Thank You: A story celebrating key workers and the NHS

by Joseph Coelho

Tatenda says thank you every day, wherever he can. Thank you to Mom and Dad for making breakfast, thank you to the post lady for delivering his favorite comic, thank you to his teacher for marking his work and thank you to the shop worker stacking shelves. But lately, it seems no one can hear his thank yous: their heads are too foggy with worry. So Tatenda decides to say his biggest "Thank you" ever. He stands on tiptoe, brings his arms down like a huge rainbow . . . and this time, his thank you helps the whole community feel better!

This beautiful picture book from an award-winning author and illustrator team was inspired by the efforts of key workers during the coronavirus pandemic and aims to show children how they can express their gratitude in their own communities. 

Genres: Picture Books

32 pages, Paperback

Published September 29, 2020

About the author

Joseph Coelho is a British poet and children's book author who was elected Children's Laureate in 2022.

Reviews

[Ella · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely story about a little boy who spreads hope and happiness in the form of thank yous when all the grown-ups were worried and scared. The book is based on the covid pandemic and highlights the hard work of many practitioners who helped us get through it, including but not just the doctors but also teachers, bin men and shop assistants. The illustrator uses colour to represent the feelings with the thank yous creating a rainbow which eventually explodes and brings brightness to the previously black and white images. A lovely positive story to give children hope during this time. The book would be great to use when doing topics such as people and jobs in KS1. The book gives a positive view on a difficult time young children are currently living through.

[Donna Maguire · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the idea behind this book and whilst everyone is worrying about Covid-19 it reminds us that we still have things to be thankful for.

The illustrations in the book are lovely and I liked the way that the “thank you” is portrayed too.

It is a lovely idea and it makes us remember everything we still have to be thankful for it – it is 4 stars from me for this one – highly recommended!

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book looks at how a young boy creates happiness for the all the adults who are worrying and feeling anxious, going through such a tough time for everyone at the moment. Coelho uses colours and a rainbow to express this through the book and this rainbow has been used to show happiness and colour through the whole coronavirus pandemic too!

This book touched my heart massively - putting a smile on my face during a pandemic, and I'm sure it will do the same to the children that read it.

[Denise Forrest · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely book which captures the spirit of lockdown and the Thank You rainbows which appeared everywhere to thank the NHS and key workers. Tatenda says thank you to everyone but they're so worried that they've stopped hearing him, so he tries to say thank you in a different way.

I love the illustrations which are largely monochrome, with the rainbow being the only colour on the page.

[Jenna Mills · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh

[Georgie Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully touching show of how a simple "thank you" really can go a long way. I'll be sure to pick this back up when I'm having a bad day!

[Charlotte Whiteing · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved Sam's illustrations