Book Cover
Justification
I choose The Thank You Book as my easy reader picture book selection for the blog. I absolutely adore Mo Willems. He is an extremely talented author who brings humor to the easy reader picture book genre in a way that is unparalleled. He has been the recipient of the Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor or Medal seven times. Piggie and Gerald’s adventures are a favorite among almost all the children I know. The Thank You Book is no exception. As the series comes to a close, it reminds us to take time to express our gratitude.
Evaluation
The first element of quality writing exhibited in The Thank You Book is the theme. The book is centered around gratitude and recognizing the people around us who have impacted our lives. Piggie models this behavior in the story. She begins the story with the realization of how lucky she is and all that she has to be thankful for. The ensuing narrative follows Piggie as she thanks all of the characters who have ever appeared in the Piggie and Gerald book series. “Piggie: ‘I am going to thank everyone who is important to me!’ Gerald: ‘Everyone?’ Piggie: ‘Everyone!’” (Willems, 2016, p. 4-6). While Gerald is sure she will forget to thank someone, Piggie is determined to include everyone who has played a role in her life. Piggie models feeling and expressing gratitude for others in a beautiful way in this sweet story.
Another outstanding element is the design and layout of the book. Like Mo Willem’s other books, The Thank You Book has thought and dialogue bubbles that indicate what the characters are thinking and saying. This introduces the concept of dialogue and inner dialogue to the youngest readers. The bubbles are color coordinated the character that they represent. The text inside each of the bubbles also indicates tone and volume with the use of italics, smaller lettering, and capital letters. On pages 50 and 51, Piggie’s dialogue bubble is so big that it spreads across both pages. It also is written in all capital letters, with three colors and jagged lines outlining the dialogue bubble. This expresses the frustration that Piggie is feeling in a visual way that early readers can understand. This thoughtful design adds charm and accessibility to early readers.
Finally, the illustrations of the book the perfect accompaniment to the text. They add humor to the narrative in an unexpected way. The illustrations include lines around the characters that indicate movement even though they are static drawings. We are able to see a glimpse of the emotion the characters are feeling through this movement. We see Piggie twirling and dancing on pages 18 and 19 and can see the frustration in Gerald’s face on page 34. One of the elements of humor added through the illustrations is the way that the characters are knocked over when someone else is yelling. It’s as if the sound of the yelling has thrown them in the air, and more often than not, flipped them upside down. The illustrations enhance the writing of the story to show early readers additional insight into the meaning of the text.
Response
(A) The Piggie and Gerald series has been a source of great joy in our house. Our boys continue to read and re-read this series. It has helped my children learn how to read with expression. Even my three-year-old who cannot read at all is delighted to “read the pictures” of these books. Piggie and Gerald brought excitement for reading in my home and countless others. For that, I will always feel thankful.
(B) The Thank You Book and the rest of the Piggie and Gerald books exemplify gratitude and friendship. Even though the characters are animals, they show what it means to be human. They show a wide range of emotions as well as a deep connection to each other and their friendship. These easy reader picture books teach young children about early literacy concepts as well as highlight elements of good personal character. Friendship and gratitude are two of the things I value most. This book has both in spades.
(F) While the writing of the book is juvenile, as you would expect from an easy reader book to be, it is full of emotion and character. I enjoyed reading this book very much. It is a fitting end to an amazing set of books targeted for young readers. I will miss Piggie and Gerald. While I’m sad that the series is coming to an end, they leave a lasting impression on me and the early reading community.
Conclusion
The Thank You Book is a sweet ending to a beloved series of books. We get to say goodbye two characters who have impacted many young readers. The book exemplifies a spirit of gratitude and thankfulness for young children. The Thank You Book is a great selection for early readers to connect with text in a meaningful way.
APA Citation
Willems, M. (2016). The thank you book. New York: Hyperion Books for Children.
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