Thanks a Ton!

August 14, 2020

PreS-K-In this cheerful story, an adorable elephant wants to write thank you letters to his friends but finds that words aren't always enough. So, he expresses his gratitude with unusual gifts, such as a tub of chimpanzees and a bunch of bananas. On each page, the elephant names the reason why he is thanking his friend, and then tells in rhyme what he is giving. "You hugged me when my day was hard, so you deserve this Saint Bernard." Among the elephant's other interesting presents are a baboon; a hippo; a trophy; some new underwear; and finally, at the end, a kitchen sink. Thanks a Ton! was created by the sister team behind Go Get Em' Tiger and Potty Power. The illustrations are bright and colorful, featuring smiling animals with humorous expressions including a small, green snail who appears on many pages. This title will work best as a read aloud since some of the words in the text-terrapin, gestures, and difference, among them-may be difficult for some children to read on their own. This story doesn't always make sense, but it is delightful to look at and provides great examples of when it's time to say thank you. VERDICT A humorous story with energetic illustrations that can help young children learn about gratitude.-Melanie Kletter, School Library Journal

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2020
Finding the right way to say "Thank you" can be difficult (and zany). A young elephant in a pink-and-white-striped shirt and blue overalls wonders how to thank various friends for their help with various small tasks but struggles with the right words. As the elephant considers the concept of gratitude, rhyming couplets describe what the little pachyderm may offer in thanks: "You hugged me when my day was hard, / so you deserve this SAINT BERNARD!" With each imagined token of thanks, the elephant's small pink wagon is seen to house more and more creatures and items, culminating in a final kitchen-sink gag at the end of the book. The logic of the gifts is nonsensical, dependent on the rhyme scheme rather than any sense of commensurate reciprocity, but the comedic effect will be an immediate crowd pleaser at storytimes. Savvy educators and caregivers will use these rhymes as a chance to introduce new vocabulary words to youngsters. The shiny, cartoon illustrations are bright and engaging, easy to see from the back of the room. A double gatefold as the second-to-last rhyme reintroduces the titular phrase and will provide an unexpected explosion of color and characters. (This book was reviewed digitally with 9.5-by-19-inch double-page spreads viewed at actual size.) Thanks for this! (Picture book. 5-8)

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