It’s the last Perfect Picture Book Friday before Thanksgiving! Can you believe it?
It is also that last day to vote for your favorite Halloweensie Contest Finalist, so if you haven’t voted yet, please hop over HERE! We need all the votes we can get! 😊
Before we get to today’s Perfect Picture Book, I have a couple giveaway announcements to share!
First, the winner of My Tender Heart Bible by Laura Sassi (which apparently I forgot to post back in the first week of October – oops! 🙈) is Angie Quantrell!!!
And the winner of last week’s giveaway of The Light Within You by Namita Mehra is Jessica Russo!!!
Congratulations, Angie and Jessica! Please email me with your snail mail address so I can arrange to have your books sent to you!
Now! For today’s book!
I searched high and low for a great Thanksgiving book I hadn’t shared before, and I read quite a few that just didn’t grab me. . . until I came to this one. I hope you’ll like it, too!
Title: In November
Written By: Cynthia Rylant
Illustrated By: Jill Kastner
Publisher: Clarion Books, September 1, 2008, fiction
Suitable For Ages: 3-7
Themes/Topics: seasons (autumn), holidays (Thanksgiving), nature, family
text copyright Cynthia Rylant 2008, illustration copyright Jill Kastner 2008, Clarion Books
Opening: “In November, the earth is growing quiet. It is making its bed, a winter bed for flowers and small creatures. This bed is white and silent, and much life can hide beneath its blankets.”
text copyright Cynthia Rylant 2008, illustration copyright Jill Kastner 2008, Clarion Books
Brief Synopsis: [from the publisher] “In November, the air grows cold and the earth and all of its creatures prepare for winter. Animals seek food and shelter. And people gather together to celebrate their blessings with family and friends.”
text copyright Cynthia Rylant 2008, illustration copyright Jill Kastner 2008, Clarion Books
Links To Resources: Thanksgiving Crafts for Kids (so many to choose from!)
text copyright Cynthia Rylant 2008, illustration copyright Jill Kastner 2008, Clarion Books
Why I Like This Book: This beautiful book is an older one. Filled with lovely, lyrical language, it paints a gorgeous picture of “winter’s gate” and is wonderful to read aloud. In November, nature is tucking herself in, and creatures of all kinds are doing the same – from mice that hide beneath the snow, to birds who fly south, or stay and search for food, to horses and cows who grow heavy coats, cats snug in the barn and dogs by the fire, and of course people, gathering together to celebrate Thanksgiving. The story ends with the promise of spring. The art is all white snow and bare trees with a few bright spots of color outdoors, and warm oranges, yellows, and reds in the barn and house. Every page is lovely in both words and pictures, but I think maybe the last page is my favorite! 😊
I hope you enjoy it as much as I do 😊
For the complete list of books with resources, please visit Perfect Picture Books.
PPBF folks, please add your titles and post-specific blog links (and any other info you feel like filling out 😊) to the form below so we can all come see what fabulous picture books you’ve chosen to share this week!
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone! 😊 My family and I are celebrating Thanksgiving tomorrow due to some scheduling conflicts, so I have family coming in and cooking to do. I hope to have the Halloweensie Contest Winners and Honorable Mentions posted tomorrow or Sunday, but please forgive me if it takes a little longer!
Susanna Leonard Hill 
Thank you for reminding me of the beauty and importance of this holiday. Have a wonderful and glorious week.
You too, Robin!
Have a great Thaksgiving Susanna! And thanks for sharing In November.
My pleasure, Elizabeth! It’s such a lovely book! And thank you 😊
Every Year I read this story to my class. It is a beautiful book. Thank you for reminding me about it.
I love that you know it, Janet! Isn’t it wonderful?!
It is a Beautiful book!
I love the pile of kittens – Cynthia Rylant is amazing!
I LOVE Cynthia Rylant, Robin! When my kids were little we read all of HENRY AND MUDGE and MR. PUTTER AND TABBY, and others of hers, but I somehow missed this one!
I immediately requested this book from my library. All nine copies were checked out! So nice to see that beautiful books like this one have a very long shelf life!
That is amazing, Carole! 9 copies checked out after all this time! It is wonderful when books last in popularity like that!
The images you’ve provided make me feel so cozy, Susanna. Cynthia Rylant’s words are so lyrical, too. Such a gorgeous book! The San Francisco Public Library has 4 hard copies and ebooks. All four are checked out, in addition to three holds. Yes, the popularity of this book remains strong!
Thank you for sharing in November, Susanna! This looks like a wonderful book. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, and I feel it is often overlooked. I love Cynthia Rylant! Her book, Nativity, is my favorite Christmas pb.
A lovely choice! Happy Thanksgiving!
Thank you for sharing. I love Cynthia Rylant! Her books are wonderful. Have a blessed Thanksgiving!
I do love this book. I have a copy and am going to pull it out and read it again after your lovely reminder. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Thanks for the post.
This is one of Cynthia’s that I’ve never read. Now is the perfect time! Will have to see if our library has a copy available. Happy Thanksgiving, Susanna and everyone.
This certainly is a Perfect Picture Book! Both words and illustrations are lovely!
Enjoy your time with your family! Happy Thanksgiving!🦃
❤
Oh, wow! HERE is the email saying I won Laura’s My Tender Heart Bible! (Going through my email, finally!) Thank you so much!!!