The Secret of Saying Thanks

by Douglas Wood, Greg Shed (Illustrator)

Perhaps you'd like to know a secret, one of the happiest ones of all.
You will surely find it for yourself one day.
You'll discover it all on your own, maybe when you least expect it. If you've not yet discovered the secret of saying thanks, it's waiting for you. The secret can be found in the sunrise that offers promises full for the day ahead, or in the gentle shade of a tree sheltering you from the hot rays of the sun, or on the rock that offers rest from a long walk.
In the inspirational text that made him a bestselling, internationally acclaimed author, Douglas Wood offers a spiritual homage to nature and the world. Greg Shed's stunning portraits of the natural world tenderly portray all of the many ways in which we can say thanks for the wonders we sometimes take granted in life.

Genres: Picture Books, Thanksgiving, Childrens, Juvenile, Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 27, 2005

About the author

Composer, recording artist, wilderness guide, and self-taught naturalist-Douglas Wood is perhaps most widely known as the highly acclaimed author of OLD TURTLE, a 1993 ABBY Award winner and an International Reading Association Book of the Year. Author of several books for readers of all ages, Douglas says he is always seeking themes that are universally significant to both children and adults. His first book for Candlewick Press, GRANDAD'S PRAYERS OF THE EARTH-winner of the Christopher Medal for "affirming the highest value of the human spirit"-quietly explores the theme of grief and healing while celebrating a human connection to the natural world and the enduring spirit of love. Douglas Wood kept in mind someone very special to his own life when writing GRANDAD'S PRAYERS OF THE EARTH. "I feel I've been getting ready to write this book all my life, for it is about my wise and gentle hero, my Grandad. It's a prayer and a thank you, a walk in the woods, and a remembering smile; and it is for anyone who has ever had a woods to walk, a prayer to whisper, a hero to love."


Douglas Wood lives with his family in a log cabin on the banks of the Mississippi River in Minnesota.

Reviews

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this book. It has one of my all-time favorite quotes..."We do not give thanks because we are happy. We are happy because we give thanks." I think the text is beautiful and the illustrations are gorgeous and the message is an important one. However, in all honesty, my 8 yo pronounced it boring. I'll probably try it again at some point...she was having kind of a bad day so this was apparently not the right choice. But I love this book.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I took off a half because of the clunky text. It would have been better if told with rhythm, with meter, as some children's books are, when slightly abstract to teach a concept vs a plot with a story. Perhaps if the text told the story and not just the pictures, this would have worked better for me.

Even still I like the concept. Teaching children to live a life of gratitude all around them is a very important lesson. I liked the fact that the book ended with a prayer of gratitude for the blessings in life:

"Or it (the secret) might be in your bedtime prayer itself,
as you say thanks for
sun and moon and stars
and rocks and trees
and flowers and waters
and birds and animals
and all those who love you,
and the love you feel for them."

The last few pages conclude with the ultimate lesson:

"The heart that gives thanks is a happy one, for we cannot feel thankful and unhappy at the same time.

The more we say thanks, the more we find to be thankful for.

And the more we find to be thankful for, the happier we become.

We don't give thanks because we're happy.

We are happy because we give thanks."

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are many books on this topic and although this one is nice there are others that are less wordy and better in my opinion. One thing that jumped out at me is the use of the word secret. I know these days many people teach their kids that there are no secrets and anyone that wants to you to keep a secret maybe attempting to harm you... body safety. Even though this isn't remotely related and I am certainly not implying that at all, anyone wishing to avoid the use of the word "secret" in a positive context might find a different "Giving Thanks" style book or substitute the word with something else.

[Stacie · Rating 4 out of 5]

UU words for all ages. Pretty pictures. Inspired words. Sat on floor for this one.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this sweet meditation on gratitude. Especially, "...for we cannot feel thankful and unhappy at the same time."

[Y.Poston]

A gorgeous and gentle message of thanks.

[Kirsten Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best quotes, “We don’t give thanks because we’re happy. We are happy because we give thanks.”

[Amy Bodkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely precious book!!!

[TCNS]

2 copies available. One filed under "Wood" and one filed under "Thanksgiving."

