The Brainstorm 51: Picture Books & Gratitude

November is Picture Book Month! (Remember, you're never too old for picture books.) It is also a month when we think about things we are grateful for. So here are three picture books that look at some everyday things we often take for granted. They invite us to pause and be thankful for the often overlooked.

On My Beach There Are Many Pebbles by Leo Lionni
There are many pebbles on the beach. All shapes and sizes. Some look like people, some look like animals, some look like numbers, and some look like letters.
I’m familiar with Leo Lionni, but I had never even heard of this book that is somewhat different from his normal animal tales. The black and white sketches of pebbles are intricate and stunning. This is a level of artistry that didn’t often get to come through in Lionni’s animal stories. It’s a simple book inviting you to look carefully at everyday objects.

Activity Tie-ins:

• Illustrator Compare/Contrast: Have students compare and contrast this book with one of Lionni’s more famous books, like Swimmy. Which one do they like better and why?
• Everyday Thankful Moments: Have students brainstorm some other things they may see every day and not take the time to be grateful for their beauty or how they help them.
• Geology: For classes studying rocks, this can help boring rocks more interesting and challenge them to look at things in a different way. 

A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip C. Stead,  ill. by Erin E. Stead
Amos McGee works at the zoo and takes good care of his animal friends meeting their unique needs each day. So when Amos is sick, his animal friends come to his house and take care of him.

Activity Tie-Ins:

• Unexpected Thank Yous: After reading this story, have students brain storm people they appreciate who they might take for granted. Challenge students to say thank you to them, or even have them make thank you cards for those little everyday things that often go unnoticed.
• Kindess: This is a good book to read when talking about kindness. Amos McGee is shown kindness because he takes time for each of the animals and they know he cares about them. What are some ways students can show kindness? Were the things Amos did with each animal really part of his job? Why do students think he did them if he didn’t have to? Did he do anything really difficult or exceptional when showing kindness? How about the animals, did they buy expensive presents for Amos? Brainstorm some ways to show kindness that cost nothing, but mean everything.
• Caldecott Medal: This book won the Caldecott Medal just a few years ago, so if you’re looking for Caldecott winners, this is a good one.

The Most Wonderful Thing in the World by Vivian French, ill. by Angela Barrett
Long ago a King and Queen realized that their beloved daughter would need a husband to rule the land with her in the future. So, following the advice of a wise old man, they sought out the prince who could show them the most wonderful thing in the world to prove he should be the future king. To get the princess out of the way during this arduous process, the King and Queen agree to finally let her explore the kingdom. So while they hunt for a worthy son-in-law, Princess Lucia is shown around her grand city by a kind young man named Salvatore. In the end, the least likely young man in the kingdom proves the only one able to show the King and Queen something they deem the most wonderful thing in the world.

Activity Tie-ins:

• Gratitude for What You Take for Granted: The most wonderful thing in this book does not end up being a thing, but a person. Before reading, ask students what they think the most wonderful thing in the world is. After reading, see if students would like to change their answer to that question. What things or people do they really appreciate and take for granted? Brainstorm ways to show appreciation for those special people in their lives they may often forget to tell just how much they mean to them.
• Genres: If you’re talking about genres with students, this book is a great example of a book that fits in multiple genres. It seems to be historical fiction (the setting is never clearly identified, but based on dress and geography, it looks to be early 1900s Venice). It also has clear fantasy elements (one of the wonderful gifts is a mermaid). And, horrifying as it may be to some students, it is also a love story. Many times it blows kids’ minds that books can fit in multiple categories, and this is a quick read that can help them wrap their minds around that concept.
• Art: The illustrations in this book are beautiful and incredibly detailed. It will take more than one reading to take it all in. Art classes can look at ways the art enhances the story and helps create the setting. Without the art, would you know where the story is supposed to take place?
• Setting & Research: I’ve already mentioned that the setting is not clearly stated, but there are enough clues that students should be able to figure out the probable time period and setting if they pay close attention and do some research. If you’re talking about setting, it’s a good example of how important clothing and geography can be. If you're working on research, it's a good time to talk about how to research images or how to find something when you aren't really sure what you're looking for.
• Prediction: There are some hints throughout this story about the conclusion. See if students can predict which man will be able to show them the most wonderful thing in the world and what it is. What are the clues that led them to that conclusion?
• “Beauty Is in the Eye of the Beholder” Debate: This book is perfect for a discussion of how different people can see the exact same thing in different ways and value it differently. All the people who come to the King and Queen think their gift is the most wonderful thing in the world. Is there something you treasure that a friend doesn’t like? What are the pros and cons of this? Why is it important to remember about differences of view and opinion? When is it important? Are there things you think everyone should value equally? What are they?