Thanks & Giving: All Year Long

by Marlo Thomas, Christopher Cerf

Did you ever
dream of talking to a mermaid?

Can you imagine
facing off with a bully who
barely reaches your knees?

What would you do
with a box of golden coins?

Have you ever
said thank you to...a button?

And how would you respond if you met a magic genie who asked you for a handout instead of granting you a wish?

Free to Be...You and Me creator Marlo Thomas has once again produced a joyful volume for children and the grown-ups in their lives. Reaching into the heads and hearts of our most acclaimed writers, artists, and performers, Thanks & Giving celebrates the best things in life -- family, friendship, giving, thankfulness, and love (and just for fun, a few of their opposites -- stinginess, bullying, ingratitude, and the occasional urge to stamp your feet and throw a fit).

From Tiger Woods and Maurice Sendak to Hilary Duff and Newbery Medalist Kate DiCamillo, this colorful collection of stories, poems, and songs will take readers on a lighthearted and thoughtful (but never overserious) adventure. Whether you're gazing at the brilliant child's-eye paintings of illustrator Eric Carle, or laughing out loud at the off-the-wall humor of Mel Brooks, you'll enjoy every step of the magical journey that the creators of Thanks & Giving have planned for

• Delight in Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith's fractured fable starring a mouse, a bird, and a sausage who learn all about sharing -- the hard way.

• Hold on tight as Rosie Perez recounts the tale of a little girl confronted with a heart-stopping decision.

• Rock along with Kevin and Michael Bacon's funky valentine to sibling rivalry and brotherly love.

• And laugh with Ray Romano as he reveals how his life was changed by a giant burrito.

Designed for both cover-to-cover reading and selective excerpting (when you can't refuse that last impassioned call for "One more story!" just before lights-out), this sparkling anthology also includes marvelous contributions from Avi, Shel Silverstein, Tom Chapin, Arthur creator Marc Brown, Matt Groening, Deepak Chopra, Donald Trump, Frankie Muniz, Walter Dean Myers, Paul Newman, Sumner Redstone, Jerry Pinkney, Whoopi Goldberg, Sonia Manzano, the Sesame Street Muppets, Julianne Moore, Ed Koren, Wendy Wasserstein, and Paul O. Zelinsky.

Genres: Poetry, Childrens, Picture Books, Thanksgiving, Short Stories

96 pages, Hardcover

First published November 2, 2004

About the author

Margaret Julia "Marlo" Thomas is an American actress, producer, author, and social activist best known for starring on the sitcom That Girl (1966–1971) and her award-winning children's franchise Free to Be... You and Me.

Thomas serves as National Outreach Director for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, which was founded by her father Danny Thomas in 1962.

Reviews

[Cathi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our daughter was given this as a gift years ago, and now that she's all grown up and off to college, I decided to sit down and check this kids' book out. What a fun surprise! I thoroughly enjoyed it all. Marlo Thomas has produced some great books, some with contributions from celebrities and some from ordinary folks (including my brother Jon, who was thrilled to be published in one of Ms. Thomas' collections a few years ago). This book is a collection of essays, stories, fables, songs, and terrific illustrations, and it's as varied as they come. Some of it is silly and absurdly funny, some is rather sweet and tender, and some is just plain nice. There are contributions from celebrities as varied as Paul Newman and Whoopi Goldberg. (I especially loved a little childhood memory written by the crazy-funny Mel Brooks. It was nice to see a toned-down side of him, just going back to his relationship and gratitude for his older brother.) There are some great children's writers and illustrators represented, everyone from David Shannon to Marc Brown. This is a book that you could nibble on, just a few pages at a time, but I enjoyed it so much that I gobbled it all rather quickly. (Sorry, but I couldn't resist the Thanksgiving food imagery!)

[Miri Gifford · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fabulous collection of stories from famous writers, actors, and musicians, and many are from their own lives. Deepak Chopra's story (illustrated by Demi!) made me cry, and Jon Scieska's (illustrated by Lane Smith, of course) made me laugh. I loved the stories told by Gail Carson Levine, Julianne Moore, Maurice Sendak, Shel Silverstein, Mo Willems, and Matt Groening, and there were even more that I skimmed over but will have to read in the future—Kate DiCamillo, Walter Dean Myers, Paul Newman, Tiger Woods, Frankie Muniz, Mel Brooks, Avi, Ray Romano, Whoopi Goldberg, and more. There are even some songs, by Kevin Bacon, Hilary Duff, Laurie Berkner, and more. It's a very fun book to read through, and the stories are just lovely.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marlo Thomas has done it again. As a fan or Free to Be You and Me from a long time ago, I enjoy the books she compiles. The stories were enjoyable with good themes. THey were current and up to date. Some of the stories were from Ray Ramano, Kevin Bacon, Tiger Woods, etc. It has music in it too, although I don't have any clue what they sound like not being musically inclined.

[Timilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lotsa great short stories to read aloud, my favorite of which is "Teeny Meany."

[Tammy Ward]

Great mentor text for personal narratives from Ray Ramano, Whopping Goldberg and more.

[Melanie Swider Wenz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Powerful and inspiring stories and poems throughout this book - love sharing them with the students throughout the year.

[Mainchild]

NF 179.9 T

[Annburnett · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great compilation of stories put together by Marlo Thomas. It is an enjoyable read and has some inspiring stories.

[Little Champs]

C 18