Children's Book Publishers

Listening to audio versions of children's books - children's audio books - is a great way to pass the time at home or when your family is traveling, especially during a long car or plane ride. If your children have individual CD or cassette players, they can each listen to their own children's audio book, or you can choose children's audio books that the whole family will enjoy. Audio books often include music, sound effects, or a full cast, adding to the enjoyment. Here are some I recommend.

1. The Frogs Wore Red Suspenders
The audio book version of The Frogs Wore Red Suspenders reveals another of the talents of author Jack Prelutsky; he is also a musician. Your children won't be able to resist the funny poems set to music and sung by Prelutsky, who also plays the guitar along with John Guth. The musical arrangements by Guth feature bass guitar, mandolin, percussion, and keyboards. I know from experience that two to four year olds love to listen to this recording again and again. It is available in a cassette.

2. The Penultimate Peril (A Series of Unfortunate Events: Book 12 )
If your children are among the middle and upper elementary age kids who love Lemony Snicket's series about the orphaned Baudelaire children and all the miserable things that happen to them, this audio book version of the next-to-last book in the series should hold their attention. It's available on CD or cassette. I'd recommend this series for children nine and up. Younger children may also enjoy it, but are apt to miss some of the author's dark humor.

3. The Harry Potter Series
Anyone of these exciting books could take a lot of your family's time. For example, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, one of JK Rowling's shorter books is available on CD or cassette and provides 12 hours of mystery, suspense, wizardry, and fun. Try listening to it and, then, compare it to the movie. I'd recommend these for children eight years old and up.

4. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
Everyone has a bad day, and the entire family will get a kick out of Alexander's troubles in the title story and in Alexander, Who Used to Be Rich Last Sunday Other stories by Judith Viorst on this CD include Rosie and Michael, Mama Says There Ain't Zombies, Ghosts, Vampires, Creatures, Demons, Monsters, Fiends, Goblins, or Things, If I Were in Charge of the World and Other Worries, and The Tenth Good Thing About Barney. I recommend this CD for four to eight year olds.

5. Charlotte's Web
The Charlotte's Web 50th Anniversary Retrospective Edition audio book version is read by the author, E.B. White, and is 3.5 hours long. This classic story of friendship, first published in 1952, is the heartwarming tale of a little girl, a pig who needs help to avoid the slaughterhouse, a remarkable spider, and much, much more. It is available on CD. I recommend it for seven to ten year olds.

If you have kids or teens who are reluctant readers because they read below grade level and can’t find books they can read that interest them, try some of these hi/lo books. The books are at the reader's interest level (“hi” stands for “high interest”) but written at a lower reading level (“lo” stands for “low readability”) to encourage reading. Kids and teens reading below grade level are more apt to want to read a book if it is not only at their reading level but also at their interest level.

1. Hi/Lo Books for Middle School Students
These three long unannotated booklists come from The Middle Grades Reading Network, which is funded by the Lily Endowment Inc. and located at the University of Evansville in Indiana. The Network “is dedicated to the promotion of voluntary reading of books, newspapers, and other print materials among young adolescents.” The booklists of hi/lo books are for middle school students who read at the third, fourth or fifth grade level.
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2. HIP Junior Novels for Grades 4 to 6
If you are looking for books that will interest your struggling reader who is in grade 4, 5, or 6 but reads at the grade 2.2-2.5 or below reading level, these books may be just what you want. HIP Junior Novels are published by High Interest Publishing (HIP), a company that publishes novels for reluctant readers from ages 8 to 18.
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3. Keystone Books
Keystone Books from Capstone Press are for the students with reading levels of grades 2-3 and interest levels of grades 5-9. They include science fiction, sports, horror, suspense, and humor. Titles include Alien Abduction, Killer Sharks, and Skateboard Power. The more than 20 books are all Accelerated Reader selections.
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4. Orca Currents – Hi/Lo Middle School Fiction
Orca Currents, middle school fiction for reluctant readers, is published by Orca Book Publishers. These hi/lo books are designed for an interest level of 10-14 years and a reading level of grades 2.0 to 4.5. If you are looking for short, high-interest novels, check these out.
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5. Orca Soundings – Hi/Lo Teen Fiction
Orca Soundings, teen fiction for struggling readers, is published by Orca Book Publishers. These hi/lo books are designed for an interest level of 12+ years and a reading level of grades 2.0 to 4.5. You’ll find more than 30 titles in this series of contemporary stories, including some Accelerated Reader selections.
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I have both children's Valentine's Day picture books and beginning readers to recommend to you. Each children's book is worth buying because it can be enjoyed again and again. These children's Valentine's Day books are good read-alouds, provide positive reinforcement for sharing and being kind to one another, and have engaging illustrations that complement the text. Here's a quick review of each of them.

1. Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch
The Valentine's Day picture book Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch, by Eileen Spinelli, wonderfully illustrates the power of love and would make an excellent Valentine's Day gift for a four to eight year old. It is a charming book with a powerful message. The importance of love and kindness comes through loud and clear. Even very young children will understand how good it is to feel loved and how important it is to help others feel loved.

(Simon & Schuster, 1992. ISBN: 0027860159)

2. Valentine's Day
Valentine's Day was written and illustrated by the mother and daughter team of Anne and Lizzy Rockwell. It takes place in Mrs. Madoff's elementary school class. The children in her class come from a variety of cultures and backgrounds. The story, told as much in pictures as in words, centers on the students' creating Valentines for their friend Michiko, who is thousands of miles away in Japan. This book is perfect for three to six year olds.

(HarperCollins, 2001. ISBN: 0060277947)

3. Queen of Hearts
Here's another in Mary Engelbreit's beautifully illustrated series of Ann Estelle picture books. Ann Estelle loves to make things. She spends hours and hours creating an extravagantly decorated Valentine's Day box to hold the cards she'll receive from her classmates. She focuses so much on the box that she forgets to make Valentine's Day cards to give to her classmates. How creative thinking by Ann Estelle saves the day makes an entertaining story.

(HarperCollins, 2005. ISBN: 0060081813)

4. Too Many Valentines
This Level 1, Ready-To-Read book is part of the Robin Hill School series. It was written by Margaret McNamara and illustrated by Mike Gordon. The story centers on class preparations for Valentine's Day and one little boy, Neil, who says, "I get too many Valentines. I do not want any more." How the class honors his feelings and still includes him in the celebration makes an entertaining story.

(Simon & Schuster, Aladdin Paperbacks, 2003. ISBN: 0689855370)

5. Nate the Great and the Mushy Valentine
This children's Valentine's Day book is from the Nate the Great detective series for beginning readers by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat. Nate the Great starts out with one case, finding out who gave his dog a Valentine, and then, his friend Annie asks him to help her find a missing Valentine. This entertaining story, with lots of illustrations by Marc Simont, is both a good read-aloud for 4-8 year olds and a good book for beginning readers, grades 2-3.

(Yearling, 1995. ISBN: 0440410134)

The symbols and activities of the Chinese New Year / Lunar New Year come to life in these children's picture books about the fifteen-day celebration of the Chinese New Year / Lunar New Year that takes place at different times each year between late January and late February. These books provide a fascinating look at this holiday as it is celebrated in the United States, Korea, and in China.

1. Celebrating Chinese New Year
What's it like to celebrate Chinese New Year in the United States? This delightful 32-page book by Diane Hoyt-Goldsmith documents the celebration of fourth grader Ryan Leong and his family, who lives in San Francisco. The crisp, colorful photographs by Lawrence Migdale show Ryan and his family as they prepare for the holiday and the text explains the reasons for the various activities. The book includes both a glossary and an index.

