GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD

Exuberant watercolor illustrations in glowing, autumnal hues are the most striking feature of this Christian interpretation of the Thanksgiving holiday. In her double-page spread illustrations, Bates creates a winning personality for the narrator of the story, an unnamed little boy with a big smile. He greets his arriving relatives, plays outside in the leaves with his cousins and enjoys a traditional turkey dinner with pumpkin pie. The boy is followed everywhere by his friendly golden retriever, whose coloring blends in with the fall palette, and Bates adds comical touches such as a close-up view of the child during the dinner with black olives stuck on each finger. Though the illustrations are appealing, the rhyming text is not as strong, with several verses struggling in their rhythm or rhyme scheme. The religious aspect of the text includes a prayer before dinner and a repeated refrain, based on a phrase from a Psalm, expressing thanks to God. Adults who prefer a Christian focus for a Thanksgiving story will find this volume useful. (Picture book/religion. 2-5)