Misery Is a Smell In Your Backpack by Harriet Ziefert is all about Murphy's Law in my opinion. What can go wrong will go wrong. The overall message in the story is that things go wrong, but there could always be something worse. I think students can learn about both Murphy's Law and optimism. Your outlook on a particular situation can either make the situation better or worse. ( )

Misery Is a Smell In your Backpack, is a book of all things that are miserable that could possibly happen like getting your dead fish out from the tank but remembering that tomorrow is a better day. ( )

This book is about a young kids having multiple miserable experiences that all kids probably will encounter at some point in their lives, such as, being grounded, being made fun of, feeling angry, upset and sad. The illustartions are awkward and very unpleasing to the eye, but the moral of the story is that no matter how bad things are there will also be good days. This book reminds you to keep your head up. ( )