(Holiday House, 1998. ISBN: 0823415201)

2. New Clothes for New Year's Day
This charming picture book from South Korea is the story of a little girl who is getting ready to celebrate Solnal, the first day of the Lunar New Year, by putting on her special new holiday clothing. In words and artwork author and illustrator Hyun-Joo Bae portrays the little girl's joy in her new clothes as she carefully dresses herself in the colorful clothing, including a long crimson skirt, embroidered socks, rainbow-striped jacket, flowered shoes, furry vest, winter hat, and lucky bag. At book's end, there is more information about the Lunar New Year in Korea.

(Kane/Miller, 2007. ISBN: 9781933605296)

3. Lion Dancer: Ernie Wan's Chinese New Year
This factual story, done in picture book format, is about the first Lion Dance of a young boy who lives in Chinatown in New York City. While the focus is on Ernie Wan's preparations for, and enjoyment of, the Lion Dance, authors Kate Waters and Madeline Slovenz-Low include a lot of other information about how Ernie and his family celebrate Chinese New Year. The color photographs by Martha Cooper illustrate many of the holiday activities.

(Scholastic, 1990. ISBN: 0590430467)

4. Sam and the Lucky Money
This picture book by Karen Chinn stresses the joy that comes from giving to others. Sam and his mother celebrate Chinese New Year's day with a visit to Chinatown where Sam plans to buy himself something special with his "lucky money," a New Year's gift. The watercolor illustrations by Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu capture all of the excitement of the celebration in the bustling streets of Chinatown. Despite the temptation of sweets from the bakery and the frustration of not having enough money for a basketball, Sam ultimately decides to give his money to a poor old man.

(Lee & Low Books, 1995. ISBN:9781880000533)

5. Happy, Happy Chinese New Year!
This book by author and illustrator Demi is enfused with the joy of the Chinese New Year, both its preparations and celebrations. With simple text and captivating illustrations, Demi provides an overview of the activities in which the Chinese participate before and during Chinese New Year. I would recommend this book for four- to eight-year-olds as well as for adults who enjoy Demi's artwork.

(Crown Books for Young Readers,2003. ISBN: 0375826424)

Here are some children's Kwanzaa books I recommend. The seven principles stressed during Kwanzaa emphasize important character traits and many teachers share children's Kwanzaa books with their students. Kwanzaa has increased in popularity every year as more African-American families celebrate the holiday, more children learn about Kwanzaa and its seven principles in school, and more children's Kwanzaa books are published. Kwanzaa was established in 1966 by educator Dr. Maulana Karenga.

1. Seven Spools of Thread
Albert Whitman & CompanyThe story, the striking artwork, and the clever way both are used to illustrate the seven principles of Kwanzaa make Seven Spools of Thread an exceptional children's Kwanzaa picture book for all ages. The author is Angela Shelf Medearis, the popular author of numerous children's books. Daniel Minter's linoleum block prints complement the story, yet stand alone as dramatic pieces of art.

(Albert Whitman & Company, 2000. ISBN: 0807573159)

2. It's Kwanzaa Time!
This book has it all: history, stories, crafts, games, recipes, and songs. It was written by Linda and Clay Goss. The stories, one for each day and principle of Kwanzaa, include illustrations by award-winning artists, including Ashley Bryan, Leo and Diane Dillon, Jan Spivey Gilchrist, and Jerry Pinkney. The stories range from folktales to true stories.

(G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1995. ISBN: 0399239561)

3. My First Kwanzaa Book
This picture book provides an excellent introduction to how African-American families celebrate Kwanzaa. Deborah M. Newton Chocolate is the author and Cal Massey the illustrator. Told from the viewpoint of a little boy, this is the story of his family's celebration. At the end of the book, the author provides additional information about the holiday.

(Scholastic, Inc., 1992. ISBN: 0590457624)

4. The Gifts of Kwanzaa
Synthia Saint James' artwork, with its bold colors and simple shapes, will immediately engage young children's attention. A young girl's family prepares for, and enjoys, Kwanzaa. Along with an explanation of the family's activities, the author provides examples of what the principles of Kwanzaa mean that even quite young children should be able to understand.

