THE THANK YOU BOOK by Mary Lyn Ray.  Illus. by Stephanie Graegin.  New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Co., 2018. 32p.  ISBN 978-0544791367 hc. $13.99   PreS - Gr. 1   E PIC

Kindness is the theme of this book, demonstrated as the author takes us through a child's day from waking up in the morning until going to bed at night.  At the same time, she integrates the seasons into daily activities, beginning with summer and continuing through fall, winter and spring - two timelines - seamlessly working together in the same story.  Readers are reminded to appreciate things as large as sunlight and stars, along with things as small as "zippers that zip jackets when warm days turn to cold."  The illustrations complete a sentence or concept on each two-page spread, making the story perfect for reading aloud to youngsters.  Check out some older books by Mary Lyn Ray that are equally good to read:  PUMPKINS (1992), MUD (1996), ALL ABOARD! (2002), STARS (2011), A VIOLIN FOR ELVA (2015).  Go to her website www.marylynray.com for a complete listing of her picture books.
Lynette Suckow, Superiorland Preview Center, Marquette, MI  49855