Altogether, it’s a smart original tale of kindness that really holds up under scrutiny.

There’s a whiff of The Gift of the Magi to it, but only a whiff. This book is paired beautifully with the art of April Harrison and turns out to be a more thoughtful and interesting Valentine’s Day story than we usually see. After her death last year I was worried we might never hear her voice again. It’s awfully nice to see a new McKissack out, particularly when it’s as good as this. Over the River and Through the Wood: A Thanksgiving Poem by Lydia Maria Child, ill.

Day keeps the crowds pretty ethnically diverse, though the text of the book could have been published in 1955 and no one would have batted an eye. The genius in all of this is getting Larry Day to do the art. In an average anytown, a kid and what appears to be his entire town go out for some pretty keen Independence Day festivities. Spinelli aims to make this book the standard bearer for the day, and he makes a pretty strong case. With that in mind, is it still okay to write books for kids that are seeped in the stuff? Lord knows there aren’t a lot of Fourth of July children’s books to put on display (as I mentioned). Nostalgia’s been getting some pretty hard knocks as of late. You’d pull out your Apple Pie 4th of July and your Fourth of July Mice and then scramble to find any books in stock about the Statue of Liberty. The saddest displays I’d ever make when I worked in the children’s room of my library were the 4th of July displays, no question. My one objection? Where are the recipes? One of those, please. Kim’s got a great style, so it’s nice to see her come out with another picture book.

Using the old cumulative tale model found in poems like “The House That Jack Built”, I like what this book is laying down. The mix of different cultures and different types of food. How does a 21st century author or illustrator celebrate that day? As with the aforementioned Apple Cake, the solution seems to be to just concentrate on the good aspects. I think I have good reason to say that as Thanksgiving approaches every year I groan internally. This year my Kindergartner brought home a history of Squanto and the pilgrims that dated to 1996 and was, let us say, less than entirely accurate in its information. Last year my 2nd grader brought home what I can only describe as the most offensive American Indian worksheets I have EVER had the misfortune to see. Of course sometimes I can feel a little burnt out over Thanksgiving.

My Baby Loves Christmas by Jabari Asim