Link to Abiyoyo InfoLink to Abiyoyo Returns InfoLink to W is for Windy City, A Chicago Alphabet InfoLink to The Hundredth Name InfoLink to Kevin and His Dad InfoLink to Some Friends to Feed, The Story of Stone Soup InfoLink to Jonathan and His Mommy InfoLink to The History of Counting InfoLink to Jackie Robinson InfoLink to The Gold Cadillac InfoLink to Pedro and the Monkey InfoLink to Three Wishes InfoLink to Hello, Tree! InfoLink to K is For Kiss Goodnight InfoLink to The Tin Heart InfoLink to My Father Doesn’t Know About the Woods and Me InfoLink to A Birthday for Blue InfoLink to Storm InfoLink to Holding on to Sunday InfoLink to The Boy Who Was Generous with Salt InfoLink to The Boy Who Loved Morning InfoLink to Because You’re Lucky Info
Abiyoyo Story Arts
Jump to previous picture bookJump to next picture book


Because You’re Lucky Cover art by Michael Hays ©2010

Irene Smalls is the author of Irene and the Big, Fine Nickel; Louise’s Gift; and Irene Jennie and The Christmas Masquerade: The Johnkankus, all published by Little, Brown. Ms. Smalls is a graduate of Cornell University and has an M.B.A. from New York University. She has three children – Dawn, Kevin Logan, and Jonathan and lives in Boston.
















Because You’re Lucky

by Irene Smalls
illustrated by Michael Hays

Little, Brown and Company 1997

Jonathan isn’t very happy when his cousin Kevin comes to live with him and his family. The newcomer arrives with no luggage, no parents – not even a toothbrush. Jonathan has to share everything with Kevin – his clothes, his bedroom, his mother, even his school!

Nothing is the same once Kevin arrives. When Jonathan gets angry and asks his mother why he has to share so much with Kevin, she tells him, “Because you’re lucky.” But Jonathan doesn’t think he’s lucky at all. Kevin is different. Kevin is an intruder. Why can’t he just go away?

Kevin doesn’t go away, and in time, Jonathan comes to understand his mother’s words. This is a simple story of how families can change and grow in ways that they are lucky to discover.

Because You’re Lucky art by Michael Hays ©2010