The Thankful Book

by Todd Parr

Paperback

Genres: Picture Books, Thanksgiving, Childrens, Storytime, Holiday, Fiction, Family

Paperback

First published September 1, 2016

About the author

Todd Parr is a three-time New York Times-bestselling author and illustrator of more than fifty books for children. He has inspired and empowered children around the world with simple, hopeful, and powerful messages such as “be kind”, “love yourself” and “be who you are,” all set with vibrant images in eye-catching primary colors. His books have received numerous awards and are available in nearly twenty languages. He also is the co-creator of the popular three-time Daytime Emmy©-nominated animated TV series, "ToddWorld" with Gerry Renert of SupperTime Entertainment. Several short films for Sesame Street have also been based on Parr’s work.

Parr devotes time to numerous philanthropic causes supporting pet adoption, children’s hunger, health, and literacy. He is a frequent reader and fundraiser for The Ronald McDonald House and serves on the board of directors for the Virginia Children’s Book Festival. His corporate collaborations include Best Buy, Stouffer’s, and the San Francisco–Marin Food Bank, among others.

A native of Wyoming, Parr currently lives in Berkeley, California.

Reviews

[Calista · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a Todd Parr book and his fingerprint is immediate. This is for young very young readers about what we have to be thankful for. I love the message and the colors. It’s a lovely little book and great for the Thanksgiving holiday.

The kids thought it was a good book too. They gave it 3 stars. This is a wonderful lovely book about being Thankful.

[Elisabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am thankful for Todd Parr and books full of happy.

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lição deste livro é:
"Existem várias coisas pelas quais devemos ser gratos. Tente se lembrar de algumas todos os dias. Com amor."
Esta mensagem é cada vez mais importante nos dias que correm. Isto porque, cada vez mais as pessoas, adultos e crianças, exigem sempre mais e esquecem-se de ser gratos por aquilo que têm.
Gostei muito desta mensagem e da forma como o autor e ilustrado do livro transmite a mesma.

[Arin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this in a preschool storytime with a Thanksgiving theme. I wanted to stay away from books about turkeys or outdated notions of the holiday and focus instead on concepts of gratitude, family, friends, and kindness. This vibrant book with just the right balance of warmth and humor fit the bill perfectly and became my opener for the program. Todd Parr strikes again with a simple book with a great message that is perfect for preschool read-aloud.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not usually a huge fan of Todd Parr. I don't care for his illustration style. But this book really works for me.

I like the specific reasons to be thankful. Many of them are "outside of the box" thinking. And the bright colors and child-like style adds to the book, rather than distracting me.

Best of his books, for me personally.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Standard Parr. He lists things he's (or the narrator's) thankful for, in the simplest of terms: I'm thankful for [THIS] because [THIS]. This book would be great to get a class of preschoolers thinking about what they're thankful for.

[Danielle Mootz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Statements of what the author is thankful for encouraged us all to name a few of our own.

[Harlow · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so thankful :)

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

A thankful book for the very youngest, showing them to be thankful everyday and for the basic happenings and items of their young lives, for example, there feet because they help them to run and play, music for it makes them want to dance.

[Gayle Swift · Rating 5 out of 5]

Todd Parr’s signature artwork lights up each page. Although targeted to three to six-year-olds, it can be enjoyed by the entire family. His zany–and diverse–cast of characters express appreciation for a range of things: pets, underwear (and the chance to wear it on your head!) hair; basics like clean water and a home; vital things like friends and family. The blessings mentioned are varied and some readers may share these same blessings while others may only dream of having them. Reading this book offers the chance to talk about gratitude, sharing, empathy and, compassion.

Adoption-attuned Lens: Thanksgiving centers on gratitude; that is the very reason for its existence. As adoptive parents we must be mindful of the hot button issue that often connects gratitude and adoption. Adoptees frequently hear that they “should” feel “lucky” that they were adopted and be grateful to their parents. This attitude/expectation ignores and trivializes the losses that co-exist with the benefits of adoption. Avoid commingling the desire to encourage gratitude with the burden of this misguided cultural expectation. Gayle H. Swift, "ABC, Adoption & Me"

[Margaret Chind · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bright and bold as ever are Todd Parr books. Most of my experience with his books so far have been board books, and this is not a board book, but more like a picture book, but the content would work well again as a board book. This is a list about things to be thankful for and would go great with an interactive thankgiving theme, but it is not overly for the fall/autumn/winter/holiday season and could easily be used at anytime of the year. I definitely seeing this one spark some interest in a classroom to encourage kiddos to perhaps draw out their own thankful book.

