In A Year of Good News, animated filmmaker Martin Smatana spreads happiness by sharing 52 good-news stories from around the world. In this uplifting collection of everyday, often inconspicuous stories, ably translated from Slovak by Julia and Peter Sherwood, Smatana puts "good news under the spotlight" and shows readers bright spots can always be found. Highlights include the Canadian post office sending postcards with messages of solidarity to every household in the country during the Covid-19 lockdown, and a 109-year-old Australian man knitting sweaters for penguins to stop them from swallowing oil while cleaning themselves following a spill. These touching, concise stories, just one or two sentences each, are accompanied by Smatana's charming textile illustrations made from leftover clothing scraps. Together, the stories and artwork provide hope and comfort. --Lana Barnes, freelance reviewer and proofreader