Book Review: 'Thankful' by Eileen Spinelli

✰✰✰✰½ This simple and easy-to-read picture book features different characters and what they are thankful for. There's the waitress, fireman, poet, pastor, and artist. All are thankful for something very different from their friends and family. This book highlights the many different ways there are to be thankful. 

The Bottom Line: By featuring different things to be thankful for, this gentle picture book will inspire children of all ages to take part in a November Thankfulness Challenge. Preston's illustrations bring the text to life by conveying the rhymes and blessings. Enthusiastically recommended. 

Details: Thankful written by Eileen Spinelli & illustrated by Archie Preston. Picture book published by Zonderkidz in 2015. 32 p. ISBN: 978-0-310-00088-4 

Book Review: 'The Smallest Gift of Christmas' by Peter H. Reynolds

✰✰✰✰✰ On Christmas morning, Roland wishes for a big gift. What he finds is the littlest gift ever. Is this all? It just can't be, so he wishes again and again. The gifts become bigger and bigger. Still Roland wants something even bigger. As he searches the universe for something bigger, he realizes that maybe he already has what he really wants. Sometimes the biggest gifts really do come in the smallest packages.

The Bottom Line: This holiday tale reminds us that happiness can be found in your heart rather than in material things. Sometimes even though we don't get what we wish for, we find something better. Highly recommended for story time reading for kids in grades Pre-K – 1. The author's digitally created illustrations are simple, yet colorful and comical.

Details: The Smallest Gift of Christmas written & illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds. Hardcover picture book published by Candlewick Press in 2013. 40 p. ISBN: 978-0-7636-6103-8

Book Review: 'Grace of Gratitude Journal' by Deborah Perdue

✰✰✰✰½ How many times do we overlook the simplest things in life? If you are like me, all too often. By learning to stop and record the ordinary things in life, journaling can bring about feelings of contentment, a sense of personal well-being, gratitude, and appreciation. Before you know it, recognizing and writing down gratitudes will become a natural part of your daily life.

While there are many gratitude journals out there, this one is different from others. With a unique blend of Deborah Perdue's personal gratitudes and Tara Thelen's beautiful and bold watercolor illustrations, even beginning journalers will find ample inspiration. Let the spiritual practice of expressing gratitude bring feelings of peace and contentment into your life.

The Bottom Line: Whether you are new to journaling or have be keeping one for years, the beautiful illustrations will inspire you to commit to jotting down as many gratitudes per day as you notice. There is plenty of space to include several days on one page, especially if you write small like I do. All it takes is a few moments per day, and you, too, can discover the power of gratitude. This journal has broad appeal and would make a great gift for just about anyone including new graduates. Highly recommended for anyone interested in journaling. More pages to write on (or blank pages to include my own drawings and doodles) would be appreciated.

Details: Grace of Gratitude Journal by Deborah Perdue & illustrated by Tara Thelen. Hardcover published by Applegate Valley Publishing in 2015. 112 p. ISBN: 978-0-9827759-5-0 NOTE: I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This was made possible by the Early Reviewers program at LibraryThing.