Customer Reviews

Thank You for Thanksgiving

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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].

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

Thank You for Thanksgiving is a colorful, rhyming picturebook designed to remind young people ages four to seven about the importance of thanking the Lord for his bounty during the Thanksgiving holiday season. The folksy, colorful art of a family coming together to celebrate and enjoy a bountiful feast perfectly complements the thoughtful, easy-to-read lyrics. "Roger's thankful he can play / Sports like football every day. // That's what I was going to say! / Now what am I thankful for? // What's a kid like me to do? / Talk to God and say what's true. // 'Lord, can I give thanks for You? / And thank You for Thanksgiving!'" An excellent, read-aloud gem of Christian holiday spirit.

Not only did the book arrive quickly, but it was in great condition too. The book itself is perfect for helping little ones understand the meaning of Thanksgiving. It depicts a family giving thanks to God around the dinner table. Kids need to see models like that in this day and age. The pictures are large enough for a group to see and the pages are extra thick paper so little hands can handle it without fear of ripping it too easily. I think this is one of the best books I have ever ordered for prechoolers and early elementary aged children. It's a hardback book with a dustcover but few words and wonderful pictures.