Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
The Perfect Thanksgiving
Illustrator: JoAnn Adinolfi
Picture Book
For ages 4 to 7
Henry Holt, 2003 ISBN: 978-0805065312
Abigail Archer's family is quite simply "perfect" and this is especially obvious when they celebrate Thanksgiving together. Whereas our turkey is burnt and whereas our family makes dreadful eating noises, Abigail's turkey is cooked to perfection and everyone at the table eats politely and quietly.
For everyone who has spent a Thanksgiving eating overdone turkey, listening to relatives snore as they doze on the sofa, and for those whose mother wears jeans instead of a pretty dress on the feast day, this is the "perfect" picture book. Readers of all ages will recognize themselves in the topsy-turvy family and envy the perfection in Abigail's life. And yet, though Abigail may not have to deal with store-bought desserts and obnoxious family members, she is just like the other family in one very important way, and that is that both families are loving and together on Thanksgiving.
Children and their grown-ups will laugh out loud when they read about the "ordinary" family and its many ups and downs. Packed with humorous touches the multimedia illustrations are rich in color and texture. The clever use of fibers, different papers, and other items make the collages interesting to look at, and they may inspire young artists to try their own hand at creating multimedia artwork of their own.
