THANK YOU FOR THE LITTLE THINGS

A child manages difficult emotions by focusing on small things that bring smiles.

A brown child with curly hair runs ahead of parents—one light-skinned, one brown-skinned—who push a stroller with a baby through a city park with their unleashed pet dog running alongside. “Whenever I am feeling sad,” the child narrates, or tired or worried, “I tell myself…say thank you for the little things.” As the child plays at the park, winds down at home, and falls asleep, the little things that brighten the day range from ladybugs and daisies to swings and puddles; noodles and ice cream to bubble baths, stories, and a teddy bear. On a final spread, the text addresses readers, encouraging them to “look around” and “see…how lovely little things can be.” The text is written in rhyming stanzas that detail the fun and comfort of each little thing mentioned, inspiring gratitude and close observation. The illustrations use a crayon-style texture with busy strokes that convey a childlike energy against spare backgrounds. Multicolored hearts and stars follow the child through the spreads. The child’s facial expressions are somewhat limited, leaving readers to infer emotions from the text and situations. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A cute introduction to a gratitude practice that children can understand.