Five Faves: New Picture Books About Gratitude

American novelist and poet, Gertrude Stein, once said, "Silent gratitude isn't very much use to anyone." These books agree--they loudly proclaim all the wonderful things there are to be grateful for and remind readers of the joy of sharing that gratitude!

Thank You

By Jarvis
Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press, 2024. Picture Book.

A child goes about their day and finds so many things to be thankful for. The child thanks a tree for it's shade, the sun and the moon, and the hat on their head that keeps their thoughts from floating away. Silly things, serious things, and everything in between, Thank You shows how many wonderful things there are to be thankful for.

Finding Grateful
Written by Diane White
Illustrated by Faith Pray
San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books LLC, 2024. Picture Book.

When their car breaks down, a mother and her little girl walk through city streets finding all the wonderful sights, smells, people, and things there are to be thankful for. Readers are reminded that gratitude is a choice and things to be grateful for can be found and expressed even when experiencing hard things.

Lucky Me

Written by Lawrence Schimel

Illustrated by Juan Mayorga

Victoria, BC: Orca Book Publishers, 2023. Picture Book.

Bruno loves playing at his friend Sanjay's house. Sanjay has his own room and a pet iguana. Playing at his house is fun and there are few rules to follow. Playing at Bruno's house is much different. His older brother, Mateo, is visually impaired, so things have to be put back in exactly the same place to help Mateo get around. Even though there are more rules at his house and Bruno has to share his room with Mateo, Bruno couldn't feel more lucky to have Mateo as his brother.

Our Greatest Gift

Written by Román, José Carlos

Illustrated by Elena Ferrándiz

Madrid, Spain: Cuento de Luz, 2023. Picture Book.

In this intergenerational read, grandparents are praised for the many ways they enrich the lives of their families. Once the list of thanks is complete, the grandchildren promise 10 things they will do for and with their grandparent, including hugs everyday and watching sunsets.

Dear Street

Written by Lindsay Zier-Vogel

Illustrated by Caroline Bonne Müller

Toronto, ON: Kids Can Press, 2023. Picture Book.

Alice loves her neighborhood so much, but it seems that not everyone does, which makes Alice sad. This give Alice an idea! She'll write love letters to her neighborhood and hide them for neighbors to find! Alice's idea works, as previously grumbly neighbors start noticing all the wonder in their very own neck of the woods. But one day, Alice is the one who can't stop grumbling...

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Review: The Frindle Files

Frindle Files By Andrew Clements New York: Random House, 2024. Fiction. 198 pages. In 1996 Andrew Clements wrote a story about a kid who invented the word “frindle” (another word for “pen.”) The Frindle Files is the sequel that takes place many years later. Josh is a student in Mr. N’s class. He and his friends can’t stand the fact that Mr. N makes them all write their homework down on paper with a “blue or black pen” and “neatness counts.” Josh is a computer geek and loves to do all his homework on the computer. In the midst of trying to find a way to make Mr. N accept the students' desire to do homework online, Josh comes across some information about Mr. N that links him to the word “frindle.” Now Josh and his best friend must decide what to do with the information and if they are willing to stand up to Mr. N’s antiquated way of doing homework. Kids who love the original book will highly enjoy this new edition. It is a continuation to the story in that it shows what ha

Books to Read When... You Need to Feel the Warmth of Friendship

When autumn is merging with winter, storm clouds present themselves more often, and mornings are crisp and chilly, I crave reading books that make me feel cozy and loved. Friendships are always valuable to me, but there is definitely something that makes me appreciate them even more in the colder months. There is a warmth to be found in each of these books that I hope you will enjoy! All That Is You Written by Alyssa Satin Capucilli Illustrated by Devon Holzwarth New York: Henry Holt and Company, 2022. Picture Book. This book is representative of everything good about relationships and connections. The author puts into words exactly what I have felt about so many of my closest relationships. I love the wide variety of characters represented. There are young children, grandparents, parents and children, siblings, and friends, as well as pets, birds, and insects. The illustrations have beautiful nature scenes, including a gorgeous sunrise, a sailboat on the water, and cozy scenes of h

Five Faves: When Cultures Combine

None of us are just "one thing." All of us have several qualities that make us who we are and we have all had several people, and sometimes several cultures, influence who we've become. For some people, these differences are so significant that it can feel like they come from two different worlds. These books are all about celebrating what it's like to come from multiple cultures and claiming the many facets of what makes you "you!" Two New Years Written by Richard Ho Illustrated by Lynn Scurfield San Francisco: Chronicle Books, 2023. Picture Book. This multicultural family gets to celebrate the New Year multiple times. They celebrate Rosh Hashana in the fall and the Lunar New Year in the spring. The similarities and differences are explored in this picture book by showing Rosh Hashana and Lunar New Year's traditions on separate pages sometimes and at other times showing customs from both holidays nestled together. Reflecting the author's cultural an

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