Thanks for Thanksgiving

Reviewed by Cayden (age 4) and Max (age 2) Aures and Mom for Reader Views (10/08) "Thanks for Thanksgiving" explores different things one could be thankful for. Some examples from the book are: "Thank you for play dates, for swings and for slides" and "Thanks for sweet puppies and soft, furry cats." Cayden: "I like Thanksgiving! That is when we eat turkey like they are! Look, that girl is sneaking a cookie and her mom doesn't know!" Max: "Look leaves!" Cayden: "We collected leaves when we went for a walk in the forest yesterday! I like different colored leaves." Cayden: "Look at all of those animals in the house! They sure have a lot of them!" Max: Pointing to each animal: "Dog, Cat, Bear, Lamb!" Max: "Play at park!" Cayden: "They are all going down the slide at the same time!" Max: "Me jump in puddles too!" Cayden: "He has rain boots on like you have Max!" Cayden: "I liked the pictures in the book. There were so many things to look at. I liked to count all of the animals on the pages. The people in the book do a lot of the same things that we do and I like books like that and so does Max! May I say thank you at Thanksgiving for some other things too?" Parent's comments: My children were able to relate to pretty much everything that happened in the book which was wonderful because they become more involved when the topics are familiar to them. The illustrations in the book were very busy and fun which both boys enjoyed! After I read each page, we probably spent an extra 30 seconds or so on each page looking at all of the different things that were going on. "Thanks for Thanksgiving" by Julie Markes is definitely a great book to teach children about the Thanksgiving holiday!

This is such a simple way to talk with a young child about all the things they like and are thankful for. The illustrations are wonderful and full of life and the story is all told in rhyme so it is a joy to read aloud. My two year old and I really enjoyed reading this together.

Wonderful book for teaching a young child the true meaning of Thanksgiving. Beautifully written and illustrated.

I bought this book for my (almost) three year old daughter. The illustrations are very nice and the story is sweet and simple, perfect for introducing a toddler to the meaning of Thanksgiving. I love that it gives thanks for everyday special things (family, friends, nature). A sure hit for young ones (and parents, too!).

I went to the bookstore to look for a book for my toddler on thanksgiving. While I wasn't quite sure what I wanted when I first arrived, after looking at several books, I quickly figured out what I didn't want. First, I didn't want a book with any TV characters. Second, I didn't want a book that mentioned pilgrims and American Indians; that bit of history just doesn't ring true to me and a meaningful discussion about that topic is simply not age-appropriate for a two-year-old. Finally, I didn't want a book that was shallow. I was fortunate to find something that satisfied what I wanted: a meaningful discussion about being thankful that a young child can grasp. This book celebrates thanksgiving by showing appreciation for the big and small things that occur in a young child's life, from "playdates, swings, and slides" to "dancing, music, and art." It also celebrates this time of year, thanking for autmumn and sled rides. And, it states clearly, that we should be most thankful for family. The illustrations are realistic, yet magical and captivating. If I were to search for a complaint it would be that the children in this book are all white. I suppose they are all from the same family and the family happens to be white, but wouldn't it have been nice if the author and/or illustrator showed several different families of color? Perhaps this is a missed opportunity. Still, I give the book five stars because the overall sentiment of this book is just right for toddlers and preschoolers. On the last page, there is a place to record your children's own thankful thoughts year to year. By first showing all the things one can be thankful for and then asking a child what he/she is thankful for captures the spirit of this holiday. The book, therefore, can be used as an opportunity to model, discuss, and share thanksgiving.