Being Thankful
Several posts ago, the books shared focused on gratitude and generosity. This week we revisit those themes as many families and friends gather to celebrate Thanksgiving, Friendsgiving, or similar festivities. Many people will travel long distances, plans will be made, countless errands will be run, and many dishes prepared. It is easy to get caught up in these activities and lose sight of the simple pleasures of coming together with the people we love. This week’s books focus on the simple things for which we are thankful.
Joyful Reading!
We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga
Written by Traci Sorell, Illustrated by Frané Lessac
2020 American Indian Youth Literature Award - Picture Book Honor
2019 Sibert Medal Honor Award
2019 Orbis Pictus Honor Award
2019 Boston Globe Horn Book Honor Award
In this powerful reminder of all that is genuinely important, author Traci Sorell opens this award-winning book with the following, “Cherokee people say otsaliheliga to express gratitude. It is a reminder to celebrate our blessings and reflect on struggles – daily, throughout the year, and across the seasons.” Beginning with autumn, the book moves through the seasons of the year capturing modern-day activities (family and community gatherings, parents playing with their children) and acknowledging the complex, often painful history of the Cherokee people (Trail of Tears), acknowledging gratitude for simple pleasures and ancestral sacrifices. Frané Lessac’s folk art illustrations provide warm and engaging depictions of the seasons and community activities. Cherokee words are written in Romanized form, presented phonetically, in Cherokee characters, and in English translation.
Gracias/Thanks
Written by Pat Mora, Illustrated by John Parra
2010 Pura Belpré Honor for Illustration
This Spanish/English book follows a young boy as he gives gracias (thanks) for many of his simple pleasures (waves at the beach, his brother who makes him laugh, his soft pajamas, and much more). A celebration of family, friendship, and community, John Parra’s colorful folk art illustrations reflect the joy and gratitude of the young boy so beautifully captured in Pat Mora’s prose. Each full-page spread features Spanish test followed by English text. Pat Mora provides a note to young readers, encouraging them to reflect on the people, places, and things for which they are thankful. ¡Gracias!
Something Beautiful
Written by Sharon Dennis Wyeth, Illustrated by Chris K. Soentpiet
As a young girl looks out the window of her city apartment, she sees a courtyard littered with trash. When she ventures out, she sees the word “DIE” scrawled on the front door of her building and quickly runs by the alley her mother has warned her to avoid. One day at school, her teacher writes the word “BEAUTIFUL” on the blackboard. To the little girl, beautiful means, “something that when you have it, your heart is happy.” As she travels through her neighborhood, she finds beauty in many things from fried fish sandwiches at Miss Delphine's diner to her aunt Carolyn's new baby, and is inspired to make her own contribution to the beauty of her neighborhood. This simple story, inspired by the author's own childhood, is luminously illustrated by Chris Soentpiet’s watercolors that are so rich in detail at first glance they look like photographs. This book is sure to serve a source of inspiration for people of all ages. It reminds us that beauty is where we find it and where we create it.
Beyond the Books
At this time of year, many children anticipate upcoming holidays (Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa) and the gifts associated with them. This is also a time of year when families gather, routines change, and there is quite a bit of down time to fill. One way to entertain children and to impart the joy of giving to others, is to create handmade gifts. These little treasures will be far more loved than anything that can be found in a mall or online and foster a sense of pride in our children. This can be a simple activity such as a painting or drawing that becomes a work of art when framed, to a wide range of hand-crafted gifts (using upcycled items from around the home and easily accessible items from office supply or craft stores) that can be made by children of many ages. Here is some inspiration for practical handmade gifts: 50 Pretty Awesome Homemade Gifts Kids Can Make (For Every Occasion) and Homemade Cards for Kids to Make.