(Albert Whitman & Co., 1994. ISBN: 0807529079)

5. Crafts for Kwanzaa
This book provides directions for 20 Kwanzaa crafts. Sharon Lane Holm's colorful sketches and Kathy Ross' clear directions make it a joy to use. Included at the beginning of the book is an overview of the holiday. Throughout the book, Ross introduces Swahili words and describes the relationship of the crafts to the celebration of Kwanzaa.

(Millbrook Press, Inc., 1994. ISBN: 1562944126)

If you are looking for the best children's Christmas picture books of 2005 and 2006, these are my choices. Both the illustrations and the story in each of these children's Christmas picture books are of high quality.

1. There Was No Snow on Christmas Eve
Dennis Nolan’s lovely, soft focus watercolors complement the lyrical text by Pam Muñoz Ryan. It’s often hard for young children, who are used to cold weather and snow during the winter, to understand how very different it was on the first Christmas. By starting with scenes of three children in the snow and contrasting that modern scene with text, then artwork and text, the reader is transported to Bethlehem and the birth of Jesus.

(Hyperion Books for Children, 2005. ISBN: 0786854928)

2. One Splendid Tree
Marilyn Helmer's story, with photo-collage artwork by Dianne Eastman, takes place during WW II, but it will have special meaning for any family with a parent away on active duty with the military. While Daddy is away, Hattie and Junior and Momma are living in a city apartment. Despite missing Daddy, the two children transform an old plant into a splendid Christmas tree, and in the process, create a friendly community of tenants and a festive Christmas.

(Kids Can Press, 2005. ISBN: 1553376838)

3. Dear Santa Claus
Three- to six-year-olds love Dear Santa Claus by Alan Durant. The story is about a little girl, Holly, her correspondence with Santa, and a wish that comes true. Holly’s wish, to help Santa as he delivers Christmas gifts, is a wish many young children share. In addition to the appealing watercolor illustrations by Vanessa Cabban, throughout the book there are envelopes with letters from Santa in them. Some even include special treats.

(Candlewick Press, 2005. ISBN: 0763628298)

4. Aunt Olga’s Christmas Postcards
Kevin Major’s story will appeal to older kids and adults. Despite the age difference and the fact that Great-Great Aunt Olga “isn’t as sharp as she used to be,” young Anna and the 95-year-old Olga are very close. When Anna visits, Olga shares stories and her postcard collection. There is poignancy to one life just getting started while the other is nearing an end. The artwork combines pen and ink sketches by Bruce Roberts with historical postcards.

(House of Anansi Press, 2005. ISBN: 0888995938)

5. Merry Christmas, Merry Crow
At dusk on a snowy day, a crow flies through the festively decorated town in Kathi Applet’s rhyming story. Flying to and fro, the crow collects all kinds of things, including: “A shiny ring/A piece of string/A length of garland glimmering.” With all of these treasures and some birdseed, the crow creates a special Christmas tree for all the birds. The artwork, paintings in oil and acrylic on canvas, by Jon Goodell, is rich with color and detail.

(Harcourt, Inc., 2005. ISBN: 0152026517)

1. The Littlest Angel

I visited numerous bookstores and read lots of children's picture books about Christmas to bring you this guide to the top Christmas picture books published. Here you will find cover art and information about each of the children's Christmas picture books.

The Littlest Angel

This poignant classic by Charles Tazewell was first published in 1946. The 2004 edition has warm and beautiful paintings by Guy Porfirio to illustrate it. The story is simple and inspiring. A little boy, who has become the littlest angel in heaven, is unhappy and homesick. When the Understanding Angel responds to the littlest angel's request for the box of treasures he left at home, the littlest angel is happy. When he decides to give his box of treasures to the Christ Child, it is a great act of love. However, he fears that his gift is not good enough and experiences great sorrow until God tells him, “I find this small box pleases me most.”
The new illustrations by Guy Porfirio add to the poignancy of the story and create an emotional bond between the reader and the little boy struggling to adjust to his new role as "the littlest angel." Even if you already own another edition of The Littlest Angel, I highly recommend you take a look at this one.

