.

5-minute activities to try together

My Heart Fills with Happiness activity sheet: printable worksheet and questions

All the questions and activities above on a ready-to-print activity sheet: questions tagged by reading skill with space to answer, a drawing and writing page with a self-check, and notes for the adult with curriculum links and a 20-minute session plan. Pay by card, PayPal or Payhip and download straight away.

• Page 1, talk about it: questions about the story, each tagged with the reading skill it practises, with space to answer or tick
• Page 2, my favourite part: a drawing box, a sentence starter and a “how did I do?” self-check
• Page 3, notes for the adult: curriculum links, a 20-minute session plan, extension activities, and support and challenge ideas

Buy the sheet for 50p

1. Read it togetherEnjoy the story first.
2. Ask 2 or 3 questionsFrom the list above, while everyone is calm.
3. Print the activity sheetAn activity sheet with questions, a drawing page and notes for you.

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Priced low on purpose. Every purchase helps keep the book guides, questions and the game free for everyone.

No PayPal account needed. Your download starts straight away. By buying, you agree to this and give up the 14-day right to cancel. Faulty or missing files are always replaced or refunded. Refunds

Use it as a lesson plan

A 20-minute session for ages 0–4 (nursery), for a class, a small group or one child at home.

1. Warm up (2 minutes). Show the cover and read the title. Ask: “What do you think this story will be about?”
2. Read aloud (6 minutes). Read it all the way through. Tip: Read it slowly and cuddle up. After each page, ask your child what fills their heart with happiness.
3. Talk about it (4 minutes). Pick two or three of the comprehension and discussion questions above. “What fills the child’s heart with happiness?” works well to start.
4. Activity (6 minutes). Do Happy heart. Cut out a big paper heart and fill it with drawings or photos of things that make your child happy. Children who finish early can try Happy moment.
5. Wrap up (2 minutes). Ask each child for one thing they will remember from the story, and why.

Want to go further? The My Heart Fills with Happiness activity sheet has these questions with space to answer, a drawing and writing page, and notes for the adult.

If your child liked this, try

A Great Big Cuddle (Michael Rosen and Chris Riddell)

Best for

Joining in with rhymes and sounds, and sharing feelings

Age

0-5

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Guess How Much I Love You (Sam McBratney and Anita Jeram)

Best for

Showing love, and finding words for big feelings

Age

1-4

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So Much (Trish Cooke and Helen Oxenbury)

Best for

Feeling loved by a big family

Age

0-5

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By the Growing Wise team · Last reviewed: 25 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.