Review - In November

In November
by Cynthia Rylant
illustrated by Jill Kastner
Date: 2000
Publisher: Harcourt Mifflin Harcourt
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

In November, the air grows cold and the earth and all of its creatures prepare for winter. Animals seek food and shelter. And people gather together to celebrate their blessings with family and friends.

Cynthia Rylant's lyrical language and Jill Kastner's rich, cozy paintings capture the cherished moments of this autumn month--the moments we spend together and the ones we witness in the world around us.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is a pretty picture book with lyrical text and lovely oil paintings... and a decidedly American bent that will likely limit its audience outside the United States.

I didn't realize that this was an American Thanksgiving book when I picked it up. And, to be fair, it doesn't start out that way. The book shows how nature changes and prepares itself for winter when November comes around. We see the weather changing. We see the plants changing. We see the animals' behaviour changing.

And then we get to the people. The last part of the book is taken up with Thanksgiving stuff. The food is better. People are nicer to each other. Everybody gets together to give thanks.

Is there anything wrong with that? Of course not! But it does come across as quite Americocentric, and by giving the book this focus, it could be confusing to children in other parts of the world whose experience of November is quite different.

Aside from that, the book is fine. It would make a nice addition to a holiday library of Thanksgiving picture books (especially since it doesn't focus on gluttony as so many others do).

Premise: 3/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 4/5
Illustrations: 3/5
Originality: 2/5

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 3 out of 5

Review - Dino-Thanksgiving

Dino-Thanksgiving
by Lisa Wheeler
illustrated by Barry Gott
Date: 2020
Publisher: Carolrhoda Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

Lisa Wheeler's bouncy, rhyming text and Barry Gott's energetic illustrations invite readers to celebrate a dino-style Thankgiving!

Follow along as dinos travel over the river and through the woods to join together with family. They enjoy favorite activities, including a corn maze, a televised parade with giant balloon creations, and of course a football game! The dinos share in not one but two feasts--one for the carnivores and another for the veggie-saurs. Join in the fun as the dinos find much to be thankful for on this special holiday!

(synopsis from Goodreads)

Last year, some of my Thanksgiving picks were rather off-putting. They tended to focus mostly on the food, and on eating habits that verged on eating disorders. So I was a little hesitant going into this book about dinosaurs having thanksgiving. Was I in for another orgy of gluttony and greed?

Thankfully, the answer is no. Dino-Thanksgiving is a charming book about a world of dinosaurs celebrating one of their favourite holidays. There's food, of course, but there's also fun, family, friends, and football. The chaos of the kids' table is represented well, as is that one guest who just wants to eat. One thing I really liked was that there were two major dinners in this neighbourhood: one for the carnivores and one for the herbivores. But that doesn't stop them from all getting together for games and a bonfire.

The rhyming text is fairly strong. The illustrations are amusing and colourful, with lots of cute touches throughout. And the message of community, family, and thanksgiving comes through loud and clear.

Strangely, a book about hungry dinosaurs is one of the strongest Thanksgiving picture books I've read. It's sure to appeal to dinosaur fans, but those who are looking for strong holiday books might like it, too.

Quotable moment:

Premise: 4/5
Meter: 3/5
Writing: 3/5
Illustrations: 4/5
Originality: 4/5

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 3.71 out of 5

Review - Franklin's Thanksgiving

Franklin's Thanksgiving (Franklin the Turtle)
by Sharon Jennings
illustrated by Brenda Clark
Date: 2001
Publisher: Kids Can Press
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

In this Franklin Classic Storybook, our young hero likes everything about Thanksgiving, from eating pumpkin-fly pie to making cornucopias. But what he likes best is having his Grandma and Grandpa share the holiday with him and his family. This year, however, his grandparents are traveling abroad. Thanksgiving just won’t be the same without guests around the table, so Franklin decides to invite some friends for dinner. What a nice surprise it will be for his parents. Only Franklin’s mother and father have the same idea, and on Thanksgiving Day all their friends show up for the festivities! With no more room in the house, where will the holiday meal take place?

(synopsis from Goodreads)

Aside from giving kids the idea to invite the whole neighbourhood to your house for Thanksgiving, this is a fairly cute story about Franklin and his family and friends. When his grandparents can't make it for Thanksgiving, he gets the idea to invite his teacher for dinner. He figures his parents will appreciate having company. Unbeknownst to him, though, his parents are inviting their own guests. When the big day arrives, the house is full! Too full, actually, and everyone must get creative to make sure the dinner goes smoothly.

The pictures are cute, and the story is fairly well written. I think kids will probably enjoy this one (and it won't be an unpleasant experience for their parents to read it to them).

Overall, this is a nice Thanksgiving book that emphasizes social connections (rather than just pigging out). I'd recommend it to people looking to add to their collection of holiday picture books.

Quotable moment:

Premise: 3/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 4/5
Illustrations: 4/5
Originality: 4/5

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 3.5 out of 5

Review - A Family to Be Thankful For

A Family to Be Thankful For (Spookley the Square Pumpkin)
by Joe Troiano
illustrated by Mary O'Keefe Young
Date: 2012
Publisher: Holiday Hill Farm
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 23
Format: e-book
Source: library

“I don’t have a family,” Spookley said with a moan.

“I’m the only square pumpkin that has ever grown.”

Spookley the Square Pumpkin wishes he had a family and a place he belonged. He feels sad and alone, until he discovers that no one family tree grows quite the same as another.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

What a weird book. I have so many questions... mostly about what isn't included in this story.