(Ideals Children's Books, 2004. ISBN: 0824954734)

2. Shall I Knit You a Hat? A Christmas Yarn

Maybe it’s the fact that the author, Kate Klise, and the illustrator, M. Sarah Klise, are sisters that makes the text and artwork fit together so well in the children's Christmas picture book Shall I Knit You A Hat? A Christmas Yarn. This tale of love, giving, and friendship centers on Mother Rabbit and Little Rabbit.
While their cozy home is warm, a storm is coming, and Mother Rabbit asks, “Shall I knit you a hat?” Little Rabbit loves his new hat and convinces his mother to make hats, with his help, for his friends. Little Rabbit comes up with the design ideas and Mother Rabbit does the knitting. The two have a wonderful time working together. When Little Rabbit realizes he has been so busy that he has no present for his mother, she tells him, “…being with you is the best gift of all.”

Four things particularly impressed me about the book: the loving relationship between mother and son, their joy in preparing gifts for others, the delight of the recipients, and the clever acrylic illustrations. You’ll be astonished when you see how the animals look in their amazing hats, each one unique and perfect for the recipients: a horse, goose, deer, cat, and dog.

(Henry Holt and Co., 2004. ISBN: 0800507318)

3. Finding Christmas

The slightly eerie atmosphere created by Wayne Anderson’s illustrations add a delightful tension to Helen Ward’s picture book Finding Christmas. The little girl in a bright red coat and bright green boots is the only bright note in the somber snow clad town as she wanders at dusk from shop to shop. She is looking for “the perfect present to give to someone special.” Things look hopeless until she is drawn to the bright window of a toy shop filled with colorful toys.
However, the people in the shop are so busy loading toys in a sack for another customer (who could that man with a beard be?) that they have no time for her. When they do have time, there are no toys left. When the little girl walks out into the snow, she hears a bell and when she looks up, she sees the perfect present floating down, a stuffed bear for her baby brother’s first Christmas.

(Dutton Children’s Books, A Division of Penguin Young Readers Group, 2004. ISBN: 0525473009)

4. B is for Bethlehem

While the picture book version of B is for Bethlehem was first published in 1990, the board book version of this charming book came out in 2004. The author, Isabel Wilner, uses rhyming couplets to tell the story of Jesus' birth. It’s no wonder Wilner refers to Elisa Kleven as the book’s “perfect illustrator.” Kleven's joyful mixed-media collages create a mood of celebration. The book is subtitled A Christmas Alphabet because the author highlights Christmas words in alphabetical order as she tells the Nativity story.

(Dutton Children’s Books, A Division of Penguin Young Readers Group, 2004. ISBN: 0525473238)

5. An Orange for Frankie

This heartwarming story about family love and giving is based on author and illustrator Patricia Polacco’s own family. This Christmas picture book is set in the Depression. Times are hard for Frankie’s family. He is one of nine children. Despite the fact that the family has little, Frankie’s parents always have something for the hoboes who ride the trains from town to town seeking food and shelter. Frankie also tries to help. Without telling his family, he gives a hobo who doesn’t have warm clothes for the cold winter weather the hand knit sweater his sister gave him the previous Christmas.
It’s a holiday tradition in Frankie’s family that Pa always provides nine oranges, one for each child, for Christmas. Pa has left to get the oranges and the children are worried that bad weather will keep him away. Thanks to the kindness of a railroad man, Pa gets home with the oranges, which the children are not to touch until Christmas. The heart of the story is how Frankie’s family responds when the boy accidentally loses his orange before they are even given out. This story is both longer and has more substance than many Christmas books. I recommend it for eight- to twelve-year-olds.

