Thankful

by Eileen Spinelli, 艾琳·斯皮内利

一对姐弟在玩过家家游戏,他们模仿周围的人,感谢生活中美好的事情-- 服务员感谢舒适的鞋子； 园丁感谢每一棵嫩芽； 医生感谢病人的康复； 养蜂人感谢蜜蜂一家…… 最后,他们学会了感谢彼此。

Genres: Picture Books, Thanksgiving, Childrens, Storytime, Holiday, Family, Poetry

Hardcover

First published September 1, 2015

About the author

Eileen Spinelli is an award-winning children's book author from southeastern Pennsylvania. She has written over 100 picture books and novels for children. Her husband is Jerry Spinelli, who also writes books for children.

Reviews

[Afaf Ammar · Rating 4 out of 5]

قصة مصورة شعرية دافئة ،
أحببتها 💜💜

💕The gardener's thankful for every green
sprout,
The poet is thankful for words that rhyme,
The children for morning story time,
The artist is thankful for color and light,
The queen is thankful for afternoon tea,
The beekeeper for the honey bee
The birder is thankful to list a new bird
The crafter is thankful for glitter and glow,
And me?
I'm ever, so thankful...
for you mom💕

29.11.2021

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sweet book about not taking anything for granted, with lovely, simple illustrations by Archie Preston.

[Vera Godley · Rating 5 out of 5]

It behooves parents to instill in their children at a very young age the grace of being thankful. Not just thankful for their food by saying a blessing, or grace, at mealtime; but by being thankful for the enormous blessings as well as the seemingly trite or mundane. Eileen Spinelli has with limited rhyming text taken the child through their world and shown how to be thankful.

"The poet is thankful for words that rhyme.
The children for morning story time.
The artist is thankful for color and light.
The clown, for her costume silly and bright."

The simple illustrations in soft tones and tiny images are light, airy, and fun. As ways to be thankful are being read to the young child, it will generate their lively imagination to find and express other things and blessings for which they can be thankful. Hey! Don't forget to be thankful for the doorknobs!

So as you step outside today, imagine a little child holding your hand and you hear the birds singing. Speak a word of thankfulness for the lovely bird-song - and you'll instill a heart of thankfulness in the child.

Thankful is a lovely book to grace the home, school, church, or public library.

DISCLOSURE: A complimentary copy was provided by the BookLook Blogger Review Program on behalf of Zondervan to facilitate this review. Opinions as those of the reviewer. No compensation was received for this review.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rhyming text presents many small things to be thankful for. Humor is worked into the ink and watercolor artwork that reminds me of Quentin Blake in the best way.

Nice title for sharing during Thanksgiving season or everyday. PreK-2.

[Ronan Crutchfield]

This book was very soothing ☺️

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

THANKFUL makes for a more thoughtful story to share during a season when so much media is focused on Thanksgiving gluttony. A community full of people share the little things they are thankful for, from a healthy garden to spotting a new type of bird.

[Wendy Keel · Rating 5 out of 5]

THANKFUL is a cute well written read. The board book makes for easy cleaning. The pictures are engaging and fun and funny. This is a great book to read to children during the fall but also any other time you want to remind them to find things to be thankful for in life. The book is one you'll be thankful to have in your library for your kids and grandkids. A wonderful addition to any library or school room.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

THANKFUL is a cute board book that lists things various people might be thankful for. It would be a good conversation starter to having your child list things he/she is thankful for. With Thanksgiving approaching, this would be a great "I'm thankful for you" gift for your favorite child.
I was given a copy free. All opinions are my own.

[Viviane Elbee · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice poem, where each "character" is thankful for something - although in the illustrations it soon becomes clear that this book features the same characters from one family, all in their different roles (waitress, gardener, chef, dancer, clown etc...). Kids enjoyed it.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet story that celebrates an attitude of thankfulness as well as a child's imagination. Nothing particularly "Thanksgiving"-themed here, so good year-round, but also perfectly suitable for any time of year.

[Ashlynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple and effective.

[mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was adorable, and I really liked the art style.

[Savannah Hendricks · Rating 5 out of 5]

The perfect story for bedtime. Calm and delightfully illustrated.

[Mandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet book about being thankful for every little thing 💝

[Nora St Laurent · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had read an enjoyed another book by this author titled, “Nora’s Ark,” which made me want to read another book by them. This book is illustrated by Archie Preston who captures readers’ attention and brings the story to life in a unique way.

This book is fun to read with little ones as they enjoy the illustrations and message inside. The author talks about all that we have to be thankful for. The pictures show two children role playing different professions as they look at each and see what they might be thankful for.

This author helps children and parents think about all the different people that make up their community and look at family members in a new light. There is much to be thankful for. This book not only creates an opportunity for parents and children to talk about the subject of what to be thankful for but it also helps them look at all the people in their world and community in a different way. t helps the reader see the lives they touch and those they are grateful for.

This is a beautifully illustrated story that is fun to look at and read. I can see this being a family favorite!

Disclosure of Material Connection: #AD Sponsor
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the Book Look for Bloggers site. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Nora St Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins! www.bookfun.org
The Book Club Network blog www.psalm516.blogspot.com
Book Fun Magazine www.bookfunmagazine.com

[Emmaline MacBeath · Rating 5 out of 5]

SUMMARY: A brother and sister act out different professions and the things each one is thankful for. The story is told in rhyme.

ILLUSTRATIONS: There is a lot of action in the illustrations. The children look like they are having a great time making you want to join in the fun.

SUMMARY: I love this book for many reasons. First off, it gives a positive message of being thankful in even the smallest things such as a waitress being thankful for comfortable shoes and children being thankful for morning story time. I love the positive feeling of the story throughout the book and I especially love how well the brother and sister get along (not always a reality, but we can dream!). The rhyming flows well and this book is a short read for short attention spans. This is not the usual "Thankful" type of book for the Thanksgiving season, but I definitely recommend it as a reminder to be thankful in all things.

AGE RECOMMENDATION: Advertised for ages 4-8, but I think it is more suitable for ages 3-7.

[Luisa Knight · Rating 3 out of 5]

It can really be read at anytime of year as it identifies things for which various people can be thankful for. "The waitress is thankful for comfortable shoes. The local reporter, for interesting news." It even mentions what a pastor is thankful for - and the ending is really sweet.

I love the whimsical illustrations!

Ages: 4 - 8

Cleanliness: nothing to note.

**Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide a Cleanliness Report, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that!

So Follow or Friend me here on GoodReads! And be sure to check out my bio page to learn a little about me and the Picture Book/Chapter Book Calendars I sell on Etsy!

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I saw this on a prepub list somewhere and added it to my own "to read" list - the cover just looked so charming and sweet. This is illustrator Archie Preston's first book, and he does a great job of matching his pictures to rhymes, rhythms, and repeating themes throughout. His subtle colors and shading are also quite impressive. It's a beautiful book and a noteworthy collaboration between Mr. Preston and children's author Eileen Spinelli.

[Sara Grochowski · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love that Spinelli focuses on small, every day things that people are thankful for. Archie Preston's illustrations are light and playful; a fantastic fit for the story. Full disclosure: This book is published by Zonderkidz, an imprint of Zondervan, so there is one page that readers: "The pastor is thankful for God's loving world."

[Jana · Rating 4 out of 5]

With sweet, childlike illustrations and simple rhyming text, this beautiful picture book celebrates all of the everyday blessings around us. While this seems like an obvious book to share with young readers during the holiday season, I really think this is a terrific book to have on the shelf to revisit year round.

[Ammie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful

[AMAO · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thankful by Eileen Spinelli
Released May 1, 2018

<3 <3 <3


Little ones will snuggle up close as they enjoy this charming, cozy book about being thankful. From the local reporter to the doctor and pastor, children will delight as they explore the people of their town and what they are thankful for.

