From New York Times bestselling author Susan Verde, writer Courtney Sheinmel, and illustrator Heather Ross comes a warmhearted picture book story about expressing gratitude, perfectly modeling how to write a great thank-you note! When a surprise comes in the mail from Grandma, Sallie wants to text her right away: Thanks, Grandma! But wait—how will Grandma know what Sallie is thanking her for and how it makes her feel? And every proper thank-you needs some swirlies, right? This calls for something special: a handwritten note. The next day, Sallie hopes to get another package so she can write a second note. Nothing comes. But . . . she does get safely across the street on the way to school. Maybe that deserves a thank you! Dear Crossing Guard . . . With each new day, Sallie discovers more and more reasons to feel grateful. A warm and witty story about appreciating others, Sallie Bee Writes a Thank-You Note celebrates the simple kindness of saying “thank you.” K-Gr 3-Sallie Bee receives a scarf from her grandma one day and goes to send a thank you text right away, but her mother is using the phone. Sallie Bee goes right ahead and writes out the text, so she'll remember it, and by the time she is done, she has created a thank you note explaining why she loves the scarf so much and how it makes her feel. And that was so much fun that she has to write some more. The authors have created a story about the importance of thank you cards-how they demonstrate feelings and brighte the sender's and the recipient's day. Simple vocabulary makes this accessible even to younger students, while demonstrating to older ones how everyone can be thankful in their own lives. Ross adeptly creates fantastic pictures conveying how others' actions affect Sallie, and how her cards impact them. Sallie's handwriting on the cards is particularly adorable and looks exactly as if a student wrote it. VERDICT Finally! A good book to teach students that writing a thank you note can be fun and brighten someone's day, as well as their own.-Margaret Kennellyα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. "Rosy illustrations featuring Sallie’s colorful notes help tell the story and capture familial love and the protagonist’s kindnesses. . .Will inspire and prepare readers to share their thanks." ― Kirkus Reviews "Ross’s pencil, paint, and digital illustrations use bright colors with expressive lines against white pages with words incorporated into the pictures—all of which makes the task of writing thank-you notes look like fun, not work."― The Horn Book "Finally! A good book to teach students that writing a thank you note can be fun and brighten someone’s day, as well as their own."― School Library Journal Susan Verde is the author of the New York Times bestselling picture books I Am Human and I Am Love , as well as I Am Yoga , I Am Peace , I Am One , The Museum , You and Me , My Kicks , and Rock ‘n’ Roll Soul . In addition to writing books, she is a certified yoga and mindfulness instructor for kids of all ages. She lives in East Hampton, New York, with her three children, a cat, a dog, and a tarantula. Courtney Sheinmel is a chocolate lover, mac and cheese expert, mom to Archer, and the author of nearly 30 books for kids and teens, including several series for young readers—Stella Batts, My Pet Slime, Magic on the Map (cowritten with Bianca Turetsky), and Agnes & Clarabelle (cowritten with Adele Griffin). She received a National Scholastic Outstanding Educator Award for her work as a writing instructor at the nonprofit Writopia Lab. Sheinmel and her family live in New York. Heather Ross is an illustrator, author, and textile designer. She is the author-illustrator of Boys: An Illustrated Field Guide and How to Catch a Frog , and has illustrated picture books such as Grimelda: The Very Messy Witch , How to Behave at a Tea Party , and Crafty Chloe . She also wrote the bestselling craft books Weekend Sewing and Heather Ross Prints . She lives in New York and the Catskill Mountains with her husband, daughter, and dog.