GIVING THANKS

From the Iroquois, or Six Nations native people, comes Swamp and Printup's first picture book, an adaptation of the Mohawk Thanksgiving Address. The words of this ancient message of appreciation for Earth's bounty are taught to children to utter upon rising, and it is a lovely way of taking stock, of getting situated in the cosmic scheme of things: The waters are thanked, as are the animals, trees, wind, rain, sun, moon, and stars. Swamp has made the address accessible to all ages (``. . . thanks to the green grasses that feel so good against our bare feet, for the cool beauty you bring to Mother Earth's floor'') without hindering its easy reverence. Printup deploys, apparently, all the colors in nature in rendering the serenely sleek, stylized illustrations. A basic Mohawk language version of the text appears at the end of the book. A simple, tender celebration of good fortune. (Picture book. 3-8)