(Philomel Books, A Division of Penguin Young Readers Group, 2004. ISBN: 039924302X)

The artistry, the high quality of the paper engineering, the level of detail and the sophistication of the designs puts these Christmas pop-up books in a class by themselves. Two of the 3-D books celebrate the birth of Christ, while the others celebrate Christmas traditions and symbols. These are more than children's books. They are Christmas pop-up books for the entire family to cherish.

1. The First Noel
Jan Pietnkowski reaches new heights in artistry and paper engineering with this 3-D book. Look at the photo of the open book in my review (see link below). You'll see that it is a carousel, or star, book with five striking panels in silhouette, each showing a scene about the birth of Jesus. The text in each scene consists of just one sentence retelling the Bible story of the Nativity. You will want to display the open book throughout the holidays.

(Candlewick Press, 2004. ISBN: 0763621900)

2. The First Christmas
If you are looking for a book that will appeal to children of all ages and that will become part of your family's annual Christmas celebration, this may be it. The First Christmas is a pop-up book with charming illustrations in a folk art style by Tomie dePaola. The book features six different pop-up scenes, culminating in the manger scene.

(G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1984. ISBN: 0399210709)

3. The Christmas Alphabet: Deluxe Anniversary Edition
Robert Sabuda is a master of the art of paper engineering and pop-ups. The Christmas Alphabet features four softly colored cards on each double page. Each card contains a pop-up illustration in white of a different word, each beginning with a different letter of the alphabet, from A to Z. This is a lovely book, one that will fascinate the entire family.

(Orchard Books, an imprint of Scholastic, Inc. 1994, 2004. ISBN: 0439672562)

4. The 12 Days of Christmas: A Pop-Up Celebration
Artist and paper engineer extraordinaire Robert Sabuda has indeed created "A Pop-Up Celebration" with his version of "The Twelve Days of Christmas." Sabuda has created wonderful intricate pop-up illustrations for each verse of the traditional song. "The 12 Days of Christmas" is a treasure. I have given it as a gift several times, much to the recipients' delight.

(Simon & Schuster, 1996. ISBN: 0689808658)

5. The Night Before Christmas
The traditional Christmas poem, "The Night Before Christmas," a favorite with many young children as well as older children and adults, gets an elegant new look in Robert Sabuda's interpretation. His white pop-ups, with color accents, bring new life and humor to the poem. This is another example of paper engineering at its finest and another book sure to become a family favorite.

(Simon & Schuster, 2002. ISBN: 0689838999)

Every year, we see more and more Hanukkah books for children. The children's Hanukkah books below emphasize the importance of this Jewish holiday, family activities during Hanukkah, folktales about Hanukka, the history of Hanukkah, and sharing Hanukkah with friends and neighbors. The children's Hanukkah books include an excellent anthology, engaging picture books, a book of poetry and history, and a chapter book. There are books for preschoolers to middle schoolers.

1. Celebrate Hanukkah
Celebrate Hanukkah is part of the National Geographic Society's excellent Holidays Around the World series. The striking photographs show Jewish children all over the world, including Italy, Poland, Ghana, India and Israel, celebrating Hanukkah. Author Deborah Heiligman provides information about the meaning, symbols, and celebration of Hanukkah. At the end of the book are several pages of additional resources, including a glossary, bibliography, recipe for potato latkes, and instructions for playing Dreidel, among other things. I recommend it for all ages.

(National Geographic Society, 2006. ISBN: 0792259246)

2. The Stone Lamp
The Stone Lamp: Eight Stories of Hanukkah Through History combines free verse, history, and art very effectively. Karen Hesse wrote and Brian Pinkney illustrated this book for 9-14+ year olds. Each section includes a page of history with a beautiful decorative border, a full page painting, and a poem written in the voice of a child from that period of history. The book starts with "The Crusades" and ends with the "Assasination of Rabin."

