Thank You, Everything

K-Gr 3–A deceptively simple beginning seems to be a book of appreciation for various things a child encounters such as colors and familiar objects. Then amid the morning routine a package arrives with a compass and map. Suddenly the child’s thank-you is extended to a suitcase, a bicycle, and then other forms of transportation. A quiet morning has become a journey across great distances: a parachute fall into a jungle, a raft ride across an ocean, and a trek deep into a cave to discover Paleolithic art. Primary colors are layered in a retro silk-screen look to capture the adventure across landscapes, seasons, and back home again. Scenes in the jungle have nocturnal animals in orange and yellow glowing against the shadowy blue trees and the black sky. Fine lines capture ripples in the ocean, mist in the shower, and the texture of walls and floors. Despite the simple and repetitive sentence structure, rich vocabulary is woven into the text. Words like tempest, cacophony, horizon, and cavern offer chances for discussion. So too, does the story itself. Is this a real journey using airplanes and buses, or an imaginary trip inspired by the map in the surprise package?