Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
With a gentle, assured tone and graceful phrasing, Wood (Old Turtle) shares a life lesson sure to inspire: that true happiness lies in giving thanks and appreciating all there is to be thankful for. Addressing readers directly, the author suggests that everyone learns this secret in their own way and own time. "Maybe you'll first find the secret/ in your own home/ sitting around a table with people you love..."; "You might discover the secret at dawn,/ a morning like all other mornings." In this same fashion he creates a descriptive catalogue of many of the simple gifts to be treasured, from a warm hand to hold, to a cool breeze or singing bird. The spiritual notes rung here, and a brief mention of "your bedtime prayer," should prove applicable to a broad readership of many faith traditions. Shed's airy oil paintings depict a girl and her dog exploring and experiencing their outdoor surroundings on a sunny spring day in the country. The skillful play of light and shadow in his work adds depth to the soft-edged portraits. Ages 3-8. (Oct.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 3-A quiet, reflective piece on the importance of a grateful attitude. With a light hand, Wood shares the idea that there is "a secret [in life], one of the happiest ones of all." Readers may discover it as the sun welcomes a new day, or maybe it will come when they really notice a flower and its fragrance for the first time. Maybe just some cool shade on a hot day or hearing a bird sing will lead them to say, "Thank you." There is much to be grateful for: the stars, the moon aglow at night, lakes and rivers, ponds or puddles, family and people we love. Each spread is a reminder of the wonders around us. "The heart that gives thanks is a happy one-. We don't give thanks because we're happy. We are happy because we give thanks." This is a pleasing story for times of contemplation. It is not heavy-handed or preachy, and should appeal across cultures or religions. While it has a definite spiritual tone, it does not promote a singular point of view. Shed's oil illustrations of a young girl and her golden retriever noticing the world around them appear as though they are being viewed through a gauzy shade. The effect plays well with the peaceful nature of the text. This title could be used anywhere books with "values" lessons are in demand.-Roxanne Burg, Orange County Public Library, CA (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
An adult perspective characterizes this pseudo-spiritual book, one whose message--""The more we say thanks, the more we have to be thankful for""--is hammered home repeatedly and then summarized again for good measure. Paintings burnished with light feature a girl and her dog communing with the natural world around them and underscore the sunny, inspirational nature of the text. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
