Review: Just So Thankful

Just So Thankful by Mercer Mayer (HarperFestival, 2006)

From the well-known Little Critter series comes this new title, Just So Thankful. Little Critter wants a Super Streak Scooter, but doesn’t have enough money to buy it. Instead of being thankful for all the toys he does have as his mother suggests, he sulks because he can’t have the terrific scooter.

Then a new kid moves into the neighborhood, and wow! He’s riding a Super Scooter. In fact, the new boy, H.H., has tons of wonderful toys — and a maid, a cook, a swimming pool, his own cell phone, and more. Little Critter and his friends have a great time at H.H.’s house, and wish they were so lucky.

Little Critter can’t imagine why H.H. would want to play at his house. He’d be so bored without all the cool stuff to play with. But Little Critter invites him over anyway. That’s when Little Critter learns through H.H.’s eyes that he’s a lucky critter, too, and has a whole lot to be thankful for.

This book would make a nice read-aloud to help kids understand the concept of being thankful. Sometimes what looks like “no fair” to us looks like “wow, you’re lucky” to someone else.
One quibble that readers may have with this Little Critter book is the stereotypical way in which gender roles are depicted: boys roughouse, make messes, like dogs, and wear blue. Girls are neat, play with tea sets, like cats, and wear pink. Women wear long dresses, while men wear pants. Parents and teachers might use the illustrations to discuss gender roles.

This book is also available in Spanish: Tan Agradecido.