Sharing the Bread by Pat Zietlow Miller

Hi guys!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

November is moving right along and with it bringing that cherished family get together known as the Thanksgiving that much closer.  What's that?  Don't remind you?  Oh, come on!  You're either on the eating or preparing end of it, so you're bound to need that reminder here sooner or later, but enough of the pending potential stress involved, today is all about the CELEBRATION and to get it back on the right track, I've got an extra special title you'll want to add to your holiday reading list.  Today's book of choice is...

Sharing the Bread

by

Pat Zietlow Miller

Illustrated by

Jill McElmurry

Schwartz & Wade Books

9780307981820

As I said, it's all about the sharing of the feast, the togetherness the holiday brings, and how everyone plays their part in making the day a success.  From the prepping to the cooking, the table setting to the family entertaining, all members have role in the festivities and when played right, the whole family can indulge in the rewards.

I love how all members of the family are depicted here.  From Mom and Dad to Auntie and the baby, every person is represented and given a task they are responsible for completing to contribute to the feast.  One bastes the turkey while another makes the potatoes, someone cooks the cranberries as another makes the pilgrim hats to be worn to honor the first Thanksgiving.  Each and every person from the tall to the small gets to add their special touch of magic to the day and when everything is said and done, partake of the fruits of their labor.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention the artwork in the story seeing as this is a picture book.  The textures used, the earthiness of the palette, and the delicious looking feast prepared all go into giving the reader a visual display perfect for the season.  It will remind you both of Thanksgivings past as well as your own a mere three weeks away and leave you delighted just the same.

To conclude, a great addition for your seasonal reads at home, school, or Story Time.  The imagery combined with simple rhymes allows readers young and young at heart to partake in the festivities without even raising an oven mitt.

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About the author...

PAT ZIETLOW MILLER received an Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Honor for Sophie’s Squash, her picture-book debut, which was published to four starred reviews and named a Charlotte Zolotow Honor Book. Thanksgiving is her favorite holiday. She lives in Madison, Wisconsin. Visit the author at patzietlowmiller.com.

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About the illustrator...

JILL McELMURRY illustrated the bestselling picture book Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle and The Tree Lady by H. Joseph Hopkins, among others. She is the author and illustrator of Mario Makes a Move, which Publishers Weekly, in a starred review, said “captures the exuberance of the creative spirit alongside the quirks of a character accepting his limitations.” Visit her at jillmcelmurry.com.

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Special thanks to Cassie at Random House Children's Books for the copy for review.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title, the author, the illustrator, or the publisher, feel free to click through the links provided above.  This title hit store shelves this September, so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf or virtual retailor of your choosing.

Until next time...happy reading!