Gwen's Gratitude

Gwen is an ungrateful little girl. Zhang has taken one of the big challenges in parenting and turned it into an adorably illustrated tale of learning to be happy with what you have.

In a rhythmic rhyming prose, Zhang shows numerous examples of gratitude for a main character who starts out with a big attitude. Gwen sees other children and their behavior and learns to be thankful for what is already in front of her rather than being angry about things that don't go her way. It is a valuable lesson that is a perfect read aloud for classrooms and families to use to facilitate a discussion on gratitude. It shares the importance of not taking things for granted and valuing what we have.

This story was both entertaining and educational, which can be a tricky balance to maintain in a children’s book, and I will be suggesting it to teachers whenever possible. Incorporating social-emotional skills and topics such as this into children's picture books is a tried and true way to teach an important life skill in a way that is fun. This would be an amazing addition for classroom libraries, counselling offices and more.

Such a wonderfully illustrated book with a lesson of gratitude to learn. The book follows Gwen, a little girl that is very ungrateful for the things she has until she witnesses other children on how they behave and the things that they do not have. I highly recommend this book to kids of all ages. Thanks to #netgalley for the early review copy and I read this book for the #picturethis2022 event fulfilling the prompt - Red.