Review by Booklist Review
K-Gr. 2. A young boy tells of walking through the fields and woods with his father, who believes that the gifts of nature call for a response. As they hike, the father says Thank you to the frogs, the fox, the mushrooms, the quail, the sun, and the other beautiful things they see. The boy muses that it's a little embarrassing to say thanks to trees and things, but by the end of the day he finds himself saying Thank you to the stars. The admission of self-consciousness lends credibility to the boy's voice and point of view, and Manchess' illustrations are quite handsome--impressionistic oil paintings with light, shadows, and colors changing throughout the daylong walk. A book that fosters respect for the natural world through a relatively simple text and illustrations that express the beauty and dignity of nature. --Carolyn Phelan Copyright 2004 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
One brilliant autumn day, a boy and his father hike through woods and fields. " `Thank you, Mother Earth./ Thank you, Father Sky./ Thank you for this day,' " the boy begins. "This is what my father says,/ every morning,/ standing in the field/ near our house." (The text explains that "Like his Indian friends-/ .../ Dad believes that the things of nature/ are a gift.") London (When the Fireflies Come) and Manchess (To Capture the Wind) pay more attention to emotional truths than literal ones. Although the boy narrates, London does not replicate a child's voice; the brief text has the lyrical cadence of prayer. "[My father] gives thanks/ to the frogs and the crickets/ singing down by the creek-" the boy says as the pair walks by a marsh, "and to all the tiny beings/ with six or eight legs,/ weaving their tiny stories/ close to the earth." Manchess follows suit with luxuriant, full-bleed oils. Fittingly, father and son remain small and mostly peripheral figures in these sumptuously lit landscapes. With generous brushstrokes and burnished colors, the artist takes readers into the thick of natural wonders, whether it's a green and gold blur of cattails waving in the breeze, or the flurry of caf?-au-lait feathers as a covey of quails rises from a thicket. "To me, it's a little/ embarrassing/ to say thanks/ to trees and things," the boy confesses. "But Dad says it become a habit;/ it makes you feel good." Without much drama, this story may not move readers to develop that habit, nevertheless, these pictures will likely inspire them to marvel at nature's wonders. Ages 3-7. (Nov.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2-A simple prayer of appreciation for being alive and at one with nature. As a father and son take a hike through the countryside on a sunny fall day, the young narrator explains, "Dad believes that the things of nature are a gift. And that in return, we must give something back. We must give thanks." The man expresses his gratitude for various animals, insects, and trees, as well as for Grandfather Sun and Grandmother Moon. Though the youngster claims it feels strange to offer praise in this way, his father explains that it soon becomes a habit "that makes you feel good." As evening moves in and the two head home, the boy ventures a quiet "Thank you, stars." Large, colorful, oil-on-linen illustrations beautifully depict the various objects described in the text. Among the animals skillfully represented are a raccoon, a fox, a hawk, and a deer. Warm shades of green, brown, and gold grace the realistic paintings of an autumn landscape. Similar in tone to Chief Jake Swamp's Giving Thanks (Lee & Low, 1995), this is a gentle reminder to cherish what nature bestows so freely.-Maryann H. Owen, Racine Public Library, WI (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Like his Indian friendsà / Dad believes that the things of nature / are a gift. So the boy and his dad in this painterly, autumnal-colored oil-on-linen picture book go about saying Thank you to the animals in their wilderness setting--it's unclear for what, exactly. The premise is slim, the free verse undistinguished, and the paintings, though attractively lush and realistic, lack pizzazz. From HORN BOOK Spring 2004, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A young boy explains how his Dad, like his Indian friends, believes that things of nature are a gift and in return something must be given back--a thank you. Every morning, his Dad says, "Thank you Mother Earth. Thank you Father Sky. Thank you for this day." As they walk together on a beautiful autumnal day, he thanks the frogs and crickets, fox, mushrooms, deer, quail, rabbit, and hawk. The tone is respectful, gentle, and appreciative of the wonders of nature. His father thanking trees and wildlife creatures embarrasses the boy, but his dad tells him it will become a habit for him too, and the story ends with the boy thanking the stars. Manchess's beautiful oil-on-linen paintings create the reverent atmosphere with rich earthly colors. His painterly style and perspective brings focus on each creature amid the panorama and subtlely juxtapose man's place on earth. A simple message with a unique spirituality enriched with handsome art. (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
