At our table

It's not obvious until the author's note that this is a Thanksgiving book, but at the heart of the holiday for many are the sentiments Hulse presents in his spare text: community, generosity, and gratitude. Goodnight (Chickasaw Nation) evokes that beautifully in her fittingly cozy and warmly colored illustrations, which show not only elbow-to-elbow family members around a large table but friends gathering in a small apartment. The theme of gratitude expands to include appreciation for farm workers producing the food we eat, as well as "the first farmers / and builders / and knowledge-gatherers," honoring the important historical and contemporary contributions of the country's Indigenous populations, which are often depicted through inaccurate stereotypes in Thanksgiving books. While Thanksgiving can be a complicated holiday for many, a reality that both author and illustrator elaborate on in thoughtful end notes, Hulse and Goodnight strike a nice balance between acknowledging the troubling history of the holiday and celebrating the feelings of affection and thankfulness (and abundant yummy food) the holiday can bring. A fresh and needed take on Thanksgiving for children.

K-Gr 3--Thanksgiving gets an equitable and diverse treatment in Hulse's debut picture book. The vibrant cover shows a gathering of various ethnicities and races arranged in a tribute to Norman Rockwell's famous "Freedom from Want" painting. This precedes a thoughtful meditation on the holiday's meaning for different families and discusses what they are thankful for. Illustrations depict different age groups, abilities, mixed generations, and broad representational ethnicities. Whether in a house or apartment, the city or country, the focus is on coming together with loved ones. However, one illustration is a little less vibrant: A group of First Americans visits a statue of Wampanoag tribal chief Ousamequin, acknowledging that the concept of Thanksgiving is not universally celebrated, especially by Indigenous peoples. Yet the overall theme is one advocating unity and how the celebration of the holiday can be improved to include everyone. Goodnight (Chickasaw) uses a mix of paper, graphite, and digital tools to execute a book with broad representation and fun Easter eggs for children to find during repeat reads. The insightful representation creates a much-needed update on the topic, with broad readership appeal making it an essential purchase for all libraries. Author's and artist's notes conclude the book. VERDICT A poignant debut, this book with diverse representation and wide appeal updates the holiday story.--Jessica Bushore