(2) K-3 Illustrated by April Harrison. In this story of giving, James Otis marvels that Mama is contributing to the church's "love box" for a family in need when they have so little themselves. But hearing "what is given from the heart reaches the heart" helps James Otis start thinking differently about what he does have. Detailed, highly textured, strikingly patterned collage illustrations invite readers to linger over the pages and add depth to the characters.

Reviewer: Michelle H. Martin | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2019

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Ruth Jeyaveeran. In Kathmandu during the Festival of Lights--called Swanti, Tihar, or Deepawali in Nepal (Diwali in India)--two brothers look for a kukur (stray dog) to honor during the celebration. Coauthor Amish Karanjit, Engle's son-in-law, lived through the 2015 earthquakes in Nepal, when rescue dogs played an important role in finding survivors. The interesting holiday story is illustrated with cultural specificity. Suggested activities are appended. Reading list. Glos.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Ziyue Chen. After acting selfishly, Mela gets lost in the jungle near her northern Thai village. She requests help from different animals, offering her possessions as rewards. Ultimately, only a kindly elephant helps her, and for nothing in return. Mela learns a valuable lesson about generosity and gratitude in this original fable with a folkloric, repetitive cadence and verdant digital illustrations. Includes a note on Thailand.

Reviewer: Melinda Greenblatt

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Stephanie Graegin. Thank yous have many purposes in this book, wherein animals and people find opportunities to express gratitude. The poetic text conveys a heartwarming message, despite occasionally awkward phrasing. Lushly colored and delicately rendered illustrations show kindness, inclusion, and happiness.

Reviewer: Miriam Steinberg-Egeth

(3) K-3 Stunning photographs accompany the poetic but precise text in this picture book encouraging gratitude for our beautiful and intricate planet and everything thereon--from tiny ladybugs to towering trees. Sayre also highlights "all shapes that repeat" and "rays and radials," which may send readers out to look for patterns and shapes in nature. Back matter explores eco-issues and encourages kids to get involved.

Reviewer: Renée Wheeler

(1) K-3 Illustrated by Frané Lessac. An extended family engages with activities and traditions that express gratitude and carry on Cherokee history and culture. Simultaneously, the book incorporates modernity and challenges dated images of Indigenous people. Cheerful, richly detailed gouache illustrations in bright, saturated colors cycle through the seasons. The text includes several Cherokee words (their English and Cherokee spellings, phonetic pronunciation, and definition); a complete Cherokee syllabary concludes this attractive and informative book. Glos.

Reviewer: Julie Hakim Azzam | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2018

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Vivienne To. Always on the go, Amy's family does everything in a hurry. When Amy brings home a sloth, he slows down the family, and they learn to appreciate one another and life around them--to Amy's relief. This story about the drawbacks of today's rapid-fire life and the benefits of taking time out will resonate with both jet-propelled readers and those who move more purposefully.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(4) PS Mr. Panda (Please, Mr. Panda) distributes less-than-perfect gifts to his friends. Lemur advises "it's the thought that counts." Mr. Panda repeats that advice when giving Lemur too-big underpants. This gratitude lesson is muddled: everyone looks disappointed; and it's a mystery why Elephant, who "opens it later," gets doughnuts (seen on the back endpapers). Fans of Mr. Panda's deadpan delivery will appreciate the thought.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(3) K-3 Mama and Grace each give thanks before eating dinner. Mama thanks rain, soil, and sunshine; Grace's thanks (alpaca, road workers...) require explanations: alpacas gave wool for the scarf uncle Fred wore while catching the fish, road workers fixed the bike path to the produce stand, and so on. Balla's cheerful cartoonlike illustrations and realistic conversational text provide a cozy picture of this small family.

Reviewer: Lolly Robinson

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Matthew Forsythe. A fable with an unexpected ending. In the spring, a gold leaf appears in the forest. One animal after another snatches the leaf for itself, resulting in its destruction. When the next spring brings another gold leaf, the animals are delighted one has returned and allow it to just be. Lovely stylized illustrations with gold-leaf accents softly depict the forest wildlife and the changing seasons.

