Thankful
Author: Eileen Spinelli
Author Website: http://www.eileenspinelli.com/Illustrator: Archie Preston
Publisher: Zonderkidz
ISBN: 978-0-310-7614-2
Word Count: 101
Published: 2015
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This story is perfect for ages: 0-2, 2-4
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Straight from Aunty LuLav
Thankful is a gentle, lilting book in simple rhyme moving us through the day of a happy family. The girl and her little brother play dress up, tend the garden, and play in the stream. Each activity highlights something for which to be thankful:
“The poet is thankful for words that rhyme.
The children for morning story time.”
The family members play various roles. We see Mom reading stories to the kids, keeping bees and teaching them how to sew. Dad cooks dinner and joins in the queen’s tea party. In the end, we discover the thing for which to be most thankful is – each other.
Scriptural Underpinnings & Positive Themes
LOVE & CONNECTEDNESS –
The family portrayed clearly loves each other and have a strong connection. You feel the happiness of the home. As the children play, we see mom and dad spending time with them, something most desired by the heart of every child.
THANKFUL HEARTS – It’s important to give thanks in all circumstances and this is modeled in the text. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.
Overall for Rhyme – 5/5 on the Aunty Lulav Rhyme-O-Meter
Illustrations
Like the text, the illustrations of Archie Preston are light and gentle. Simple line drawings with soft colors ease us comfortably into this happy family.
Representation
It is a Caucasian family – Mom, Dad, Girl and little Brother, who live in a small town / rural area.
A Pause
This is only a pause IF this bothers you. When giving thanks, it is never explicit that we thank God for these things. The text emphasizes being thankful – a heart matter – but we never cross the bridge to say be thankful to God.
That is a Picky Pause, but one that can be overcome as you read and open the dialogue with your child.
The End of the Matter
4/5 wavesThe end of the matter is that I am THANKFUL for this sweet book!
So wave your Lulav and Give Thanks – TO GOD!!
Amen!