The Smile Thief by Fatou Keïta

The story revolves around a village whose happiness is threatened by a dark force. A wicked witch who hates all forms of fun and laughter uses her dark magic to steal the smiles from all the children in the village.

The children become glum, quiet, and unable to enjoy themselves. However, the witch's magic fails to work completely on one brave little girl named Soukey. Soukey is resilient and, despite the gloom surrounding her, she keeps on smiling and laughing.

The plot follows Soukey as she attempts to break the witch's powerful spell. Her unwavering joy and laughter are the keys to defeating the wicked witch and helping the other children recover their stolen smiles and bring happiness back to the entire village.