An Easter story for young readers. This is the tale of a little church mouse named Cheerful who lives in the city with his parents; his brother, Solemnity; and his sisters, Faith and Hope.

. . Teenager Lizzie Vogel has a new job as a dental assistant. This is not as glamorous as it sounds. At least it means mostly getting away from her alcoholic, nymphomaniacal, novel-writing mother.

Among their number is Gwyneth Lewis. And she set about writing this book simply because she wished something like it had existed for her when she was in the middle of her depression. Depression is assassination.

Introduction: A contagion, a power -- Early modern cheerfulness.

"A brilliant, bittersweet upstairs-downstairs comedy."--Guardian

A fabulously sunny picture book for the optimist in all of us (or the optimist we wish we could be!) Right from the moment Chick is born, she wants to lead the other animals in cheer!

A portion of the sale of this book will be donated to Reading Partners, a youth literacy program, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Charleston, South Carolina.