Feeling Thankful

by Shelley Rotner, Sheila M. Kelly

What does feeling thankful mean? This photographic essay is designed to give children an awareness of all they have to be thankful for -- a spiritual, nonreligious look at gratitude for kids. A great book for the Thanksgiving season

Genres: Thanksgiving, Picture Books, Childrens, Nonfiction, Emotion, Holiday, Juvenile

48 pages, Library Binding

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

When I was five, I refused to go to kindergarten. I declared it was for babies. I already knew how to read, but what really bothered me the most was that the kids mixed up the paintbrushes and colors at the easel so there was never true blue, red, yellow or green. Every time my teacher turned her back, I left the room and headed to the first grade class diagonally across the hall. Luckily, I had a friend there who happily shared her desk with me until the teacher noticed and sent me back to kindergarten. After many successful escapes, a trip to the principal and some testing, I was officially moved to that first grade class with beautiful autumn leaves painted on the door.

Reviews

[Cheriee Weichel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a perfect book to read to our K/1/2 groupings. I love the photographs. It is the kind of book young children will connect to easily. And I won't have parents complaining that the story made their children refuse to eat any turkey. (Like they do when they read Run Turkey, Run)

[A Allen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A thankfulness book filled with photos! There are not many words in this book and I think it would be better suited as a board book for younger children. The text in the book reads: "I am thankful for me. For the things that I have and the things that I do. I'm thankful for all the people that are special to me: my family ... my friends ... and my teachers too. I'm thankful I have a home and good food to eat. I'm thankful for the places where I play. I'm thankful there are birds, butterflies, flowers, and trees. I'm thankful when I walk in the rain. I'm thankful for the moon and the morning, when it comes. I'm thankful for the whole wide world." It felt to me like the book ended abruptly. I wish there had been children in the photos who used mobility aids and children with darker skin tones, but there was some diversity shown. I would love to see another book about thankfulness, filled with photographs.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

A wholesome book for early readers.

[Suzanne Lorraine Kunz Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book to read around Thanksgiving Time to remind us of some of the things we are thankful for.

[Brigid Farrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book for a read aloud for toddlers and up. Doesn't specifically mention Thanksgiving, but would be excellent in that context. Real photos of diverse group of kids.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although life can bring many challenges, it also provides many reasons to be thankful. In a series of a photographs filled with smiling faces, children of various shapes, sizes, and ethnicities seem to reflect on the blessings in their lives. Basic needs such as a home, food, family as well as friends, a place to play, and even teachers are mentioned. It's hard to resist smiling as the children enjoy nature and show an appreciation for the rain as well as the sun. This simple book reminds readers to make their own gratitude lists. It's good to keep in mind the things that bring us joy.

[Miss Pippi the Librarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Feeling Thankful shares peoples' reasons for being thankful. They are thankful for people, possessions, food, places, and more. Rotner shares a vast assortment of photographs of people in different locations and participating in different activities. A great book to jump start a young group of readers on their feelings of thankfulness.

Theme: Thanksgiving
Additional themes: people around the world, photographs

Reviewed from a library copy.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The simple text on each page tells of something we are all thankful for...family and friends, food and toys, outdoors and nature, etc. photographs of children enjoying the mentioned things accompany the text. A good introduction to the concept of being thankful, and I could easily see it being used in the elementary school classroom.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely simple text with photographs of real kids. I read both the original and the updated edition. The original does look dated, with old clothing and hair styles. The newer version has a few updated photos, but keeps many of the originals, cropping them and using more graphic elements to make it look a little more contemporary.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy enough for an early reader, this book goes through all of the things for which we can be thankful including family, friends, homes, food, things to do and see, ending with everything in the world.

[Sebin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book offers full-color photographs of multicultural group of children. Each child expresses what he or she is thankful for from family and friends to a pet mouse. This would be great for teaching during the week of Thanksgiving!

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Feeling Thankful is a simply worded text that shows many things we can all by grateful for.

Used for "We Are Thankful" Storytime-November, 2010.

[Bridget · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple book on things to be thankful for with interesting photos for children.

[Sarah Zimmer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This non-fiction book focuses on feeling thankful. It uses real pictures to show children what they have to be thankful for. Great for teaching children to relate to others.

[Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

A photo essay celebrates life as it demonstrates the many things in the world for which people have to be thankful. By the creators of The A.D.D. Book for Kids. Simultaneous.

[Maren Prestegaard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Little Anna Banana was incredibly drawn to this one. She mimicked the photography. A nice check-out from the library for a time.

[Theresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

teaches children about thanksgiving and the value of family

[Mainchild]

PIC Rotn