The Thank You Dish

by Trace Balla

It's dinnertime at Grace's place.'Thank you, alpaca,' says Grace.'Alpaca?' asks Mama. 'Why would you thank an alpaca?'A playful mealtime conversation becomes a joyful act of giving thanks. From the multi-award-winning creator of Rivertime , Rockhopping and Shine .'A heartwarming book filled with the joys of being part of a community that values growing food and sharing meals with loved ones.' Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, 1st Grade, Autumn, Food

Paperback

About the author

Trace Balla is often found sketching in nature, riding her bike, dancing, and growing vegies in her garden in central Victoria. She loves to illustrate and write songs and stories, and inspire others in their creativity and care for the planet. Her background is in illustration, community arts, art therapy, animation, and writing songs and stories, and she enjoys visiting schools and festivals to talk about her work.

Reviews

[Moonkiszt]

Featured in a grandma reads session.

The thankful dish is a way to play, and state your gratitude. . . everyone should have one!

We are considering doing this next time we gather together.

[Danette]

One meal can give you so many things to be thankful for.
11/12/19 Read to Naomi, Julia, Tommy, & John Henry

[Sue Winson]

There are many yummy children books about foods and cooking and baking, but not enough books reminding us to give thanks to those that provide and contribute to the meals that we eat everyday. This book is heartwarming, sweet, and unique in such a way. I love it, 22-month old little-AJ smiles when reading it. The illustrations are not particularly stunning, but they are very detailed with interesting items to be spotted at each page.

Grace and mummy gave thanks before dinner. Taking turn, they each thanked someone or something for making a dinner possible: e.g. The kangaroo for not eating all the carrots, Leo for lending them his ladder so that they could pluck some lemons from the tree, the alpaca for providing its wool and kept Uncle Fred warm while he fished, and the road workers for fixing the path to the greengrocer.

Each statement makes me smile. I wish we can have more such meaningful conversations with our kids each day. This is a perfect book teaching us about the value of gratitude, and for recognizing the amazing chain of events that make things happened.

Blog review here: https://storypleasemummy.wordpress.co...

[Stephanie Bange]

An import from Australia, this book (first American edition) was also published by Allen & Unwin in 2017.

Following her mother's lead, Grace gives thanks for many animals, plants and people who have had a hand at putting the food on her dinner plate that evening.

Balla's watercolor illustrations are small and detailed, just right for a lapsit talk about being thankful. This tender story is told as a conversation between Grace and her mother so delightfully. It would make an excellent reader's theater script for children in grades PreS-3.

Don't just pull this out at Thanksgiving. This would be an excellent tool to use in order to remind small children that we should express thanks everyday.

[Erin]

The Thank You Dish highlights all of the people and things necessary for one meal. As Grace and her mama sit down to dinner, Mama starts by thanking rain, soil, and the sun for helping with the meal. Grace then begins to add in all of the other animals, people, and things that helped create the meal on her plate. Each page spread uses muted yellows, oranges, and greens and highlights the image of Grace’s thank you.

Although not a must-have, this is a nice concept book about what it takes to create a meal and also how to show gratitude for what one has. It would be good to read around Thanksgiving or with a kindergarten class learning about kindness.

[Cat]

Cute story about thankfulness! As a young girl and her mom sit down to eat , her mom begins with a thank you that her daughter continues to elaborate on and thanks many others responsible for their meal. Illustrations were softly colored and lovely! I think this would be a good one for introducing where food on our plates come from to young children. Maybe even for textiles.Everything has it's beginnings!

[Amanda]

It’s dinnertime, and as usual, Mama begins to give thanks. Grace jumps in, however, and unexpectedly thanks kangaroos! As the back and forth continues, Grace embodies the true spirit of gratitude and celebrates community and the bonds created by sharing meals together. In this charming conversation between Grace and Mama, readers come to realize that there is always something to give thanks for and someone to give thanks to.

[Jared White]

This book has simple text and illustrations but has a very thoughtful and lovely message about far-reaching gratitude for all the creatures and people it takes to provide a wonderful meal. It was not just the girl's mother who provided the meal but also, in a surprisingly tangible way the road workers, the aunt, the neighbor, and even the alpaca and flower tree.

[Hillary Dillon]

being grateful

[Tia-Renee]

My two year old son regularly asks for this

[Summer]

This is an adorable story of all the people and places that it takes to make a meal! My only complaint is that God wasn't acknowledged in the list of thank yous.

[Stephanie]

Text was enjoyable to read. The illustrations will especially appeal to those who value locally sourced or organic foods.

[Erin]

A very cute look at all the things to be thankful for in the making of one dish.

[Krista]

Mama and Grace sit down to enjoy a meal and they reflect on all the many people and animals that brought their meal to them. An educational, fiction read.

[annalee ✨]

Really cute, reminds me of the way my brother says grace HAHA

[Educateempower]

What are you thankful for?

Do you stop during the day and reflect on how lucky you are?

The Thank you dish by Trace Balla might help you and your child think about being grateful for all the little things we take for granted.


It’s dinner time at Grace’s place and together with her mother they are giving thanks for the many ways their meal has made it to their plate. They are grateful for the simple things like rain, soil and sunshine but then Grace moves onto other ideas such as road workers (who make sure the roads are safe for the bikes to travel along), kangaroos (for not eating the food before they picked it), alpacas (for their wool that keeps us warm) and friends (who help grow and catch food).

Trace Balla has written this celebratory book to show young children that there is more to their meal apart from the supermarket and the packages. They are shown that being a part of a community is part of the growth of food and it also shows that taking the time to slow down, be grateful and learn about where your food comes from is really important.

Grace and her mum also show the slow movement towards sustainable food gathering – a movement which is slowly building momentum as people start to realise the importance of supporting those who grow food and make things from hand.

Australian life is reflected through Trace Balla’s illustrations. You can feel the spring time glow and the smell of winter evenings on the water.

The Thank you dish is one to share with all young families and one that will hopefully initiate your own evening meal conversations of gratitude.

So what else can you do with this book? Check out my blog!

[Jesse]

A conversation between Grace and Mama begins when Mama thanks the rain, soil and sunshine for the dinner. This prompts Grace to add a thanks to the kangaroos – Mama is confused until Grace explains she wants to thank the kangaroos for not eating all the carrots. The story continues with Grace thanks various animals and people.

[Rebecca Johnson]

The Thank You Dish is a heartwarming little book of gratitude, community, growing, and sharing. The simple act of a family meal becomes a lovely exchange between mother and daughter about all the things they are grateful for that have allowed this meal to come to fruition. A great way to look at community and gratitude.

[Bruce Gargoyle]

I received a copy of this title from Allen & Unwin for review.

Ten Second Synopsis:
A girl and her mother sit down for dinner and decide to give thanks. But who would have thought there were so many people to thank for a simple meal?

This is a delightful and authentic missive that gently introduces the concept of gratefulness and being mindful of how many people contribute to things we might take for granted. The illustrations are so charming here, with simple line drawings complemented by an earthy colour scheme. I particularly like how the empty dinner table becomes fuller with each "thanks" given, as little stick drawings of the various "thankees" begin to populate the table. The text is simple and repetitive and I wouldn't be surprised if young readers carry the line, "Why would you thank the .......?" outside of the context of the text! The small size of the hardback means it would be perfect to bring to the dinner table or picnic blanket to share before a meal. The Thank You Dish is a perfect gem of a book, reminding us of the need to be thankful for what we have without being preachy or labouring the point.