Book Review Genre 3
TWU assignment
LS 5603 – 20
Thanks a Million
Bibliographic Data:
Grimes, Nikki. 2006. Thanks a Million. Ill. Cozbi A. Cabrera. Scranton, PA: Greenwillow Books. ISBN 9780688172938
Plot Summary:
Thanks a Million is a collection various forms of poetry centered on the theme of “Thankfulness.”
Analysis:
A collection of sixteen varied types of poems, Thanks a Million has something to offer everyone. This multicultural collection includes topics such as being the older sibling, good friends, being the new kid at school, parents who are too busy to play, and the death of a family member.
The poetry is varied in technique, and includes narratives, haiku, riddles, and a rebus. In addition, some poems are short, others long; many rhyme, but others rhyme very little. The central idea that ties them all together is being thankful for what you have.
One thing about this collection that I really like is that it does not discount the feelings of children. Instead, it shows a deep understanding about the hardships that children face. For example, in “Dear Author,” a child expresses the feeling of deep sadness after her father dies,
“No one seemed to notice or understand.
Until Lotus, the girl in your last
book.
She was also drowning deep inside.
Some nights, I’d crawl between
the pages
Of that novel and hide for hours.”
The passage above captures the feeling of escaping through reading a book perfectly, and expresses this in a fantastic manner. I also liked the effective use of alliteration, which appears in just the right amount. Additionally, this passage uses quite a bit of consonance, which helps the flow of the verse.
In “Shelter,” a child is living in a shelter, and wishes for a home. However, he or she is thankful, and says:
“Things could be worse, I know.
At least, I’m not alone.
My mom and
brother hold me tight
When I cry late at night.”
This passage does a good job of using rhyme to express a strong emotion, without making it seem unnatural or silly. These are just two examples of the excellent writing in the collection.
"Unspoken" is unique due to the way the poem is set up on the page. It has a sister speaking on the left side, and her brother talks on the right side of the page. They are arguing. This arrangement really compliments the theme of the poem, because it mimics a real argument -- one side against the other.
The illustrations really make this collection great. Painted in acrylic, they are both soft and vibrant. Many of the paintings have a feeling of relaxation, or of tranquility, like "Dear Author" and "Scout's Honor." Others portray an exciting, fun, energetic feel; this is shown in "Homemade Card' and "Mystery." One poem, "Shelter" conveys a certain sadness through the artwork.
The people in the paintings are multicultural throughout the book, which will appeal to children from many backgrounds. In addition, each person expresses the feeling of the poem through the picture.
My favorite illustration is for the poem “Weekends”, which shows kids having fun doing various activities, including a boy who is wearing a chef’s hat, while next to a waffle maker; it is delightful! Another touching illustration is “Scout’s Honor.” This captures the sacred friendship between two children, and the thankful feeling of one toward the other with an amazing realness.
Review Excerpts:
BookList, 03/15/2006
“Children struggling to articulate gratitude will find numerous ways to draw upon this--some may memorize or copy out favorite poems to pass along, while others will be inspired to pen their own tender words.” -- Jennifer Mattson. Booklist, published by the American Library Association.
Kirkus Reviews, 02/15/2006
“Grimes employs quite a potpourri of forms and rhyme schemes, including a rebus, matching them carefully to the mood. The poems are presented on one or two-page spreads surrounded by Cabrera's vibrant acrylic paintings that add pop and personality.” Copyright 2006, VNU Business Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved
The above reviews are from Book Index with Reviews. 2007 EBSCO Publishing, Powered by The Title Source TM (Accessed through http://ezproxy.twu.edu:2052/Login.aspx?authtype=ip,cookie,uid&profile=bir&birlink=true&searchtype=book&birBoolean=AN+BK0006107399 on September 29, 2007).
Connections:
Some books with similar themes: The Secret of Saying Thanks by Douglass Wood; Thank You Bear by Greg Foley; Whoever You Are by Mem Fox; and Black is Brown is Tan by Arnold Adoff.
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