Books Like Smile, Ernest and Celestine
Families who loved Smile, Ernest and Celestine by Gabrielle Vincent often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
Families who loved Smile, Ernest and Celestine by Gabrielle Vincent often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
Reach for this book when your child feels overlooked or asks why they aren't included in stories and photos from before they were born. This gentle story follows Celestine, a small mouse, who discovers that her guardian, Ernest the bear, has a collection of old photographs that do not include her. Her feelings of exclusion and jealousy are met with deep empathy and a creative solution. Through beautiful watercolor illustrations, the book explores the nuances of belonging and the reassurance that a child's place in a family is secure, even if they weren't always there. It is a perfect choice for children aged 3 to 7 who are navigating their identity within a family unit or experiencing minor feelings of displacement. Parents will appreciate how Ernest validates Celestine's feelings without dismissal, modeling a patient and loving response to a child's emotional vulnerability.
