Thanks & Giving: All Year Long

From Barnes & Noble

Actor Marlo Thomas, creator of the 1970s hit Free to Be...You and Me, returns with a bang in this star-studded collection of stories, poems, and written music about helping others and appreciating what we have. Donating all proceeds to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, Thomas brings together top celebs from all avenues of entertainment -- including children's book team Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith, Maurice Sendak, actor Julianne Moore, and comedian Ray Romano -- for a lighthearted, diverse book that reminds us that "thanksgiving" is more than one day a year. From Bruce Hart and Christopher Cerf's song "An Attitude of Gratitude" to Whoopi Goldberg's short story "Christmas and My Magic Mom," Thanks and Giving delivers something for every taste while packing an important message throughout. With a "Read Me First" introduction by Thomas and a lengthy section of short bios on the book's many contributors, this volume is a pure treat that's worth its weight in gold.

Publishers Weekly

Thomas (Free to Be, You and Me) and Cerf gather the work of more than 80 individuals who contribute words, music or art to this energetic, eclectic anthology, all royalties from which will be donated to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Recurrent themes in these pieces-which range in mood from jocular to contemplative-include being a good friend, reaching out to those less fortunate and appreciating one's family. Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith kick things off with an irreverent "not-often-told Grimm's Fairy Tale" starring a mouse, bird and sausage and ending with the moral, "give thanks for what you have and what your friends give to you." Maurice Sendak contributes a wordless vignette starring one of his Wild Things, called "Give and Take," and Ed Koren's art adds the frosting to the humorous "Aunt Delia's Holiday Manners Quiz" by Delia Ephron. Paul O. Zelinsky, Eric Carle, Walter Dean Myers, Jerry Pinkney and Kate DiCamillo number among the many other children's book luminaries. Contributors more often found in other spotlights include Kevin Bacon, who, together with his sibling, Michael, formed The Bacon Brothers, co-wrote a song paying tribute to brotherhood; Tiger Woods, who tells of sending his cherished coin collection to Ethiopia to aid starving children; and Whoopi Goldberg, who celebrates her mother's ability to create magical Christmases. The timelessness of the topics explored here and the fact that many writers reach into their own childhood to find their stories make this collection at once universal and personal. Thematically and visually, this is an uplifting volume. All ages. (Nov.) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

School Library Journal

K-Gr 6-Thomas brings together children's book authors and illustrators, actors, musicians, and others to celebrate the kindness of others and the joys of giving. Paul Newman shares a poem written by his uncle, Wendy Wasserstein and her daughter present a mini-play, the Bacon Brothers (Kevin and Michael) contribute a song, and Thomas has a chat with Bert and Ernie. Other contributors include Tiger Woods, Whoopi Goldberg, Avi, Maurice Sendak, Jerry Pinkney, Kate DiCamillo, Walter Dean Myers, David Shannon, Jon Scieszka, and Lane Smith. A fair sprinkling of Sesame Street creators rounds out the list of credits. The selections include poems, stories, songs, scripts, and memoirs that all speak to the themes of giving, sharing, receiving, and being thankful. Page turns are not always well planned; sometimes a two-page song or story includes a turn in the middle while there is a single-page entry opposite one of those pages. Parents may want to use this anthology to introduce the ideas of altruism and philanthropy. A pleasant enough offering for most collections.-Bina Williams, Bridgeport Public Library, CT Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews

Thomas does her compilation thing again, gathering like-themed stories, anecdotes, poems, scripts, songs, cartoons, and illustrations from over 80 celebrity contributors. Not only is the cast a stellar one, ranging from the likes of Maurice Sendak and Marc Brown to Matt Groening, from Julianne Moore and Ray Romano to Mel Brooks and Wendy Wasserstein, but readers expecting a barrage of sugary bromides are in for a surprise. Jon Scieszka's opening fable-in which quarreling mouse, bird, and sausage housemates immediately come to bad ends after switching mealtime tasks-is only the first of many refreshingly unsentimental takes on what giving and receiving are all about. Nearly every entry here is new, and like Thomas's The Right Words at the Right Time (2002) and her perennial "Free to Be . . . " titles, this collection is both tailor-made for sharing, and sure to spark plenty of illuminating discussion. (royalties donated to pediatric research) (Anthology. 5-8)