Gracias Thanks (Bilingual English/Spanish)

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" Copyright 2009 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.