"We'd like to thank you once again."
- Lennon/McCartney/Harrison, "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
(Reprise)"
"On the way home, Alice's father bought her an ice cream. 'Thank you,
Papa,' said Alice.
"'Thank you, Papa,' said the parrot.
"Alice's mother bought her a flower. 'Thank you, Mama,' said Alice.
"'Thank you, Mama,' said the parrot.
"When they got home, the parrot was hungry. 'Polly wants a cracker,' it
said. Alice gave the parrot a cracker. 'What do you sat?' she said.
"'Thank you, Mama,' said the parrot.
"'No. Thank you, Alice,' said Alice. 'I'm Alice.'
"'Thank you, Mama,' said the parrot."
It feels so good to be thanked. When one of the many young people I'm
around these days comes up to me and thanks me for something I've done -- like
sharing a good book or making dinner or giving them a ride -- it makes me
all happy inside. I feel appreciated. And being that I have a daughter
who works really hard as a server in a restaurant, I am especially attentive
to thanking anyone who is providing me service, whether at a store or at a
gas station or wherever.
This is all part of why I am really enjoying this fun story about learning
to say "thank you" and "no, thank you."
Alice is learning from her parents' gentle prompting to use these phrases.
And when, during a birthday foray to the zoo, Alice requests a pet, she
turns down her parents silly suggestions of giraffes and tigers and
elephants, and then asks about a parrot. Her parents agreeing to her request sets
up the goofiness of Alice having a parrot that is repeating everyone's
words. This is one that the pre-Ks and the kindergartners will be cracking up
over and, if you read it aloud right, I bet you'll be hearing some of them
mimicking the parrot at recess time.
But what actually caught my eye and caused me to read this book is that it
is illustrated by Gabi Swiatkowska. I love the unique, whimsical style
of her paintings and had long ago memorized the poetry of Nina Payne's 2005
ode to a summer evening SUMMERTIME WALTZ, which Swiatkowska also
illustrated.
"'Polly wants a kiss,' said the parrot. So Alice leaned over and kissed
the parrot on the head. 'What do you say?' Alice said."
(I say thank you for reading this.)
978-0-374-37444-0 32pages
Recommended by: Richie Partington, MLIS, Instructor, California USA
See more of Richie's Picks _https://richiespicks.com_ (https://richiespicks.com/)
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