Starred Review ALA Booklist (Sun Nov 01 00:00:00 CDT 2009)

Starred Review From the sun waking him up in the morning to a cricket chirping him to sleep at night, a young boy gives thanks for the many things and people who enrich his life. These blessings are remarkable for their childlike imagination and fresh imagery: "Por mis piyamas viejos, tan suaves que me siento como si me estuviera poniendo aire, gracias. / For my old pajamas, so soft they feel like I'm putting on air, thanks." The bilingual format features Spanish on the left-hand page and English on the right, and the dedication and author's note are also printed in both languages. The boy himself appears to be bicultural, with a fair-skinned, blond mother and a Latino father, and together with the boy's siblings and extended family, they are warmly depicted dancing, fishing, working, and eating. Parra's vivid acrylic illustrations have the feel of folk-art woodcuts and whimsically portray the details of the boy's world, from his kite and books to his tennis shoes and ice cream. Books of thanks can run toward clichés, but the originality and liveliness of language and art in this one will inspire children to consider their own blessings.

Horn Book (Thu Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2010)

A boy says thanks to everything, from the sun that wakes him up to his pajamas. He's also grateful for friends and family, ocean waves, and ladybugs. Often poetic, often funny, Mora's text is presented in Spanish first, then English. Parra's folk-art-style acrylic illustrations look as though they're painted on wood; the lines and imperfections give the pictures a worn, homey appearance.

Kirkus Reviews

From "the sun that wakes me up so I don't sleep for years and years and grow a long, white beard" to the "old pajamas, so soft they feel like I'm putting on air" and "the cricket hiding when he serenades us to sleep," a little Latino boy says " gracias! " with sweetly ingenuous enthusiasm. Mora has a keen sense of the concrete, child-friendly detail, and it's put to splendid use here. Readers will find themselves nodding in agreement as the unnamed narrator gives thanks to the ladybug that lands on his finger, the bees that don't sting him and his little brother, who throws mashed peas at their sister. Parra's folk-artstyle acrylics evoke a suburban neighborhood replete with twining morning glories, green lawns and red-tiled roofs. The flat perspectives and bright colors skillfully complement the child's voice. Dominguez's Spanish translation precedes the English text of this bilingual tale on each spread, a thoughtful touch that honors both the book's creators and its Latino audience. For this graceful celebration, gracias! (Picture book. 4-8)

School Library Journal (Tue Dec 01 00:00:00 CST 2009)

K-Gr 2 -A boy recounts the many things he is thankful for, like his time at the beach and the bees that dont sting him when he is outside playing. The poetic writing flows in both Spanish and English and carries a sense of happiness brought by the simple things in life. The cheery and brightly colored acrylic illustrations are full of fun details and add depth to the text. Multicultural characters are revealed page by page, but unless readers are paying close attention, they might not pick up on the boys Mexican-American heritage. This delightful bilingual book has universal appeal and would be a wonderful choice for library storytimes or classroom read-alouds as the giving thanks theme lends itself to holidays and social topics. The authors endnote challenges readers to list the things for which they are thankful. A must buy for all libraries looking to add to their childrens Spanish collections. Shannon Dye Gemberling, Peoria Public Library, AZ