Giving Thanks: Poems, Prayers, and Praise Songs of Thanksgiving

By Katherine Paterson and Pamela Dalton

A beautifully illustrated collection celebrating the joy of gratitude: “A book to be picked up throughout the year and savored and discussed.” —Booklist (starred review)

Newbery Medal winner Katherine Paterson and cut-paper artist Pamela Dalton, creators of Brother Sun, Sister Moon, give fans of all ages even more to be thankful for with Giving Thanks, a special book about gratitude.

Paterson’s meditations on what it means to be truly grateful and Dalton’s exquisite cut-paper illustrations are paired with a collection of over fifty graces, poems, and praise songs from a wide range of cultures, religions, and voices. The unique collaboration between these two extraordinary artists flowers in this important and stunningly beautiful reflection on the act of giving thanks.

“A joyfulness of spirit permeates the compilation.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Amen.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

• Language: English
• Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media
• Release date: Oct 15, 2013
• ISBN: 9781452129631

Book preview

Lord of the universe: I am a simple man, an ignorant man. Oh, how I wish I had the words to fashion beautiful prayers to praise thee! But alas, I cannot find the words. So, listen to me, O God, as I recite the alphabet. You know what I think and how I feel. Take these letters of the alphabet and you form the words to express the yearning, the love for thee, that is in my heart.

UNKNOWN

For Anna Franceschelli,

A source of joy and jubilation K. P.

For Isabel and Hazel,

with all my love P. D.

Original text © 2013 by Minna Murra, Inc.

Illustrations © 2013 by Pamela Dalton.

Acknowledgments of permission to reprint previously published materials appear on page 53, which constitutes as an extension of this copyright page.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher.

ISBN 978-1-4521-2963-1

The Library of Congress has cataloged the previous edition as follows:

ISBN 978-1-4521-1339-5

Design by Amelia May Mack.

Calligraphy by Anne Robin.

Photographs by Matthew Carden.

Typeset in Hoefler & Frere-Jones Requiem.

Handprint Books is an imprint of

Chronicle Books LLC

680 Second Street

San Francisco, CA 94107

www.chroniclekids.com

On Giving Thanks

Hanging on the wall in my small study is a beautiful piece of calligraphy. In the center is one word, Joy, and on either side is a passage from the Book of Isaiah:

You shall go out with joy and be led forth with peace:

The mountains and the hills will break forth in singing

And the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

I live in Vermont, where it is easy to imagine the mountains and hills bursting out in song and the maple tree, much taller than my house, clapping her ancient hands in delight. In