Apparently, we're introduced to Spookley in another book. He's square, for some reason (he apparently grew that way, but from what I understand about growing square foods, some sort of mold is involved). Anyway, he thinks that he has nothing to celebrate at Thanksgiving because he doesn't have a family. (I don't know why he's not part of the pumpkin family; maybe that's explained in another book.) He wanders (yeah... the pumpkin wanders) through the fields of food crops, and each asks him to join them. But he keeps wandering until he leaves the field, and is then "lost". So he freaks out, and the rest of the foods relay the message back to the scarecrow, who comes and rescues him from... the edge of the field. Then he realizes he has lots of friends, and therefore something to be thankful for.

I still can't get past the square pumpkin (what's the deal?), but as I was reading this book about pumpkins and potatoes and corn and peas in the lead-up to Thanksgiving, I couldn't help but feel a bit uneasy. Why are all of these foods looking forward to a celebration where they're going to be eaten?! Actually, that part was kind of a disappointment. Because they don't. Get eaten, that is. The story just sort of ends, with no mention of the fact that all of those crops are Thanksgiving foods. Even Spookley himself is at risk of being made into a pumpkin pie. It could've been a funny take on the story... but, unfortunately, the author chose not to go there. Instead, all we have is a whiny, inexplicably square pumpkin who's prone to panic attacks and pity parties.

The overall message is decent (i.e., your friends can function as your family, too) and the pictures are fairly cute. But now I can't stop thinking about what might've happened after the last page. Was there some sort of massacre? Did Spookley have his brains scooped out? Are all the characters currently being digested in people's stomachs?

I think I need to stop reading so much into some of these stories...

Premise: 3/5
Meter: 2/5
Writing: 3/5
Illustrations: 3/5
Originality: 2/5

Enjoyment: 2/5

Overall: 2.43 out of 5

Review - Thanksgiving Rules

Thanksgiving Rules
by Laurie Friedman
illustrated by Teresa Murfin
Date: 2009
Publisher: Carolrhoda Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

Percy Isaac Gifford's Official Thanksgiving Decree: I officially command you to eat EVERYTHING you see! Percy knows just what to do to get the most out of this delicious holiday. And so will you if you follow his ten simple rules. From "the early bird gets the turkey" to "life is sweeter when you eat sweets," his rules will help you eat your way through the big meal. But is there more to Thanksgiving than stuffed turkey and sweet potatoes with marshmallows? See how Percy discovers the true recipe for a perfect Thanksgiving holiday.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This book is actually a little bit disgusting. As Canadian Thanksgiving (or, as we Canadians call it, Thanksgiving) is coming up, I thought I'd read this to get in the mood. Unfortunately, it's nothing but a celebration of pure gluttony with just a glancing mention of thankfulness and appreciation. All the focus is on stuffing one's face with as much food as possible, as if it's some sort of grotesque eating contest. There doesn't even seem to be that much about enjoying the food; it's just how much you can shovel in.

The back of the book has snippets from Kirkus Reviews and Publishers Weekly that talk about gluttony and overindulgence like they're positive things. I'm sorry, but I don't agree... especially when the holiday in question is supposed to be about gratitude and recognition of what you're lucky enough to have. The book doesn't even try to tone down the gluttony aspect; even the kid's name--Percy Isaac Gifford--is used to reinforce the greed (his initials are stitched on his sweater). By the end of the evening, everybody's stuffed themselves so full that Percy can't even give them hugs!

Is this what American Thanksgiving has become? Stuffing oneself silly just for the sake of it? Where's the enjoyment? Where's the gratitude? It's almost obscene, especially when you think about all the people in the world who don't have enough to eat. Those people don't seem to cross Percy's mind at all; he's too focused on how to fill up his plate so he can shove more and more food down his gullet.

The illustrations are somewhat cute, with a mixed-media style that reminds me a bit of Jacqueline Hudon's work. But I really can't bring myself to like the pictures that much, since they depict such a spoiled, gluttonous child and his equally overindulgent family.

This is not what Thanksgiving is supposed to be about. It may be an accurate depiction of an American Thanksgiving, but it's kind of gross. I wanted to see more... you know... giving thanks. Instead, we have to watch a greedy kid shove food into his face and then admonish people who don't do the same.

Yuck.

Premise: 2/5
Meter: 3/5
Writing: 3/5
Illustrations: 3/5
Originality: 2/5

Enjoyment: 1/5

Overall: 2.14 out of 5

Review - There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Turkey!

There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Turkey! (There Was an Old Lady)
by Lucille Colandro
illustrated by Jared D. Lee
Date: 2016
Publisher: Cartwheel Books
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

The old lady is at it again, and this time she's swallowing a Turkey... she's always been quirky!

You won't believe why this old lady swallowed a turkey, a ball, a hat, a balloon, a boat, some wheels, and a horn of plenty!

Read this book and find out why!

(synopsis from Goodreads)

Okay, I get that this is based on that poem about the old lady who swallowed a fly. But this is just bad. And the old lady, with her hinged jaw that she uses to gobble up (heh) a live turkey is just disturbing. She swallows turkeys and boats and balloons and hats because she's "quirky"? It sounds to me like the old lady has pica, and she really should get that checked out.

And there's a whole series of these books? Yikes. I wasn't that impressed with what I saw here. A ball, a hat, and wheels aren't exactly interesting things to swallow, and I couldn't figure out how they were even connected at first. She eventually regurgitates them all to make a parade float, but... Actually, no. Just no. This is ridiculously stupid.

If you like watching old people swallow things and then barf them back up, you might like this book. Otherwise, you probably won't.

Premise: 2/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 2/5
Illustrations: 2/5
Originality: 1/5

Enjoyment: 0/5

Overall: 1.17 out of 5