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Summary
Summary
What makes you thankful? A book? Weekends? Your family? How do you say thanks? With a flower? With a chocolate bar? With a surprise? In sixteen extraordinary poems that range in form from a haiku to a rebus to a riddle, Nikki Grimes reminds us how wonderful it is to feel thankful, and how powerful a simple "thank you" can be.
Author Notes
Nikki Grimes was born and raised in New York City. She began writing poetry at age six and is well-known for writing award-winning books primarily for children and young adults. Bronx Masquerade and Talkin' About Bessie both won Coretta Scott King Awards, and her poetry collections featuring Danitra Brown are very popular. Grimes received the NCTE Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children in 2006.
She has written articles for magazines including Essence and Today's Christian Woman, as well as hosted radio programs in New York and Sweden. She has lectured and read her poetry at schools in Russia, China, Sweden, and Tanzania. Grimes is also a prolific artist, creating works of fiber art, beaded jewelry, peyote beading, handmade cards, and photography.
(Bowker Author Biography)
Reviews (3)
School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 4-Sixteen thoughtful poems about being thankful for everyday things. Grimes uses a variety of forms that include haiku, a riddle, and a rebus in selections that speak directly to the experiences of young children. In "Lunch Box Love Notes," a big sister sometimes resents having to watch out for her baby brother, but a note left in her lunch box by her mother thanking her "for taking such good care of Ray" makes it worthwhile. "Dear Teacher" closes, "Signed, David/who only hates math/ as much/as he used to." "A Lesson from the Deaf" simply and eloquently describes saying thank you in sign language. Cabrera's acrylic illustrations are distinctive, folksy, and effective. The art for "Mystery" is particularly effective, showcasing 42 children of different ethnicities in small, rectangular portraits. A lovely book for reflection and discussion.-Mary N. Oluonye, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
Gratitude for simple pleasures and small kindnesses is the theme of Grimes's newest collection of poems. A child thanks his teacher for helping him "hate math 1/2 as much as he used to"; a new boy in school shares his pie with a classmate who welcomes him; a mother sends her daughter an appreciative lunchbox love note; and a young girl writes to an author expressing her appreciation for a book that touched her heart. Grimes employs quite a potpourri of forms and rhyme schemes, including a rebus, matching them carefully to the mood. The poems are presented on one or two-page spreads surrounded by Cabrera's vibrant acrylic paintings that add pop and personality. One can envision this collection stimulating discussions about the need to say "thank you," as well as encouraging young writers to try their hand at expressing their thoughts in poetry. Good job. (Picture book/poetry. 6-10) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Gr. 1-3. Grimes' latest thematic poetry collection lends the attitude of gratitude relevance beyond Thanksgiving Day. The 16 entries encompass many modes of expressing appreciation, including letters, thoughtful gestures, even sign language, and run the gamut of emotional tones; in the bittersweet Shelter, a homeless child acknowledges longings (I wish I had a room / that I was forced to clean ) while counting blessings (At least, I'm not alone ). Less effective than Grimes' narrative-style poems are several that tackle gratitude as a concept, which leads to vague sentimentality: \lquote Thank you' is the seed I plant in the garden of your heart. Richly textured but occasionally muddy, Cabrera's acrylic paintings shine brightest in the most lighthearted selections, where her sunlit palette conveys the warm feelings and burnishes the skin tones of the many characters of color. Children struggling to articulate gratitude will find numerous ways to draw upon this--some may memorize or copy out favorite poems to pass along, while others will be inspired to pen their own tender words. --Jennifer Mattson Copyright 2006 Booklist
