Book Review of Let’s Work Smarter
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The Children’s Book Review
Written by Katharine Mitropoulos
Illustrated by Laura Watson
Ages 4-6 | 32 Pages
Publisher: Set Sail Press (2024) | ISBN-13: 9798987462645
What to Expect: Teamwork, productivity, creativity, friendship, and leadership
It is never too early to understand that progress is not about working hard but finding the best way to achieve results. The message that we should work smarter, not harder, is one that many adults, who might also be struggling with this concept, would benefit from remembering too!
The animals of Harmony Lane are full of anticipation—they’ve raised enough funds at the farmer’s market to revamp their playground. Led by Mouse, they dive into the tasks with gusto, painting the fence, cleaning the sandbox, and planting a flower garden. However, after a whole morning of hard work, the friends are worn out, and their progress is minimal. As they pause for lunch, Mouse proposes a different approach. They don’t need to work harder—they need to work smarter. By thinking innovatively about the tasks and collaborating, the friends quickly transform their playground into a beautiful, inviting space.
In this cheerful picture book, a diverse cast of animal protagonists model teamwork, creative problem-solving, and leadership, showing readers how they can achieve their goals by “working smarter.” The artwork uses vibrant colors and crowded scenery to suggest fun, energy, and joy, as well as draw readers’ attention to the characters’ changing emotions. At the end of the book, an informational spread offers suggestions for how readers can try out different “worker smarter” strategies for themselves, all in a spirit of joy and fun.
Let’s Work Smarter is a simple but highly effective way to help readers develop a sustainable and fulfilling work ethos.
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About the Author
Katharine Mitropoulos dreamed of writing children’s books when she was young but never found the courage. Her journey as an author began later in life after degrees in psychology, linguistics, and speech-language pathology. While working as a speech-language pathologist in schools, ideas for stories started flooding in. Once she got married and had two children of her own, she found herself crafting bedtime stories and dream prompts. One day, she wrote down one of those stories, and that’s when Harmony Lane Adventures was born. In her spare time, Katharine loves to build furniture in her woodshop, eat ice cream with rainbow sprinkles, and run road races all over the state.
About the Illustrator
Laura Watson lives and works in downtown Toronto, Ontario, with her husband, teenage daughter, and a big orange dog named Red. A childhood spent drawing, painting, and making crafts led to art school to pursue studies in fine art and illustration. Since then, Laura has created lighthearted and whimsical illustrations for children’s books and magazines, textiles and stationery, and various children’s toys and puzzles. In her spare time, she runs at the beach, reads, and takes long, adventurous walks with her dog.
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