A simple text describes a large family's traditional Thanksgiving meal at Grandma's house, but the real story is told in the detailed illustrations. Personalities emerge, conflicts erupt, and emotions overflow in the cheerily colorful chaos that outlines the day from food preparation through dinner, clean-up, and dessert. This is a loving portrait of a family holiday. From HORN BOOK Spring 2004, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Youngsters will want to visit Goode's (When I Was Young in the Mountains) holiday table again and again, for some of the best Thanksgiving fare in many seasons. From the 4:00 a.m. alarm that wakes Grandma and Grandpa on the title page to the pair kicking off their shoes after the last guest has left, the lively couple strikes the perfect balance between hosts and team captains. Grandpa in his bow tie and suspenders and red-headed Grandma in heels and apron greet narrator Maggie and her family (Maggie's auburn-haired Mom is clearly the blood relation) and put them to work in the kitchen ("We all love to cook at Thanksgiving"). The happy hubbub unfolds through kinetic vignettes of the guests' arrival (the families wear color-coordinated outfits, for easy tracking) and everyone pitches in, building to a horizontal spread of mismatched tables and chairs where "we all have a place." Other visual subplots include a stray dog who joins the fray and finds its owner by the end, and a gift from one of the guests (clues to its contents appear throughout) presented in the penultimate spread. This tale bursts with the bounteous food and festivity that define the holiday. Ages 3-8. (Sept.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

PreS-Gr 3-An extended family gathers to talk, play, make music, hug, and eat Grandma's turkey dinner. Amusing subplots are hidden within the buzz of activity in the detailed pen-and-ink and watercolor cartoons. This story is as warm and joyful as the holiday itself. (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

PreS-Gr. 2 Thanksgiving means family, food, friends, and a reason to be grateful. All that and more is whimsically portrayed in a book that is more a chain reaction of events than a story. Still, there's plenty of bounce per ounce, which begins as a red-haired grandmother and her mustachioed husband get up and put in the turkey. Then the doorbell rings, and the tumult begins. Adults, children (many redheads), babies, and animals arrive and set the table, talk, knit, play instruments, and eat. After dinner, it's time for walking, washing, drying, a bit of crying, and dessert. The text, a line or so to a page, almost sounds as if it should be sung (Ding-a-Ling! Grandma rings. Everyone come to the table! ). But it's the artwork that's the focus here, and sometimes there's so much activity, it's hard to believe that the figures are not really moving. There are several thin story lines to follow (What's that big wrapped present?), but kids probably won't pick them up until a welcome second or third reading. --Ilene Cooper Copyright 2003 Booklist

A large extended family comes together at Grandma's house for an old-fashioned Thanksgiving. Everyone helps with the cooking, the eating, and the cleanup. There is just as much noise as there is dialogue and it's all incorporated into the text of this predictable little story. The swirling text of differing size might be a little confusing to read aloud, but small audiences will enjoy coming up with the stories behind the family's actions and expressions. Goode's signature watercolor-and-ink illustrations are full of drama, mystery, and delight as the family comes together for dinner, again for dessert, and then parts until next year. Sure to please families of any size at harvest season. (Picture book. 3-6) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.