Let's Be Thankful

by Samuel J. Butcher

Using Thanksgiving as its starting point this is a charmingly written reflection of all there is in life for which one can be thankful. Though it's told from a child's point of view, it ranges far and wide, touching upon things that adults can think about and appreciate as well, such as family, friends, nature, animals, education, music, and even such intangibles as time to be alone to reflect. Written in rhyming couplets and illustrated with Precious Moments images painted in soft pastels, this book is a lovely appreciation not only of the national holiday but also of the whole wide world around us.

24 pages, Hardcover

First published August 21, 1998

Reviews

[♥♣Mary♦♠ If She So Pleases · Rating 2 out of 5]

The illustrations appear to be vintage-like. The writing and rhymes are nice. It is level 1-2.

The issue I take with precious moments is that Samuel J. Butcher simply never portrays brunettes. According to the US census, only 2% of people are natural blondes. And so I mostly never feel reflected in any of the precious moments artworks. I was only blonde as a child and then got dark brown hair. In all this books, the parents are only ever blonde or redheaded. The children are never brunette. Don't get me wrong, he does portray other races such as black, indigenous, and Asian. I'm glad they don't feel excluded. But I feel that he purposely excludes us brunettes from his illustrations and that's not nice at all. Samuel J. Butcher is someone of this age who is still capable of giving us representation but has failed to do so.