A Picture Book a Day for a Year: Day 220

Picture Book: Give Thanks to the Lord

Author: Karma Wilson

Illustrator: Amy June Bates

Summary: From the point of view of a young boy, this rhyming verse of gratitude is a celebration of an extended family’s gathering and feasting in the fall. The smells, tastes, hugs, and laughter are palpable. It begins, “It is good to give thanks to the Lord!” This sentence, from Psalm 92:1, is repeated a few times, most heartwarmingly in the middle of the book as the family, hands held around their bounteous table, prays. When day is done and goodbyes are said, the child is carried upstairs to bed for prayers and a kiss. It ends with, “And it’s good, so good to give thanks to the Lord.”

Hanna’s Comments: One the dedication page, you’ll find that the author wrote this book to celebrate Psalm 92. Reading with American eyes, this seems like a family’s Thanksgiving gathering. Traditional American Thanksgiving foods are prepared and spread, but it is not directly stated. Therefore, this book could be read anywhere and at any time, though you may want to limit its use to the autumn since the autumn imagery is so obvious.

Publisher & Date of Publication: Zonderkidz, 2008

Age & Grade Appropriateness: 4 and up, Pre and up

# of Pages: 24

Available in Spanish? Not at present

Formats other than Book: None at present

PBT Category: God Book, Post 2K

PBT Topics this Book Connects with: abundance/bounty, affection, beauty, belonging, Bible/scripture, blessings, communion/Eucharist, community, companionship, dependence/interdependence, family, feasting/food/hunger/nutrition, gladness/happiness, God’s care/providence, God’s nature, God’s presence, goodness, grandparents, gratitude/thanksgiving, home, hospitality, joy, love, manna, memories/remembering/ritual/tradition, nurturing, prayer, presence, Sabbath, satisfaction, security, at table, unity, worship

Scripture Connections: It is good to give thanks to the Lord… how great are Your works, O Lord! (Psalm 92:1 & 5)

Idea(s) for Application: Besides the obvious subject of gratitude, consider using this book to teach the concept of ritual as you explore this family’s rituals and consider their possible significance. Then expand to a conversation about rituals in your family of faith, whether they are rituals for worship or fellowship. Tie all of these to God’s will for us to have rituals of remembrance which are outlined in scripture such as Sabbath and Holy Communion.