[Ashley Field · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Secret of Saying Thanks is a book about being appreciative. The little girl in the book is expressing her appreciation for simple everyday things such as the sun and the flowers or trees. She tells the reader that there are many secrets to life and one of the most important ones is that happiness is much more abundant and easy coming. This book is good for young readers whether around the time of Thanksgiving or not. The moral of the story is an important reminder for anyone. Although, I think this book would work partically well in a Thanksgiving text set with other factual books about the holiday. This book shows the importance of little things that everyone can appreciate even if they do not have a family life or have a family to share important things with. The variety that this book provides to many other books that focus on specifically family is important to a set of books.

[Eva-Marie Nevarez · Rating 1 out of 5]

Are there kids who can sit through this? I'm 32 and I couldn't sit through it. We didn't even get to the halfway point. Julia and I were both extremely bored.
Couldn't Wood have shaken things up a bit? Made it, oh I don't know, a little interesting to read? Maybe?
It's too long, it's boring, and my daughter is very well behaved, very into many different kinds of books, ones with morals, ones for pure fun, and this was far too boring for her. Perhaps it's because she's good with this lesson, I don't know. Either way it's boring.

[Mommywest · Rating 4 out of 5]

This beautiful book teaches children the secret of gratitude--that we don't give thanks because we are happy, but that we are happy because we give thanks. In beautiful prose and wonderful paintings, children are reminded of all the simple, yet wonderful, things that surround them that deserve our gratitude, especially our families. Great for learning about gratitude and enjoying at Thanksgiving time. It didn't really hold the interest of my preschool-age children, but would be a great selection to enjoy with the whole family.

[KarenMLISt · Rating 4 out of 5]

If this book doesn't make you slow down, at least during the reading, then you may not know the secret! The words are gentle and beautifully descriptive in a way that exudes gratitude - the whole point of the book. It reminded me to be mindful of the GOOD around me. Fav lines: "We don't give thanks because we're happy. We're happy because we give thanks." The illustrations are soft and lovely (including a gorgeous golden retriever.) I am thankful for this book.

[Heidi-Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as "Old Turtle" because it is outright and obvious it is teaching a lesson. Still, that lesson is one of great importance and everyone should hear it over and over. I certainly need to hear it frequently. Just reading the book--especially at this time of year--was a gentle reminder that, as Josh says, "There's so much to be thankful for."

[Susannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This beautifully illustrated book reminds us of all we have to be thankful for. The book is best summed up by this line, "The more we say thanks, the more we find to be thankful for. And the more we find to be thankful for, the happier we become." A great book for Thanksgiving or anytime you need a reminder to be thankful!

[Audrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book teaches that the secret to happiness is gratitude. It encourages children to be thankful for everything, even for the smallest things that we take for granted every day.

This book is written in a non-rhyming poem style. The book is beautifully written, and the illustrations are warm and comforting. This book would be a good one for starting discussions

[Danette · Rating 3 out of 5]

The heart that gives thanks is a happy one, for we cannot feel thankful and unhappy at the same time. The more we say thanks, the more we find to be thankful for. And the more we find to be thankful for, the happier we become.

The younger we learn this lesson, the better.

5/16/17 Read with Naomi.
9/24/24 Read with Skylar and Naomi B

[Michelle Nero · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the message in this book. Look around - we have so much to be thankful for:

"The more we say thanks, the more we find to be thankful for.
And the more we find to be thankful for, the happier we become."

Perfect for sharing this time of year.

[Deanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book on teaching the principle of gratitude along with beautiful illustrations full of light. I love the message, "The more we say thanks, the more we find to be thankful for. And the more we find to be thankful for, the happier we become."

[Marcia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely golden autumn paintings are the high point of this book. The text is pandering and cloyingly contrived. The message is a good one--- be thankful--- but delivered in a way that won't resonate with kids.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gives me chills every time we read it. Great book.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book to teach your children to be grateful. Life lessons. Spiritual, but not to any particular religion.

[Amy DeMordaunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can I tell you the secret? I LOVE it, so I will. We don't give thanks because we are happy. We are happy because we give thanks. Powerful, lovely book. My Grandma Nelson would have loved it!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the idea of this book, but I found it bordering on wordy.... but the beautiful illustrations bump it from a 3* to a 4* for me.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This reminds me we have much to be grateful for in nature and our families, and reminds me to be mindful.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good.

[Caryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very great art!

[The Styling Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Showing appreciation of life, and all the gifts surrounding you. Beautiful.

[Miss Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A picture book about being thanful for all that is around you. very spirtual. elementary or one on one for length