A person might ask, sure the book is about attaining happiness but isn’t life about more than just being happy? That’s a philosophical argument that could, potentially, come out of reading this book with your kid. I mean, sure Riley’s happy, but isn’t the book arguing that if you do what you want (say, for example, watch TV all day) at all times then your life is complete? Or is it just saying that materialism itself is the culprit here and that we need to go out and enjoy the finer things in life when we have the chance? So it is that I ask you, when was the last time a picture book brought such thoughts to mind? I don’t think “Riley” answers these questions, necessarily. I just think that it brings up all kinds of ideal topics for discussion and consideration.