The Database Of All The Reviews

The Memory Cupboard: A Thanksgiving Story
Charlotte Herman
Illustrated by Herman Stahl
Picture Book
Ages 4 to 7
Albert Whitman, 2003, $15.95, 0-8075-5055-8
  Katie is so excited to be going to see her grandmother for the Thanksgiving holiday. She loves the traditional meal, seeing her uncle, aunt, great aunts and best of all her Grandma. The meal is surrounded by family rituals and stories that she loves to hear. Even the gravy boat has a story to tell. There is singing and Great-Aunt Laura leads the family in her favorite song.
  Once the meal is over Katie wants to help clean up. She picks up the precious gravy boat to carry it into the kitchen and although she does her best to be careful with it, somehow it slips out of her hands and falls to the floor where it breaks. Katie is terribly upset until Grandma takes her upstairs and shows her what she calls her "memory cupboard". It is a special cupboard full of treasures. At first Katie doesn't understand why her grandmother values the things in the cupboard because everything in it is broken. But then Grandma starts to tell Katie the stories behind the broken treasures and Katie begins to understand.
  In this simple yet very powerful story, the author shows us how special family is and how family gatherings can be a wonderful time for sharing stories and memories. We are also reminded that it is the people behind gifts and not so much the gifts themselves that make them special. The combination of this message and Herman Stahl warm illustrations makes this a charming and compelling picture book.

An Online Children’s Book Review Journal

Through The Looking Glass Children’s Book Reviews

Online book reviews for the child in your life featuring both new and popular children's book authors

Kids book reviews, including book reviews of chapter books, novels, picture books, and non-fiction from famous children’s literature authors. Your review site of books for children.