Thanks a Million

by Nikki Grimes, Nikki Grimes

A collection of poems written in an arresting variety of styles and forms--including letter poems, haiku, rebus, riddles, and dialogue poems--and their accompanying pictures honor a wide range of human connections, from family to friendships to intergenerational relationships.

Genres: Poetry, Picture Books, Thanksgiving, Childrens, Cultural, African American, Nonfiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published February 28, 2006

Reviews

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poems of gratitude! Love!

My favorites:

Even the Trees
Trees, arms raised in praise,
demonstrate the attitude
of gratitude. Look!


Reward
"Thank you"
is a seed I plant
in the garden
of your heart.
Your smile
is the flower.
A slow and sweet surprise,
it blooms before my eyes!

And a sad but lovely one:
Shelter
I wish these walls were ours.
I wish this bed were mine,
that dinnertime meant just us three,
my brother, mom and me.

I wish I had a room
that I was forced to clean.
I'd gripe to my best friend, then say,
"Come to my house and play."

Things could be worse, I know.
At least, I'm not alone.
My mom and brother hold me tight
when I cry late at night.

[Akoss · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of poems about all the many ways (big and small) that we can be thankful. Quite an insightful read.

[Jennifer J · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book of poems that did not capture my toddlers attention. I liked a number of the poems though.

[Ogechukwu · Rating 5 out of 5]

very diverse book

[Paul Hankins · Rating 5 out of 5]

The power of gratitude is explored in this collection of poems by NCTE Award Winning poet, Nikki Grimes. The phrase "thank you" is not only the theme, it is the study in this collection with touching poems about paying tribute to fathers taken for granted in "Shoe Surprise." The poem, "Shelter" will no doubt invite younger readers to think about other blessings that go unnoticed by some on a day to day basis. "A Lesson from the Deaf" is an invitation to learn to say "thank you" in another way, but it is the poem for two voices, "Unspoken" that got me as I read through this collection tonight.

Cozbi A. Cabrera's accompanying illustrations bring Nikki's presentation of community as microcosm full circle with a collection of faces that will be unique and familiar all at the same time for younger readers.

Who says there are no opportunities for character education? Here is a mentor text in how to express one's thankfulness, gratitude, and appreciation. Don't miss this one. . .

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 4 out of 5]

While not a Thanksgiving book, this is a good one to read at Thanksgiving to remind us to be thankful for people and things around us. Nikki Grimes has written a group of poems about people in various situations, such as being in a homeless shelter or grieving the death of a loved one, being thankful. My favorite is the first poem, "Reward":

"Thank you"
is a seed I plant
in the garden
of your heart.
Your smile
is the flower.
A slow and sweet surprise,
it blooms before my eyes!

Lovely. The final poem, by the way, is about Thanksgiving. Highly recommended!

[Amanda Munn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Plot Summary: The theme of gratitude that Grimes provides in this book is so magnetic. Reading this title will pull thoughts of personal sources of gratitude to surface. This collection of poems is easy to follow, simple and rhythmic, yet they all revolve around the theme of being thankful.

Critical Analysis: Grimes' work in Thanks a Million provides the reader different forms of gratitude and shows the reader how to appreciate the source. In a way, I feel her poems even allow the reader to cultivate sources of gratitude they were unfamiliar with.

Learner Connection: This would be such a great resource for a lesson showing gratitude. I feel this can transfer from lower grade levels to upper grade levels. I would take this title to the high school culinary teacher and together we could create a lesson on the many ways to say thanks. She could incorporate a baking lesson as a way to show gratitude and this title could complete the lesson by showing students a fun way to write a thank you note or letter. We would have students bake a batch of cookies or brownies and then tie in a thank you note or letter that is similar to the “Dear Teacher” poem in this title.

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

First sentence: Reward
"Thank you"
is a seed I plant
in the garden
of your heart.
Your smile
is the flower.
A slow and sweet surprise,
it blooms before my eyes!

Premise/plot: A picture book poetry collection containing sixteen poems by Nikki Grimes. It is a themed collection. There are many ways to show/express gratitude or thankfulness. There are many reasons to be thankful [to give thanks].

My thoughts: This is not particularly a "Thanksgiving Day" themed picture book. I am glad of that, in a way. One should be thankful 365 days of the year. Gratitude is an attitude that one should strive towards every day. I appreciated the variety of the poems. There are MANY, MANY things to be thankful for.

[Clara Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story gives many examples of ways that we can be thankful and show that we are thankful. There are multiple different poems from a variety of situations that help portray this idea. I think that everyone would find at least one poem in this story that they can relate to. Although, I will say that there were a few that I did not understand or connect with. Overall, I really did enjoy it even though I struggle to enjoy poetry.
I think this book could be really beneficial to be used in a classroom. Even using it for a holiday like Thanksgiving as a reminder for students about being thankful and giving ideas on how to show that they are thankful. It is definitely a good lesson to learn!

[Emily]

This book was such a refreshing surprise. I do not usually stumble into poetry, but I did with Thanks a Million and I was so pleased. There was one poem in particular by Grimes that I would like a print of to put in my future classroom. Remembering to be thankful is so important regardless of your age, and this book had poems describing different scenarios we can still find gratitude in. This is a book I would love to see on my classroom shelves for many reasons. Thank you, Nikki Grimes, for the reminder of having an attitude of gratitude.

