A father passes on to his son the gift of seeing the beauty around him - and giving thanks. Thank you, Mother Earth. Thank you, Father Sky. Thank you for this day. How can a young boy ever show his gratitude for all the beauty he sees? He will learn from his father, who thanks the earth and the sky, the frogs and the crickets, the hawk and the deer, even the trees that wave their arms in the breeze. Majestic as the most beautiful autumn day and filled with glimpses of favorite woodland animals, GIVING THANKS is truly a gift to readers from nature-lover Jonathan London and master painter Gregory Manchess. PreSchool-Grade 2-A simple prayer of appreciation for being alive and at one with nature. As a father and son take a hike through the countryside on a sunny fall day, the young narrator explains, "Dad believes that the things of nature are a gift. And that in return, we must give something back. We must give thanks." The man expresses his gratitude for various animals, insects, and trees, as well as for Grandfather Sun and Grandmother Moon. Though the youngster claims it feels strange to offer praise in this way, his father explains that it soon becomes a habit "that makes you feel good." As evening moves in and the two head home, the boy ventures a quiet "Thank you, stars." Large, colorful, oil-on-linen illustrations beautifully depict the various objects described in the text. Among the animals skillfully represented are a raccoon, a fox, a hawk, and a deer. Warm shades of green, brown, and gold grace the realistic paintings of an autumn landscape. Similar in tone to Chief Jake Swamp's Giving Thanks (Lee & Low, 1995), this is a gentle reminder to cherish what nature bestows so freely. Maryann H. Owen, Racine Public Library, WI Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. K-Gr. 2. A young boy tells of walking through the fields and woods with his father, who believes that the gifts of nature call for a response. As they hike, the father says "Thank you" to the frogs, the fox, the mushrooms, the quail, the sun, and the other beautiful things they see. The boy muses that "it's a little embarrassing to say thanks to trees and things," but by the end of the day he finds himself saying "Thank you" to the stars. The admission of self-consciousness lends credibility to the boy's voice and point of view, and Manchess' illustrations are quite handsome--impressionistic oil paintings with light, shadows, and colors changing throughout the daylong walk. A book that fosters respect for the natural world through a relatively simple text and illustrations that express the beauty and dignity of nature. Carolyn Phelan Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved Jonathan London is the author of numerous celebrated children’s books. His commitment to honoring the wonders of the natural world has been lauded by readers and critics alike. About GIVING THANKS, Jonathan London says, "Like the dad in the story, I give thanks to ‘the things of nature’ every day. Of course, my young friends call me a tree hugger! But they’re right. I am!" Jonathan London lives with his wife and two sons. Gregory Manchess is a self-taught artist whose paintings have been seen in such magazines as NEWSWEEK, TIME, ATLANTIC MONTHLY, READER'S DIGEST, and NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC. He has received gold and silver medals and the coveted Hamilton King Award from the New York Society of Illustrators for NANUK: LORD OF THE ICE by Brian J. Heinz. About GIVING THANKS, he says, "This story is a timeless expression of the love for nature and understanding our place in the realm of life . . . an understanding that children develop so quickly." This is his first book with Candlewick Press. Used Book in Good Condition