Thankful

Eileen Spinelli is a poet and picture book author with a talent for lovable stories that tug at the heart. She is the author of more than forty books for children, including Heat Wave, When You Are Happy, I Know It’s Autumn, Thanksgiving at the Tappletons’, Sophie’s Masterpiece, and Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch. Ms. Spinelli lives in Wayne, Pennsylvania.

PreS-Gr 1–In this charming picture book, two siblings look at people around them and imagine the things they are grateful for. “The waitress is thankful/for comfortable shoes./The local reporter, for interesting news./The gardener’s/thankful for/every green/sprout./The fireman,/for putting the fire out.” Additionally, an artist is thankful for color and light and a mayor is thankful for every vote. The same two children role-play the various professions throughout. Spinelli celebrates gratitude in simple rhyming couplets. The text is straightforward but helps support the whimsical illustrations that flow onto the following pages. Soft pastel images outlined in black highlight the details on the pages, as does the vast amount of white space. This book creates an opportunity for parents and children to talk about for whom and what they are thankful. VERDICT A must-have for library collections; great for one-on-one reading or for storytimes.–Megan McGinnis, Sachem Public Library, Holbrook, NY