[Sophie Klockow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summary: This is a super sweet picture book full of poems, each page being a different poem and thank you to a different person
Connections: I think it is really important for students to learn manners, and practice saying thank you
How you would use it: I would use this when talking about manners, and appreciation as a read aloud
Subject heading:
Children's poetry, American.
Gratitude--Poetry.
American poetry.

[Trisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here is a book of poems. Some of them are about being thankful. Others are about being the new kid, living in a homeless shelter, siblings living with each other, losing a parent, not having parents around etc. I found most of them pleasant to read. Others were meh. I would say this book is geared more towards the Jr. High age group because of its subject matters.

[Dalena Tran]

I loved the page with all the portraits. I love the inclusivity this book has. I also liked how the author used illustrations to stand in for the words and allowing the students and or readers to take in the illustration.

[Kayla Yirdaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best kids poem books I’ve read in a while. All poems are centered around gratitude and many of them have to do with school. I could imagine reading this around the Thanksgiving holiday or a poetry unit. It’s accessible for kids to read on their own too.

[Kary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great for teaching gratitude. Poems were very relatable for my 5th graders.

[Angela De Groot · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of gratitude poems perfect for Thanksgiving.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Children's picture book of thankful poems appropriate for all ages. Illustrations include diversity in race.

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poems about the many ways to be thankful. My favorite: A Lesson From the Deaf.

[Hayden Salyers · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did what but I can't read anything but over all it's Great

[Jo Oehrlein · Rating 4 out of 5]

About gratitude and many different ways to say thank you.

My favorite might be the haiku about trees raising their arms in gratitude.

[Jaime · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every kid will find themselves in one of these poems. I love this book of poems.

[MarineCAT · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun book to read that has an important message that connects with faith. The poem was easy to follow and had a lot of close connections. I highly recommend this story for anyone.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks a Million is a collection of poems in various forms revolving around the theme of thanks –the power of the words ‘thank you,’ the emotion of gratitude, and being thankful for simple things. Thanks a Million would make a wonderful gift or read-aloud for a child. Grimes’ poems tend towards the sentimental, but considering the theme of the book is a sentiment, Grimes does not become overbearing. The narrative poems, like “Shelter” in which a homeless girl wishes for a home but expresses gratitude for a mom and brother who hold her “tight / when [she] crie[s] late at night,” are more effective and less sentimental than the conceptual poems. Although Grimes’ rhyming couplets seem forced, her style lends itself well to introducing children to poetry. The book is illustrated with vibrant, yet soft acrylic paintings by Cozbi Cabrera. The illustrations are lifelike, represent various ethnicities, and evoke emotions visually as Grimes’ poems do verbally.

[Gabriel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks a Million by Nikki Grimes is poetry. The theme is thanks. I liked the one to the teacher when the boy Dave said: I only do not like math 1/2 as much as before! Also, I liked the poem weekends. The boy said He wished he had more weekends! I liked it after thanksgiving. I am thankful for weekends to.

[Green Bean · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I tripped, / humiliated by / a loose lace. / Laughter scarred every single face / but yours. / Scout's honor, / I'll carry your backpack / forever." Grime's 16 poems are perfect reminders of all the big and small wonders we have to be thankful for; slam-dunking Papas, a spot on the swim team, help with the dirty dishes, math tutors, love notes in lunchboxes, weekends filled with skateboarding, and the kindness of strangers. Grime's inspires us to create our own pictogramic "thank you" collages, teaches us how to thank in American Sign Language and ends her book with a bounteous Thanksgiving feast amongst friends and family. Cozbi A. Cabrera's breathtaking paintings illuminate the Grimes's grace and gratitude.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grades K-8
This beautiful picture book is a collection of poems that express gratitude to all types of people and things. The poetry forms are as diverse as the characters and images in Cozbi A. Cabrera's incredible paintings. Poetry forms include lyrical, acrostic, poems for two voices, and letters. The poems' subjects include friends, strangers, mothers, fathers, authors, places, God, and surprises like weekends and flowers. This book is a celebration, and will inspire children to give thanks in their own ways.

[Courtney Turpen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks a Million is a wonderful book for children and maybe start their day. We all sometimes forget how grateful we are to have some of the people and things in our lives. This book shows children how they should be thankful and think about what is most important. The illustrations are beautiful and describe the poems well. Each turn of the page introduces something else to be thankful about. It might just remind kids to say thanks every once in a while.

[Mrs. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a great poetry book about the power of "thank you." I think this would be a great example of poetry that students could write. I could use read this aloud as a mentor text and students can choose someone they would like to say thank you to, or they could write about a time when they said thank you to someone in an unconventional way (buying them a gift, doing a chore for them, etc.). I loved this book!

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. In all fairness, my 5yo isn't as in love with it as I am, but she doesn't object when I add it to our pile for bedtime reading. I adore Nikki Grimes, I love the thankfulness in these poems, and I love that she uses so many different forms of poetry (haiku, riddle, etc.). The pictures enhance and extend the poems. We checked it out from the library and enjoyed it so much that I promptly ordered our own copy.

[Becky Birtha · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Nikki Grimes's Thanks a Million, each poem presents a different way to say "thank you" and a different reason to do so. Cozbi Cabrera's bold bright paintings depict a multicultural cast of grateful children, who are aware of the everyday kindnesses they receive, and eloquent in acknowledging them.