When I Feel Happy

A graceful crane symbolizes happiness in this lyrical picture book about longing, wonder, and learning to let go.

As atmospheric and poetic as the previous books in Britta Teckentrup’s series about emotions, this evocative story explores the fleeting and enduring nature of happiness.
A young girl watches a crane soar overhead and wants to keep it close, but whenever she draws near, it slips away. She follows the crane across landscapes filled with beauty and possibility, determined to catch it and make it stay.
Then one day, of its own volition, the crane comes to her. Together they dance, glide through the sky, and revel in the feeling she has been seeking. But when the time comes for the bird to leave, she discovers that even the happiest moments cannot last forever.
As the crane disappears into the distance, leaving behind a single feather, the girl comes to understand that life’s brightest moments do not need to be held onto to be cherished—and that they can be found again in both extraordinary adventures and quiet everyday experiences.
Featuring Teckentrup’s signature graceful illustrations and spare, poetic text, this picture book offers a moving meditation on the many forms happiness can take—from gentle exuberance to lasting contentment. Ideal for sharing at home, in classrooms, and in libraries, it encourages conversations about feelings while helping children better understand their own complex emotions and develop empathy for others.