*Thanks to LB Kids for providing a copy for review.*

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

A customer returned this, and when flipping through to check for damage, I knew I had to read it. (The book was fine, by the way.) After all, "I am thankful for underwear because I like to wear it on my head." is a very out-of-the-box way of thinking...at least for adults. And the whole book was that way, giving genuine reasons kids might be thankful for things, not just way we, as adults, might expect them to be thankful. While I probably won't use this for a storytime, I might buy it for my little nieces and nephews!

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love books by Todd Parr. This, like the others, are short, colorful, and fun. The illustrations are simple yet succinct. This is perfect for emerging readers. Their concentration is usually short and easily diverted by complicated illustrations. My son read this book all by himself. The words are short and simple. The concept is being grateful for every day niceties like hair (fun picture, by the way).

Highly recommend for the emerging reader.

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every book on happiness I read raves about the value of being thankful. Once again, Todd Parr takes on a worthy subject and brings to it the simplicity and wisdom of a child. Beautiful illustrations and brilliant observations. I will share this with my thirty-two classes of primary children next week, just in time for Thanksgiving. I'm confident they will love it, too. I'm confident as well that teachers will be lined up to check it out.

[Borchers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very cute book that is great for teaching little ones gratitude. Vibrant colors and eye catching pages help hold interest. The repeating phrases also allows them to 'help read' at a very young age or is nice for sounding out words for the beginning reader. This was fun to read during Thanksgiving week and my five year old really enjoyed it! Highly recommend reading with young kids as they grow into gratitude!

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

My almost-five-year-old son picked this book out from the library last week. He seems to be drawn to the wild, colorful, cartoon style that Todd Parr employs. I am not.

The text in this book, however, is absolutely wonderful. It is sweet and funny without going overboard in either direction. So, while I am not a Todd Parr fan, I am a fan of this little gem of a book. If only I could learn to like his illustrative style...

[Sunnyvale Librarian]

Thankfulness, joy and gratitude flow through this picture book. Parr's distinctive artistic style reflects positive outlooks, "I am thankful for music because it makes me want to dance." or "I am thankful for the library because it is filled with endless adventures." Every page spreads joy and thoughtfulness and many discussions will be started by asking, "What are you thankful for?" This is the perfect book for Thanksgiving or any time of the year.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a typical Todd Parr book about remembering to be thankful for everything that you have and for all of the great things in your life. It is sometimes difficult to remember those things when life is getting you down, but Todd Parr always is there to help you out and make life seem more worthwhile.

[Sarah Federspiel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed finding this book because I think its a great resource to use with young children in order to teach them important life skills, which in this case is learning to be grateful for what you have. The book, when brand new, even comes with a small translucent piece of paper at the beginning for the child to make their own cover of what they are thankful for in their own life.

[Kimberly Walton Mayden · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the perfect time of the year to read this book to your child. This book is an invaluable tool for teaching children to be thankful for what they have. Mr. Parr's artwork is pleasing to everyone's eye, children and adults alike!

I personally, am thankful for gifted authors like Todd Parr!!!

[Torrie Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I looked for other Todd Parr books after reading a few and I came across this book. I love how Todd Parr uses the same type of drawings and illustrations throughout all of his books because the students can link the books together. This book can be used to teach children to think about why they are thankful for things or why they do or do not like certain things.

[K Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Todd Parr always does a wonderful job. He has some very specific reasons for the things that he is thankful for. I love that he encourages the reader to think of things to be thankful for EVERY day.

"I am thankful for the library because it is filled with endless adventures."

[Russell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Todd Parr, as always, imparts a positive and accepting message of joy. In this book, we are told to be grateful for all of life's blessings, and even accept deviants who like to wear underwear on their head like their dog.

[Emerson and Theodore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good for the season.
I am thankful for music because it makes me want to dance.
I am thankful for my feet because they help me run and play.
I am thankful for kisses because they make me feel loved.

[Mo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mummy got this book out of the library for me. I chose it every single night for the 2 weeks we had it. It made me think about things to be thankful for every day. Some of the pictures were funny and made me laugh "I am thankful for pants because I like to put them on my head"
(2yrs 5mths)

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Todd Parr is back with a book about being thankful. He uses characters and subjects from previous books to illustrate ways to be thankful.

Children's favorite: I am thankful for underwear because I can wear it on my head.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thankful storytime

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Using for a toddler storytime--it's too long, so I'm hoping to get away with skipping pages!

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm thankful for Todd Parr books because they make me and my kids happy.