Customer Reviews

Gracias / Thanks (English and Spanish Edition)

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A young boy pushed back his blanket and rubbed his eye. The sun had woken him up and it was time to get up, take off his soft old pajamas and start his day. Later he was sitting on a bench enjoying the spring weather. He was writing and drawing in his journal thinking about the things he was thankful for. He smiled as a ladybug landed on his finger because that was something to be thankful for. When he was at the beach with his sister they would run into the "foamy waves" and that too was something to be thankful for.

"Por las abejas que no me
picaron y convirtieron en
un alfiletero, gracias>"

"For the bees that didn't
sting me and turn me into
a pincushion, thanks."

There were so many things that a boy could be thankful for, but a nice one was when Abuelita snuck him a bit of money when no one was looking. Friends, worms that helped him catch a "big fish," a brother who did silly things to make him laugh, Mom who found his lost homework, his uncle's music, a supportive family, the chocolate Dad poured on ice cream and last, but not least, those old pajamas that make him feel like he was "putting on air." Thank you!

This is a very endearing book about a young boy who is thankful for the ordinary things in his life. There is a charming two-page spread of the things this boy is thankful for. Each statement of thanks is done in both English and Spanish as the boy depicted is biracial and bilingual. I loved this simple story of appreciation and thought the artwork meshed quite well with the tale. The art work, rendered in acrylic, had an interesting vintage look to it with little scratches and "crazing" here and there. This book would be a lovely addition to any homeschool or classroom shelf!

Bilingual books are treasures - such an easy way to learn, so much fun, and a bringing together of cultures. Now, when that bilingual book also offers a moral it's tops! An apt description of GRACIAS THANKS.

Bold, colorful illustrations by graphic artist John Parra reflect his Hispanic heritage and capture not only the eye but the feeling of the narrative. Parra's pictures set the stage for simply put ideas, related very much as a child would as he or she thinks of all the things that merit appreciation.

For instance, "For the sun that wakes me up so I don't sleep for years and years and grow a long white beard. Thanks." Is that not the way a child might express this idea?

Or, "For my family, who clapped and clapped even when I tripped on the stage in the school play. Thanks." Kids can certainly relate to that.

Most of the observations are lighthearted, such as appreciation for a chocolate sauce called "warm mud" or an uncle's guitar that causes the dogs to howl. Yet the message is very clear - the world is a wonderful place and there is much for which we can be thankful and should express gratitude.

In a closing note Pat Mora reminds young readers, "Listing what I'm thankful for always makes me happy." This is a very happy book and highly recommended.

- Gail Cooke

Appreciate the Small Things in Life
Gracias Thanks
Pura Belpre Illustrator Honor Book- 2009
By: Pat Mora
Illustrated by: John Parra
Gracias Thanks is a poetic like writing in both English and Spanish. This is a great children's book for bilingual children or introduction of a new language. Pat Mora's words on every page make you think just how grateful we should be of all the small things in daily life.
This children's book is a great way to introduce children to appreciation of life. The story seems to be narrated from a child's perspective of life so that other children can relate. We are taken through the young boy's day as he starts the story by thinking the sun for waking him and ends with thanking the crickets for putting him to sleep. The illustrations only deepen the thoughtful expressions. The pictures are fun and bright filled. Each one of the images make you relate to that situation. This book is great for parents/caretakers to read with children so each of them can obtain a greater awareness of life's simple things. After reading this book, you can discuss what children should be thankful for.

Pat Mora has written a beautiful, bilingual children's book about a young boy who is thankful for the everyday things in life. He takes us on a journey of his list of all the simple things he is thankful for: ladybugs, his little brother, his best friend, his parents, his grandmother, his favorite pajamas, chocolate syrup, and the crickets that serenade him to sleep at night. The illustrations by John Parra make this book come to life before your very eyes. This book is recommended for reading levels 2-3 and interest level K-4.

The only thing I can add to other reviewer's comments is that this book's illustrations are so full of detail that I can use it not only to practice Spanish with the text, but also to learn the names of colors and objects depicted in the vivid illustrations. I can practice finding things I know, look up what I don't know, and practice counting the objects in Spanish. A fun way to learn and practice Spanish.

In this delightfully colorful childrens book by Pat Mora and illustrated by John Parra we follow a young boy throughout his entire day as he says thanks to everything that makes him happy. He starts by thanking the sun that wakes him and ends his day of thanks by thanking the cricket that serenades him to sleep in the night.
Not only can I read this book to my children in English but my boyfriend can read this book to my children in Spanish! This book is truelly a treasured addition to my childrens home library!
This book is also a great conversation starter! After reading it you and your children can talk about the little things in your day that you are thankful for!

"Gracias * Thanks" is a bilingual children's story told in poetic phrases of wonderful things for which a boy gives thanks. Written in Spanish and English and beautifully illustrated with full two-page spread mural-like pictures, "Gracias * Thanks" is the perfect book to give any child between 4 and 9 for Thanksgiving or any other holiday. Reading it together will help both the child and parent/caretaker feel the deep awareness of gratitude for all of life's varied experiences.