July 20, 2015
Rather than go the route of many before him in this genre and provide a catalogue of all the things that readers should be thankful for, dePaola takes a different tack: he urges his audience to be fully present in and grateful for the world around them—
a kind of Zen equivalent to “Just do it” (“Open your eyes,/ And look./ Open your eyes,/ And see./ And say thank you,/ For today is today”). The brief, emphatic message never feels hectoring; dePaola writes with just enough rhythm and repetition to give the book the homespun, incantatory feel of a lullaby. Dreamy, tableau-like visuals—distilled to the essence of thoughts and rendered in soft, nursery-room colors (peach and turquoise predominate)—reinforce the mood. At the center of this meditation is a serious, wide-eyed boy who wakes up, observes and encounters nature (one spread consists entirely of a child’s hand serving as a temporary resting spot for a ladybug), shares the bounty from a fruit tree with his younger sister, and then joins her in evening prayers. With its naive beauty and unaffected solemnity, it’s a little book that may quickly become a treasured keepsake. All ages.
Starred review from August 1, 2015
The beloved, Wilder Award-winning illustrator spins a simple paean to gratitude. DePaola has been moving toward an ever more simple and radiant aesthetic, as his pictures become increasingly iconic and his colors, as on this beautiful tea-stained paper, become as translucent as glass. There are only about 40 words in this small volume, including the dedication ("For all the children"). Following the path of his Let the Whole Earth Sing Praise (2011), he pares down his hymn of joy to the single moment, to the day we have been given. Even toddlers will recognize the sun, the ladybug, the flowers, and the oranges, and they will comprehend the mostly one-syllable, hand-lettered words and the open-gestured hands in many skin tones. The repetition of those open hands, the image of a white dove, and the girl and boy on the cover echo the repeated words of gratitude. The blue and gold endpapers are filled with stars. Thank you, Tomie. (Picture book. 3-8)
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December 1, 2015
PreS-K-With very simple wording, accompanied by dePaola's signature illustrations, this text reminds young children that every day is a gift for which we should be grateful. The nondenominational lesson does not mention God or any particular religion, although two children are pictured in prayer stance on their knees with heads bowed. The visual story begins on the endpages with a moonlit and starlit night. Darkness fades on the title page. The sun rises outside a window as a sleeping child is directed, "Open your eyes, and look." Observing nature is important as the pictures include plants, animals, and insects, in addition to the children. A spread shows hands of varying skin tones reaching toward one another. The uncluttered pages suit the minimal text and make the book accessible to very young children. VERDICT A gentle message for families, church preschools, and other early childhood programs.-Lucinda Snyder Whitehurst, St. Christopher's School, Richmond, VA
Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
September 1, 2015
Preschool-G In Caldecott Honor and Newbery Honor winner dePaola's newest picture book, a young boy awakens and spends his day carefully observing the world around him, expressing his gratitude. He notices the sun, flowers and insects, a bird and a rainbow, people of many colors, and a tree full of oranges. The text is simple but direct: Open your eyes, / and look. / Open your eyes, / and see, / and say thank you, / for today is today. / Be grateful. DePaola's signature acrylic artwork features simple figures, presented mostly without backgrounds, painted in a muted color palette. A final spread depicts the boy and his sister kneeling in prayer. Although this is unlikely to immediately engage the casual browser, the presentation is beautifully rendered. A useful book on a topic rarely attempted for this age group, this should prove popular with parents and religious-school teachers hoping to encourage this virtue in their young charges.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)
September 1, 2015
With all the picture books designed for just-before-sleep (see Thank You and Good Night and Beep! Beep! Go to Sleep! in this issue), why not one to bring you awake? DePaola's rouse from sleep is a gentle one, asking readers to open your eyes, and look. The text remains quiet, moving from its opening imploration to a suggested response: Be grateful, for everything you see. The brief handwritten text on peachy-beige paper is accompanied by the simplest of images: a child, a flower or two, one of the artist's signature doves. A closing picture shows two children kneeling, nondenominationally, in prayer. While puzzling out an abstraction like for today is today might not be the easiest of peep-of-day tasks, just trust kids to roll with it as they go about their business. roger sutton
(Copyright 2015 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)