I Am Thankful

September 11, 2017
In one of two books kicking off the Positive Power series, a boy with bright eyes, brown skin, and a head of curls expresses gratitude on Thanksgiving. Unten depicts the holiday events in quietly expressive digital cartoons, and not everything goes smoothly: the boy takes a tumble during a turkey trot race, and his firefighter father has to work until after dinner. Though the Thanksgiving focus may limit the larger message, Capozzi makes it clear that gratitude is a way of seeing the world. Two pages of stickers featuring characters and objects from the story are included. Simultaneously available: I Am Kind. Ages 4–6.

December 1, 2017

K-Gr 2-A young boy expresses gratitude for all the many blessings in his life in this kickoff to a new series for early readers. The child takes readers through his day as he helps with making Thanksgiving dinner, visits his firefighter father at work, participates in the community Turkey Trot, and enjoys the warmth of his home with his extended family members. With cheerful digital illustrations that mirror the simple yet joyful text, this story offers early readers a gentle reminder to find joy and appreciation in everyday experiences. VERDICT This is a good choice to add to holiday-themed beginning reader shelves. Two pages of stickers can be easily removed for library purposes.-Jessica Marie, Salem Public Library, OR

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 15, 2017
A Thanksgiving-themed text for new readers features illustrations of a grateful child in a multiracial family.The unnamed narrator, a child of color with brown skin and wavy, dark hair, awakens and is thankful there's no school that day. The narrator's happy to pitch in when Pops, an elder who uses a cane and has gray hair and lighter skin, asks for help in the kitchen. They join the child's mother in making pies, and then they visit the child's father at his job as a firefighter (the former has lighter skin like Pops', the latter shares the narrator's coloring). Throughout, the child gives thanks--expressing gratitude "that Pops lives with us" and "for what my dad and his crew do to keep us safe." After participating in the town's turkey-trot road race, they return home to greet diverse extended family (cousins, aunts, uncles, and Great-Gran), who join them for a shared meal, watching football on TV, and, once the weather clears up, playing football outside. With its consistent affirmations and digital art that visually echoes the text, the book is rooted in the "positive power" its series title extols. This doesn't lead to action-packed storytelling but could spark conversations about gratitude and Thanksgiving, depicted as a modern family celebration without any reference to its history in Colonial America. Series companion I Am Kind publishes simultaneously. An accessible early reader for the holiday shelf. (Early reader. 6-8)

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