Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
Round the Turkey: A Grateful Thanksgiving
Illustrator: Nancy Cole
Picture Book
For ages 4 to 6
Albert Whitman, 2002 ISBN: 978-0807571316
Let’s meet the family; there is Jesse, Jonah, Mom, Dad, Milo, Kaitlyn, Aunt Julie, Grandpa... in fact there are lots of people here at Jesse’s house for Thanksgiving this year. Of course they are coming for the Thanksgiving feast but they are also coming "for talking and laughing" and to be together.
On this special day each of the people at Jesse’s house has something to be thankful for and they all take a turn to tell everyone what that something is. For some it is a big something. For example Aunt Terry and Uncle Dave are grateful to have a new child, a little girl called Kaitlyn in their lives now. Mark and Julie are grateful to have found one another, to have found someone to love. For others their gratitude is for the smaller things. There is Uncle Hershey who is simply happy to have so many wonderful things to eat. Nelson tells everyone that he is grateful for all his pet fish.
This book provides a wonderful reminder of why we celebrate Thanksgiving today. It is not just in memory of that first Thanksgiving which took place long ago. It is also an opportunity to give thanks for what the year has brought us and to remember how lucky we all are. Best of all it is a time to be with our families and to share this very special day with them.
In varying rhyme the author succeeds in giving each family member a ‘voice’ and a personality. They are a delight to ‘meet’ and each of their stories of gratitude is special and full of charm. This is a wonderfully crafted book.
