Vicky from Youth Services Book Review wrote this about Grateful!: 

Rating: 1-5 (5 is an excellent or a Starred review) 4.5

Format: Hardcover picture book

What did you like about the book? This is a great book showing children how to choose their attitude and outlook. Various and diverse children face an array of choices that can affect their attitude and shape how they feel about their day. Imaginary friends Bubble and Slug offer opinions about the choice each child faces. Slug offers choices like avoidance, hiding, and just lingering in a dark mood while Bubble offers choices like remembering past joys, being grateful for all the things the child has, and doing something nice for others.

Readers make their choice and see how that decision shapes the book character’s day and the day of the other characters as well. After the story, readers are treated to inspirational ideas; making a gratitude jar, celebrating unbirthdays, and the concept that feelings can be contagious. When Henry makes a choice to be kind to a teacher, readers follow how that teacher then has a brighter day and so do the people he is kind to, making things better for everyone.

Children learn about the power of their choices and how to affect change in their own lives. Hopefully this book can help teach children to banish dark thoughts and focus on positivity.

Anything you didn’t like about it? Nothing at all

To whom would you recommend this book? Children ages 4-10, especially if they have trouble managing frustration or if they focus on negative things in their lives.

Who should buy this book? Elementary schools, public libraries, and day-cares.

Where would you shelve it? Fiction, Hayes

Should we (librarians/readers) put this on the top of our “to read” piles? Near the top

Reviewer’s Name, Library (or school), City and State: Vicky Tandy, Athol Public Library, Athol, MA