(Hyperion Books for Children, 2003. ISBN: 0786806192)

3. The Trees of the Dancing Goats
Trisha and Richard's grandparents, who are from the Ukraine and Soviet Russia, and their mother are living on a farm in the 1930s. They are enjoying their own Hanukkah preparations when they discover their Christian neighbors are too sick to cut and decorate their Christmas trees. They do it for them. Their neighbors thank them with a carved menorah. This heartwarming tale by Patricia Polacco is a family favorite.

(Simon & Schuster, 1996. ISBN: 0689808623)

4. A Hanukkah Treasury
This is a wonderful collection of more than two dozen poems, stories, songs, Jewish history, and recipes. The book was edited by Eric Kimmel, who also wrote many of the sections. The colorful and exuberant illustrations by Emily Lisker create a feeling of celebration. This is an excellent book for children of all ages.

(Henry Holt and Co., 1998. ISBN: 0-8050-5293-3)

5. The Borrowed Hanukkah Latkes
This picture book was written by Linda Glaser, with cheerful artwork by Nancy Cote. Rachel's family is preparing for an evening of latkes with guests. Every year, they invite their elderly neighbor to come, but she stubbornly refuses. This year, Rachel is even more stubborn, and the little girl cleverly comes up with a way to get her involved. I recommend this book for four- to eight-year-olds.

(Albert Whitman & Co., 1997. ISBN: 0807508411)

While there are many inaccurate and silly children's books about Thanksgiving, there are also excellent children's Thanksgiving books: some that stress giving thanks, some that are humorous, and some that provide a historically accurate picture of the first Thanksgiving. Here are the children's Thanksgiving books that I particularly recommend.

1. 1621, A New Look at Thanksgiving
This Thanksgiving book for 8-12 year olds provides an accurate account of Thanksgiving in 1621. It was written in collaboration with Plimoth Plantation, a living history museum. 1621, A New Look at Thanksgiving is illustrated with photographs of museum reenactments. The text and photographs present the Thanksgiving story from the viewpoints of both the English colonists and the Wampanoag people.

(National Geographic, 2001. ISBN: 0792270274)

2. In Every Tiny Grain of Sand
Reeve Lindbergh's book is subtitled A Child's Book of Prayers and Praise. In Every Tiny Grain of Sand is divided into four sections: For the Day, For the Home, For the Earth, and For the Night, each with a different illustrator. The selections are from a variety of authors, cultures, and religions. The illustrations are wonderful and the selections a delight. While not a children's Thanksgiving book, it certainly emphasizes giving thanks and is a book to be enjoyed by the all ages.

(Candlewick Press, 2000. ISBN: 0763601764)

3. Giving Thanks: A Native American Good Morning Message
According to the author, Chief Jake Swamp, the text of this picture book is "based on the Thanksgiving Address, an ancient message of peace and appreciation of Mother Earth and all her inhabitants" that comes from the Iroquois. The striking illustrations, acrylic paintings on canvas by Erwin Printup, Jr., capture the beauty of nature with drama and simplicity and complement the message of Giving Thanks: A Native American Good Morning Message This is another book the entire family will appreciate.

(Lee & Low Books, 1995. ISBN: 1880000156)

4. Gracias The Thanksgiving Turkey
Joy Cowley’s Thanksgiving picture book is illustrated with colorful oil paintings by Joe Cepeda. A young Hispanic boy, Miquel, lives with his grandparents in a city apartment. His father sends him a turkey to fatten up for the holiday. Instead, the bird becomes Miquel’s pet. Its life is spared when it is unexpectedly blessed by the priest. Gracias The Thanksgiving Turkey is an engaging story that will appeal to four- to eight-year-olds.

(Scholastic, 1996. ISBN: 0590469770)

5. Giving Thanks
The illustrations, oil paintings on linen, that fill each double page with nature's beauty are what sets this oversize (11.64" x 10.20") picture book apart. The simple story by Jonathan London is a boy's description of a hike through the woods with his father, who shares his gratitude and love of nature with his son. The exceptional artwork by Gregory Manchess will make Giving Thanks a family favorite for all ages.

(Candlewick Press, 2003. ISBN: 076361680X)