Thankful is a heartwarming picture book that teaches children ages 4–8 to:

Focus on the blessings that we tend to take for granted
Appreciate essential workers and what people in our everyday lives provide: "Like the gardener thankful for every green sprout, and the fireman, for putting the fire out."
Thankful features:

Endearing storytelling with bouncy, rhyming verses, creating an engaging, fun listen for readers young and old
Timeless tale of thanksgiving that is perfect for holiday gift giving or seasonal listening

[Veronica · Rating 3 out of 5]

To summarizes this book, it encourages readers not to take things for granted and to be thankful for even the smallest of things. The story goes back and forth between the roles of a little brother and a big sister. This seems like such a genuine little story. The illustrations almost remind me of those in The Giving Tree, except these had color. The text was also written in rhyming poetry, so there is a certain pace you have to read it at to make the poetry really come to life. I do think this book would be a good starter book if you were introducing poetry into an early elementary class because it is simple yet effective. My only complaint is I would have liked to see a little more diversity, but overall, it is a sweet, likable book.

[A Allen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Told in rhyme, each page of the book lists a type of person, such a "fireman" or mayor, and something that they are thankful for. I do wish Spinelli had used "firefighter" instead of "fireman" in order to be more inclusive and, unfortunately, "the pastor is thankful for God's loving word" is a line in the book, which means I will not be using this book in my classroom. This book also lacks representation in the illustrations as all the characters appear white and fairly able-bodied, albeit there are some older folks included. This book is definitely written for a certain group of people; it is not intended for people like me. Cannot recommend it for classroom settings, but the premise is cute.

[Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the perfect book to read to students about what they are thankful for. I always use it during the Thanksgiving season. I really love how there are so many different jobs that Spinelli mentions in the book. It shows readers that they can be anything they put their minds too. And no matter what you do there is always something to be thankful for.

I use this with my class to show them all the different things to be thankful for. We talk about saying what you are thankful for and WHY you are thankful for it. I do a lot of writing activities during the fall season on being thankful for students to share with their families and this book pairs perfectly with that.

[FM Family · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked having a book with cute illustrations to read around thanksgiving and to talk about the concept of gratitude/thankfulness. A note that as someone who is not religious, one of the final pages included "the pastor is thankful for God's loving word" which was a bit of a buzzkill but hey, also an opportunity to explain that some people are religious if you want to go there. Cute and silly illustrations throughout show lots of different ways to be thankful and could give a good introduction to a discussion about gratitude or thanksgiving. I like Eileen Spinelli even though her books are a bit weird and always include pastor.

[Janice · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am thankful for this sweet and creative book! The content is outstanding, and I loved what all it says! It even helps with vocabulary development for children and there is a lot to talk about on each page, as in the first page where thankfulness is expressed by the waitress "for comfortable shoes." I will not describe the picture, but it might cause you to open your eyes wide in surprise at the whimsy! I reread it to specifically to search for the cat and birds pictured! I further liked where the dedication page says, '"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, his love endures forever. - Palm 107:1"' Who wouldn't appreciate this book, child and adult alike?

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful book on being thankful or cultivating gratitude. A simple picture book with about a sentence per page spread that rhymes wonderfully without distracting. "The gardener's thankful for every green sprout. The fireman, for putting the fire out. The poet is thankful for words that rhyme. The children, for morning story time." A great read aloud for preschoolers, but could also be used for toddlers and young school age. Perfect for the Thanksgiving season, and during Fall as it is most depicted in the illustrations, but also anytime of year paired with books about mindfulness.

[Alexis Ramirez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very cute poetry book that is all about being thankful for stuff around you. From a waitress being thankful to artists being thankful, the book gives a rundown of many thankful people. The interesting thing I found about this poetry book is the way the author and illustrator show how being thankful mainly means thanking others for helping you do the things you do. Plenty of people being thankful for others, like the chef thanking plate lickers. The ending brilliantly captures what being thankful is all about.

[Roberta · Rating 2 out of 5]

Despite the title, this isn't a Thanksgiving book in relation to the beloved American holiday. It's an all-purpose thanksgiving book, illustrating the things different people are thankful for.

My favorite illustration was for "The queen is thankful for afternoon tea." It depicts a little girl wearing a makeshift cape and homemade crown, sitting in an overstuffed chair, attended by her cat, being catered to by a parade of servants: her mother offering a cup of tea, her brother with a plate of grapes, and her eye-rolling father carrying a cupcake.