Thanksgiving Day Thanks by Laura Malone Elliott (review)

To celebrate Thanksgiving, Sam’s teacher asks her students to each write something they’re thankful for on a paper feather, and she also asks them to come up with a project of their own. Though initially stumped while his friends quickly make plans for their feathers and projects, Sam eventually comes up with an idea: a parade of animal-shaped helium balloons outside the classroom window. A windy day puts a damper on Sam’s project, as three of his four balloons are lost, but Mary Ann, with her bow and suction-cup arrow, comes to the fourth balloon’s rescue, leading Sam to realize that he’s quite thankful for best friends. Although much of the book’s plot covers ground already well trodden by picture-book authors, Elliott’s focus on Sam’s love for the Thanksgiving parade’s balloons is a somewhat novel and entirely kid-friendly angle. The first Thanksgiving story is, as often is the case, oversimplified, and Mary Ann’s project of dressing up like Squanto remains problematic despite her relating of various Wampanoag facts. Still, this is an age-appropriate and pleasant look at the holiday and Munsinger’s creates a cozy world of cute, clothed critters in her delicately lined, warm-hued illustrations (rendered in watercolor, pen and ink, and pencil). Chubby black bear Sam, with his furry tummy occasionally peeking out between his shirt hem and waistband, is a sweet little guy, and busy, clever Mary Ann is appropriately depicted as a lively little squirrel. A brief summary of the original Thanksgiving story and a list of “fun facts” about the holiday are included.