Book Review – Thank You for Thanksgiving by Dandi Daley Mackall

Author: Dandi Daley Mackall
Illustrator:  John Walker
Format: Hardback with Jacket
Page Count:  32
Publisher: Concordia Publishing House
Publication Date:  2008
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0758615000
ISBN-13: 9780758615008

I wanted to extend a wordof thanks to Rosemary Parkinson at Concordia Publishing House for providing me with a review copy of Dandi Daley Mackall’s Thank You for Thanksgiving.

Thank You for Thanksgiving gives you an up close view into a day in the life of a family who is anxiously awaiting the arrival of their guests as they prepare for their Thanksgiving celebration.  We follow the progression of their day as it moves from food preparation and decorating to the arrival of the long-awaited guests.  The story finishes with the family sitting around the table, joined in a prayer of thanksgiving.  The main character is last in line and worries whether there will be anything left for him to be thankful for.  When his turn arrives, he expresses his thanks for the Lord and thanks Him for Thanksgiving.

There are three things that truly make this book stand out.  First, there’s the writing.  The many clever rhymes make the story a delight to read.   Second, there are the illustrations.  All of the pictures have vibrant colors and excellent detail.  I felt drawn into to each scene, especially by the warm expressions on everybody’s faces.  Third, there’s the message.  The message can be summed up in two parts.  The first part is a pro-family message of working together towards a common goal and joining together in celebration.  The second part is the importance of expressing our thankfulness to God through prayer for His gifts to us, especially for the gift of His son, Jesus Christ.  I strongly encourage you to share this book with your family this holiday season.  I trust it will be a blessing to your family just as it was to mine.

Dandi Daley Mackall is the author of more than 400 books.  She has written on a wide range of topics and has an audience that ranges from the preschooler to the adult.  Dandi lives with her husband and three children in West Salem, Ohio.  You can learn more about Dandi and her books at www.dandibooks.com.

John Walker is a graduate of the American Academy of Art.  He has done work for well-known clients like McDonalds, National Geographic, United States Postal Service, and others.  John lives with his wife, three children, and their curious black lab, Luke, near Chicago.  You can learn more about John at www.johnwalkerillustration.com.

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