Thanksgiving Friends

PreS–Adorable illustrations combined with lighthearted text highlight the important elements of Thanksgiving. As an added bonus, some pages offer special tactile opportunities for children. For example, the title opens with a bear cub, who has soft fur on its belly that children can feel, explaining what day it is; “We are grateful for this day. It’s Thanksgiving. Hip, hip, hooray!” The next page shows Mama bear with a cub and fawn mixing something special in a bowl for supper. Fox is nearby on a footstool washing dishes, while a mouse assists in the sink rinsing a spoon. These friends, plus a few others on later pages, appear throughout the story celebrating their time together in activities that will be familiar to many children. The title ends reiterating the message of the story: “Friendship, laughter, food, and play–we’re grateful for this holiday! Happy Thanksgiving!” Providing a good introduction on things to be thankful for, this book will be relatable for young children; the illustrations also lend themselves to discussions children can have with their grown-ups. The message and format of this book are winners. The story is written in a way to appeal to young children, and the well-done illustrations will capture their imaginations.VERDICT Highly recommended for public and preschool libraries, this sweet holiday title is a perfect introduction for young children to Thanksgiving.—School Library Journal