Review: The Thank-you Present

Have you ever tried to explain to a child what gratitude means? What it actually means to be grateful for something or someone? To give something because you truly want to make the receiver feel happy and joyful?

It’s something all parents want their kids to understand, but it isn’t always an easy lesson to teach.

Enter The Thank-you Present. This charming picture book helps kids see gratitude and the true meaning of gift giving in action. 

Evie and Lola are best friends. They’re best friends for many reasons, but one of those reasons is because they both have birthdays in July. It isn’t July, but they both wish it was because they want to eat birthday cake and get presents.

When they decide to celebrate ahead of their birthdays, with the help of Lola’s dad, Evie and Lola discover what it really means to give and receive a gift and what friendship is truly all about.

This is a lovely picture book. It has been written to convey a very clear message, and while the message is there for discussion and discovery, the story is not preachy. 

The book is a snapshot of a very real and relatable friendship and experience. Audiences learn as Evie and Lola learn, making the story flow and the messages appropriate and integrated.

Author and co-founder of Smiling Mind (an App helping young people learn integral life skills), Jane Martino has written a supportive and fun story that shows kids what being grateful really means.

With beautiful illustrations from Annie White, the book shines. Colourful images surrounded by lots of white space gives the words room to pop before the eye is drawn to the glorious details of Evie and Lola’s world. 

At the back of the book you’ll also find a mindful exercise on how to be grateful and a letter writing activity for kids, so they can put the gratitude lesson into action.

Part of a series of picture books from Smiling Mind, The Thank-you Present is a great book for parents, carers and teachers looking to help kids learn more about being grateful in a fun and easy-to-understand way.

Title: The Thank-you Present
Author: Jane Martino
Illustrator: Annie White
Publisher: Puffin, $19.99  
Publication Date: 29 September 2020
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781761040054
For ages: 3 - 6
Type: Picture Book

from Kids' Book Review https://ift.tt/2HHmtS0