Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
"Friends celebrate everywhere," declares Colleen's polished ode to Friendsgiving--"a day to discover you are not alone." On each spread, active verbs relay the moment's events, as friends "travel," "prepare," "gather," "feast," and more, and accompanying free verse articulates the day's hallmark attributes. Cranberry reds, buttery yellows, and arrayed shades of purple give Sandoval Herrera's collage-like artwork a merry vibe as holiday scenes unfold: figures of varying abilities and skin tones observe a city parade, feast, and watch and play football before, finally, when "bellies and hearts are equally full," they embrace goodbye. The creators affirm the importance of camaraderie with this radiant portrait. Ages 3--7. (Sept.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2--"Strangers, neighbors, longtime friends. Everybody has a place here. Today's a day to discover you are not alone." Traveling from near and far to gather with dear friends, this unique and inclusive picture book celebrates Friendsgiving, a time for friends to share a Thanksgiving dinner. Cooking is underway in a lively kitchen as the aromas drift and mingle with the delight of people arriving from out of town, turkey trot runners returning from their race, and children crafting hand-traced turkey decorations. Even a furry friend joins the festivities, eyeing a turkey roasting in the oven, hoping for a helping of dinner. The focus zooms out to pan across an entire community enjoying each other's company: "Each window tells a story. Glowing snapshots of the joy inside." Friends who work through the holiday are not forgotten and are visited with food and hugs of gratitude. The illustrations embrace a warm palette, blending a rich, buttery sweet potato color throughout each spread. Front endpapers serve up a Thanksgiving dinner of turkey, gravy, pumpkin pie, macaroni and cheese, and other holiday favorites. Back endpapers show the dinner leftovers and containers packed with food ready to share. When fully extended, the front and back covers depict a long table circled by a diverse group of friends enjoying one another's company at their Thanksgiving dinner. VERDICT A heartfelt ode to the celebration of chosen family to welcome into every holiday library collection.--Emily Brush
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
An overview of a contemporary Thanksgiving spent with friends. Arranged chronologically in sections ranging from "Friends Travel" and "Friends Prepare" to "Friends Help" and "Friends Love," the bustling scenes are filled with people baking, making paper turkeys from traced hands, attending a parade, watching or playing football, feasting, and, at last, cleaning up. There are no references to pilgrims here; rather, the inclusive compositions feature characters who vary in skin tone, hairstyles, and facial features enjoying one another's company and the holiday's bounty. The warm, autumnal designs are reminiscent of Grandma Moses' domestic tableaux with their disregard of traditional perspective in favor of showing everyone and everything, particularly in the views around the dinner tables. The text is descriptive and sensory, although without much attention to cadence: "Someone brought a card table. / The neighbors borrowed chairs. / It's snug around our mismatched feast. / We wouldn't have it any other way." Judging from an image of what appears to be a Macy's-esque parade, the urban setting is New York City and its environs. Rather than focusing on a single protagonist, the story centers on the hustle and bustle of the group. A nice touch involves first responders, health care personnel, and others who have to work receiving gratitude and treats. A delightful, inclusive, modern-day depiction of holiday celebrations with a family of choice.(Picture book. 3-6) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
