Thank You for Thanksgiving [Hardcover]

Dandi Daley Mackall (Author), John Walker (Illustrator)

Book Description

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

Many families have the tradition of telling what they are thankful for at Thanksgiving dinner. Follow one boys Thanksgiving Day, and his struggle with what to say, when he is last in line to share what he is thankful for. Cleaver rhyming text and fun illustrations will make the reading of this book one of your family Thanksgiving traditions. Whats a kid like me to do? Talk to God and say whats true. Lord, I give thanks for You. And thank You for Thanksgiving!

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Concordia Publishing House (July 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0758615000
• ISBN-13: 978-0758615008
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 9.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,257,917 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dandi won her first writing contest as a 10-year-old tomboy. Her 50 words on "Why I Want to Be Batboy for the Kansas City A's" won first place, but the team wouldn't let a girl be batboy. It was her first taste of rejection.
Since then, Dandi Daley Mackall has become an award-winning author of over 400 books for children of all ages, with sales of 4 million copies in 22 countries. Recent picture books with Sleeping Bear Press include Legend of Ohio, Rudy Rides the Rails: A Depression Era Story (Notable Book 2008 - Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People National Council of Social Studies & Children's Book Council; winner of the Angel Award, 2008; Winner of the "Award of Excellence" from Chicago Book Show 2007) and 2008 release, A Girl Named Dan (her own "batboy" story, and a lesson on Title IX), 2 Mom's Choice Awards & Amelia Bloom Award. Eva Underground, Harcourt young adult novel, nominated ALA Best Book 2007, starred Kirkus review, awarded a Top Teen Read by New York Public Library, finalist for Ohioana Award, was based on the author's experiences behind the Iron Curtain. Love Rules was awarded Romantic Times' Top Pick. Middle-grade fiction, Larger-than-Life Lara, Dutton/Penguin, which teaches how to write, while tackling the problem of bullying, is on the KY Bluegrass Award List 2007-8; William Allan White Award list, 2008-9; KS and KY Children's Choice lists. Her Winnie the Horse Gentler series has sold over half a million books and Starlight Animal Rescue is a Gold Medallion finalist. Dandi received the 2009 Helen Keating Ott Award for distinguished contribution toward promoting high moral and ethical values in children and young adult literature. She also received the Distinguished Alumna Award in 2008 from the University of Missouri. Dandi is a national speaker, keynoting at conferences and Young Author events, and has made dozens of appearances on TV, including ABC, NBC, and CBS. Visit Dandi at www.dandibooks.com, winniethehorsegentler.com, and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85oaIUbJ8j8

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect Thanksgiving Book!, October 29, 2008

By 

Grateful Reader "Grateful Reader" (rural, Ohio) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Thank You for Thanksgiving (Hardcover)

It's so hard to find a contemporary Thanksgiving book that kids will love and parents will enjoy reading, too. This one has it all--fun, pitch-perfect meter and rhyme, and a rich theme. We'll be pulling this book out with Thanksgiving decorations every year.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Helping children to be thankful for what really matters this holiday season., October 20, 2008

By 

Shaun Tabatt (Cottage Grove, MN USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Thank You for Thanksgiving (Hardcover)

Thank You for Thanksgiving gives you an up close view into a day in the life of a family who is anxiously awaiting the arrival of their guests as they prepare for their Thanksgiving celebration. We follow the progression of their day as it moves from food preparation and decorating to the arrival of the long-awaited guests. The story finishes with the family sitting around the table, joined in a prayer of thanksgiving. The main character is last in line and worries whether there will be anything left for him to be thankful for. When his turn arrives, he expresses his thanks for the Lord and thanks Him for Thanksgiving.

There are three things that truly make this book stand out. First, there's the writing. The many clever rhymes make the story a delight to read. Second, there are the illustrations. All of the pictures have vibrant colors and excellent detail. I felt drawn into to each scene, especially by the warm expressions on everybody's faces. Third, there's the message. The message can be summed up in two parts. The first part is a pro-family message of working together towards a common goal and joining together in celebration. The second part is the importance of expressing our thankfulness to God through prayer for His gifts to us, especially for the gift of His son, Jesus Christ. I strongly encourage you to share this book with your family this holiday season. I trust it will be a blessing to your family just as it was to mine.


Dandi Daley Mackall is the author of more than 400 books. She has written on a wide range of topics and has an audience that ranges from the preschooler to the adult. Dandi lives with her husband and three children in West Salem, Ohio. You can learn more about Dandi and her books at [www.dandibooks.com].

John Walker is a graduate of the American Academy of Art. He has done work for well-known clients like McDonalds, National Geographic, United States Postal Service, and others. John lives with his wife, three children, and their curious black lab, Luke, near Chicago. You can learn more about John at [www.johnwalkerillustration.com].

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A great way to help kids think about thanks, October 15, 2008

By 

itsjustme (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Thank You for Thanksgiving (Hardcover)

If you're looking for a picture book to help your child understand the spiritual meaning behind Thanksgiving, Dandi Daley Mackall's "Thank You for Thanksgiving" is a good choice.

Written in Mackall's signature rhyming style, the book's voice is a young boy, enjoying Thanksgiving day. First, he appreciates the smell of pumpkin pie, has fun as he makes turkey place cards, and gets excited as relatives - with food - begin dropping in. Finally, dinner is ready and it's time to pray.

"Gramps goes first,
which means I'm last:
'Thanks for loved one from our past'
Guess I better think real fast...
What am I thankful for?"

Grandma gives thanks for God's love and for sending Jesus to earth, the boy's mom and dad give thanks for their children and family, and cousin Roger thanks God that he can play sports. Still not sure what to pray for, our young protagonist finally says: "Lord, can I give thanks for You? And thank You for Thanksgiving!"

What I Like: The focus on being thankful, while showing a young boy thinking hard about what he's most thankful for, is excellent. As a parent, I hope this encourages my own child to think hard about what she's thankful for. The illustrations by John Walker are realistic, while whimsical, and remind me - just a tad - of some of Normal Rockwell's paintings.

What I Dislike: Sometimes I find Mackall's rhymes a bit on the fluffy side and wish they had more substance, but overall, this book gets its point across well.

Overall Rating: Very Good.

Kristina Seleshanko
Managing Editor
Christian Children's Book Review