The Perfect Thanksgiving [Hardcover]

Eileen Spinelli (Author), JoAnn Adinolfi (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

"Our smoke alarm is wailing.
Our turkey, burnt as toast.
Dad spills the gravy down his shirt-
a less-than-perfect host".

Enter two families who couldn't be more opposite. Family one seems just perfect-with a plump golden turkey, gorgeous whipped cream swirls atop their pie, and lace napkins on the table. Family two, on the other hand, seems far from it! The turkey burns, the Jell-O wiggles and jiggles right to the floor, and Dad's shirt serves as napkin. What could these two very different families possibly have in common?

Full of whimsy, good spirit, and certainly familial love, this laugh-aloud picture book is sure to add spice to any Thanksgiving feast.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 3-In this tale of two Thanksgivings, a young girl compares her own family's chaotic and less-than-genteel holiday celebration with that of another family, which "is perfect in every way." At that house, "Abigail Archer's father/serves white meat all around./Everyone takes dainty bites,/and no one makes a sound," while at her own home, "My grandpa chews the gizzards./My brother chomps the wings./My sister slurps. My uncle burps./And Aunt Clarissa sings." The jaunty, rhyming text continues to reveal the many contrasts between the two clans, until the final page, when the narrator points out one important similarity, highlighting "-just how loving/our different families are." Combining gouache, colored pencil, and collage, the mixed-media artwork extends the humor of the story. The child-friendly tone is set on the title page, which shows a close-up of the girl's arms, one hand tracing the other with a crayon. The resulting hand turkey, finished off with feathers and features, runs through the pages, taking part in the action and making sly comments. Whether reflecting the serenity at one household or the chaos at the other, the vivid double-page artwork is filled with action and energy. Colorfully clothed characters, vibrant backgrounds, and almost touchable textures make each page fresh and appealing. Filled with warm humor and taking a fresh approach, this title is the perfect antidote to ho-hum holiday books.
Joy Fleishhacker, formerly at School Library Journal
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

PreS-Gr. 2. The Archer family is perfect, especially on Thanksgiving, when their turkey is plump and golden, / their napkins are made of lace / their table is lit with candles / they all hold hands for grace." Meanwhile, at the narrator's house, the smoke alarm is wailing, the turkey is burnt, and Dad has spilled the gravy down his shirt. Spinelli goes to the well several times too often with her comparisons, as when the narrator's family "can't tell peas from green legumes / or snails from escargot," but kids who have noticed how celebrations can vary from house to house will identify with the point she makes. Adinolfi uses gouache, colored pencils, and collage on craft paper to create energetic pictures, which she peoples with geometrically shaped family members, who are either pursuing perfection or taking part in controlled chaos. Hand-printed asides add extra fun for kids old enough to read. Ilene Cooper
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR); First Edition edition (September 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805065318
• ISBN-13: 978-0805065312
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 9 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,097,890 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Eileen Spinelli is no stranger to the Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers list. Since her debut in 1991 with Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch, an IRA/CBC Children's Choice book and Christopher Award winner, she has gone on to author numerous picture books, poetry collections, and chapter books, including the best-selling When Mama Comes Home Tonight, and the critically acclaimed Sophie's Masterpiece. Eileen lives in West Chester, Pennsylvania.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Perfect Book for The Perfect Thanksgiving, August 17, 2004

By 

Christine G. "Chris" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Perfect Thanksgiving (Hardcover)

What a perfect book to read to the kids on Thanksgiving. This book shows that we are all the same on the inside even if we are different on the outside. This is the message we need to be sending to our children. I have many nieces and nephews, lots of friends with children, and three of my own. The kids really loved this story!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Light-hearted study in contrasts, November 24, 2003

By 

E. S. Will "a new leaf" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Perfect Thanksgiving (Hardcover)

An attentive little girl compares Thanksgiving at her own home and that of Abigail Archer, whose family "is perfect in every way":

"Their turkey is plump and golden.
Their napkins are made of lace.
Their table is lit with candles.
They all hold hands for grace."

In her house, the smoke alarm wails, sister slurps and uncle burps. Instead of homemade pie with fancy whipped-cream swirls, they have a Jell-O mold that wiggles off its plate and onto the floor.

Lighthearted paper-collage illustrations contrast the serenity of one family with the pandemonium of the other. Despite their differences, however, both families are alike in their love for one another.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cute as can be!, November 24, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Perfect Thanksgiving (Hardcover)

As a mom with many imperfect Thanksgivings behind me, I loved this book! The images of both the perfect and imperfect Thanksgivings were great. Kids probably won't "get" all of it, but the best children's writing (not to mention cartoons) always has a few inside jokes to keep us grownups interested. You will not find a more fun book about Thanksgiving.