Review by Booklist Review
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.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
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
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
This warm and thought-provoking picture book celebrates the many different ways that families come together to give thanks in the fall season. Hulse's spare, meaningful text honors a table with room for "old traditions, and new ones, too," as loved ones gather in suburban homes and in city apartments. Goodnight's expressive illustrations, created using paper, graphite, and digital tools, portray various races, ethnicities, and abilities. The book alludes to the ways Thanksgiving is painful for some by showing an Indigenous family visiting a memorial for a Wampanoag tribal chief; an artist's note provides more context. Marva Anne HintonNovember/December 2024 p.12 (c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
This table has room for everyone. Keenly aware that Thanksgiving is often associated with inaccurate portrayals of Indigenous peoples, Hulse and Goodnight (Chickasaw Nation) have created a loving, inclusive depiction of the holiday. Spare yet lyrical verse invites readers to take a seat at a table alongside a diverse group of characters who eat, ponder, and express gratitude for all they've been given. Hulse employs sensory-rich imagery to describe the autumnal season ("a fresh tablecloth, / crisp and gold like this day"), the various mouthwatering foods, and those who work tirelessly at planting and harvesting to make the Thanksgiving meal possible. The repeated phrase "At our table there is room" allows readers to linger on small details that make the holiday special ("swapping stories, / second helpings, and favorite jokes"). Hulse and Goodnight also emphasize respect and honor for Indigenous peoples. In one illustration, a group of people reverently stand before a statue of beloved Wampanoag chief Ousamequin, while Hulse speaks of the importance of making "room to learn from / the first farmers / and builders / and knowledge-gatherers." Goodnight's visuals turn solemn and stately here, though in general her images brim with warmth, suffused with an inner glow. Hope and thankfulness resonate throughout as loved ones eat, laugh, share stories, and create lasting memories. Marvelously exemplifies the diversity of American holiday traditions and offers a more nuanced understanding of Thanksgiving. (author's and illustrator's notes)(Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
