I was not going to write up a review for Gather Grateful. In fact I was not going to read it. I figured it was going to be like all the other thanksgiving books (and I don’t mean with a capital T, but a thankfulness, mindfulness, gratitude story). It was not until after the fourth or fifth time I saw pop up places that I said, “OK! Universe! I get it! I’ll read the book!!!”
And as usually happens, I enjoyed it.
However, Megan Litwin’s rhyming story felt a little bit forced for my personal tastes. However, I got to thinking it would be the perfect book for a younger listener and great for a nap time or bedtime read. It is soft and the rhymes do not always feel too bouncy, but are relaxing. I appreciate the hard work that went into mixing and matching things, but in the end I was not the right audience for them.
Though I am the right audience for the illustrations. They are on the more simple side, but the use of oranges, browns, blues and grays really hit home. They are blended, so nothing is just one color, but nothing is really muddy. There are a lot of orangy-browns in the beginning and much in the way of blueish-grays towards the end. Alexandra Finkeldey’s images fit the story and keep a classical feeling, but allow it to be relatable to the modern audience by having a mixture of people who are at the celebration.
As it is due mid-September 2025, it will be the perfect time to pick up copies for the holiday season. Set in an area that felt at home for me (I love a good autumn color festival on the leaves), I could not smell the smoke of the fireplace, or taste the hot chocolate and food, but I know what that was all about. It was familiar to my personal experiences. It really gives it an old school feeling so it is quaint, but not saccharine.