Reviewer: Grace Worcester Greene

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Nancy Carpenter. A young woman's thank-you letter reflects on the wisdom and patience her second-grade teacher demonstrated during a difficult, and important, year in her childhood. Pen-and-ink and digital illustrations use color and contrast to draw attention to the endlessly curious girl, whose impulsive and occasionally "exasperating" behavior dominates the classroom. It's a loving and realistic portrayal of a student-teacher relationship.

Reviewer: Pam Yosca

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Yoko Tanaka. Feeling bored, Romy wishes she could visit the fantastical Princessland. She joins her pet, "the Lady Cat," on a conversational stroll around their diverse neighborhood; the pair imagines what happens in Princessland (e.g., everyone lives in castles with "tall towers") before ultimately discovering the everyday magic right outside their door. Warm, detailed illustrations add to this pleasant story of imagination and appreciating what's around you.

Reviewer: Janet Daniels

(1) PS Now is an affirmation of the present: a girl, eyes closed and arms raised toward the sky, declares, "This is my favorite breeze"; she continues with a string of celebratory declarations. Vibrant colors brighten each page and expressive ink adds energy to the illustrations. The girl is not celebrating the things themselves, but the experience of them; the focus is on being mindful of and appreciating the moment.

Reviewer: Minh Lê | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2017

(3) PS "Sun gives us light. / Thank you, sun." This appreciation is repeated as a child observes and enjoys bees, sheep, clouds, trees, dirt, and Earth. Yuly's colorful collage illustrations set against white backgrounds are reminiscent of Eric Carle's. The simple text and pictures will appeal to preschoolers, and the message of gratitude for nature is appropriate for many storytime themes.

Reviewer: Janet Dawson

(2) K-3 Illustrated by G. Brian Karas. Elderly Mrs. Goldman loves making hats for the keppies (heads) of babies in their neighborhood; her young next-door neighbor Sophia embellishes each hat with pom-poms. It's their mitzvah, or "good deed." One cold, windy day, Sophia wonders where Mrs. Goldman's own hat is, so she knits one for her friend. Karas's precise, unfussy mixed-media illustrations in muted hues enhance Edwards's ode to intergenerational friendship.

Reviewer: | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2016

(3) PS "I love my teachers because..." Twenty solid reasons follow, from "Teachers encourage you to be creative" to "Teachers read to you" to "Teachers have lots of celebrations." In his trademark bold-hued cartoony art, Parr's cast of characters features kids and adults with skin colors well off the human spectrum.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Alex Steele-Morgan. Annie and her family (Tashlich at Turtle Rock) return for another reflective nature walk, this time in an "unusual celebration" of Hanukkah. Though offering little in plot or holiday information, the book warmly conveys a loving, joyful family, and the illustrations evoke a wintry rural landscape, making this a solid choice for a family read-aloud to honor the season.

Reviewer: Claire E. Gross

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Katie Kath. Dayenu. This picture book interprets the word, traditionally used in the Passover seder, as being "grateful for the blessings in each moment"; a sibling pair repeats it as they joyfully prepare for and celebrate the holiday. Warm watercolors complement the text's message of appreciation and mindfulness. A note on Passover and sheet music for the song "Dayenu" are included. Glos.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

(2) K-3 Elephant & Piggie Book series. In this final entry, Piggie decides to thank everyone who has touched her life. ("Everyone?" says elephant Gerald, incredulous. "You will forget someone.") You think you know where this is going, and Piggie does forget to thank Gerald, who does humorously blow his top. However, a twist provides an ending that is sweet, silly, metafictive, and heartfelt--everything the series has been all along.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2016

(2) K-3 Young's original fable about a wasteful "wealthy lord"--rendered as an anthropomorphized cat--depicts its protagonist's greed, his fall from power, and his eventual redemption. Colorful, richly textured mixed-media collages (made from fabrics, string, handmade paper, etc.) in deep hues evoke Lord Cat's life of luxury; in contrast, barren landscapes in neutral tones under a stark white sky depict the famine.

Reviewer: Megan Dowd Lambert | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2016