Thankful [Hardcover]

Thankful, Eileen Spinelli's rhyming picture book, illustrated by Archie Preston introduces youngsters age four to eight to a 'lovable pair of siblings.' Their story and pictures demonstrate an important spirit of appreciation and gratitude.Memorable couplets and colorful illustrations of gardeners, firemen, dancers and more illustrate their reasons to be grateful, such as the example in the opening rhyme.'The waitress is thankful for comfortable shoes.' 'The local reporter for interesting news.'This timeless message of gratitude and appreciation.PreS-Gr 1In 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 gardeners/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, NYSpinelli lists many things for which people are thankful. The pictures tell a pleasing counterpoint to this deceptively simple rhyme. It begins 'The waitress is thankful for comfortable shoes. / The local reporter, for interesting news.' The pictures show a little girl playing waitress to her brother, who playacts the reporter. The news gets interesting when the girl trips over the (omnipresent) cat. As the poem continues, the Caucasian chiló#