THE LAUGH

When happiness is hard to find, how do you move on?

Evans tells the story of a “lady who had the loveliest laugh in the world.” There are many different shades to her laugh; sometimes it is loud, other times quiet. Sometimes it is pretty; other times it is a bit wicked. It is often contagious and makes everyone around her join in. When she isn’t laughing, you still know it is there, in her eyes. Then, sadly, the lady dies, and her partner and daughter are left behind to try to find the laugh again, without success. Moving on seems impossible. Then, one day, out of nowhere, the laugh returns. In a simple metaphor for finding happiness again after the death of a loved one, this book sends a sensitive, focused message—that laughter and joy are possible. The short text directs the metaphor, while the organically rough illustrations fill in particular details about this family, like the mother and daughter’s playing in the garden or building a blanket fort, as well as the sickness leading up to the mother’s passing. The ending appears abruptly as soon as the girl laughs again and leaves readers wishing for even just a glimpse of what lies beyond this moment. The girl has light brown skin and reads biracial in the pictures; the mother is pale-skinned and the other parent is brown-skinned. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Heartfelt.