Thanks a Million

by Nikki Grimes

Illustrated by Cozbi A. Cabrera

About the book:

What makes you thankful? A book? Weekends? Your family? How do you say Thanks? In sixteen extraordinary poems that range inform from a haiku to a rebus to a riddle, Nikki Grimes reminds us how wonderful it is to feel thankful and how powerful a simple “thank you” can be.

About the author:

Nikki Grimes began penning poetry at the age of six. Her many award-winning titles include the picture books Talkin’ About Bessie and Meet Danitra Brown, both Coretta Scott King Honor Books. Another Coretta Scott King Honor went to her novel Jazmin’s Notebook, and her novel Bronx Masquerade won the Coretta Scott King Author Award. Nikki grimes is thankful for many things, her faith and poetry chief among them. She lives in Corona California.

Pre-reading Activity:

What does it mean to be thankful? How do you show you are grateful for what you have? Who are you glad is a part of your life? Do they know? How might you tell them?

Questions to consider:

1. What is the metaphor in the poem “Reward?”
2. Who is writing the poem “Dear Teacher?”
3. In “Shoe Surprise” what does the boy realize?
4. How do deaf children say thank you?
5. What did the brother forget in the poem “Unspoken”? How does he show he’s grateful?

Discussion Guide:

1. What are you most grateful for in the world? Who are you most thankful for? How do you tell someone? How can you show someone? Which is more powerful, showing or telling? Why?
2. Which poem is your favorite in the collection? Why? What did it make you think of in your own life? How is your world similar? How is it different? What did you learn?
3. What did the teacher do for the student in “Dear Teacher?” What did the student, in return, do for her? Do you think this was a good trade? What can kids do to show an adult they appreciate them? What would a parent like? What about a teacher?
4. In the poem “The Lunchroom” why is the narrator nervous? Have you ever felt like him? What is he grateful for at the end? How does he show it? Can you welcome a new friend too? What might you do?
5. What does the narrator do for her mom in “Lunch Box Love Notes”? Why is it difficult for her? How does her mom show her appreciation? How do little children show you they are happy?
6. What things are you thankful to do on weekends like the narrator of the same poem? What is your favorite thing about weekends? What activities do you do? What foods do you eat? Where do you go? Are you grateful for each?
7. How does the boy in “Shoe Surprise” show his gratitude toward his father? Why does he decide to do it? How can you show a parent you’re grateful?
8. How can a book offer understanding? Have you ever felt like “crawl [ing] between the pages of that novel and hide[ing] for hours”? What book has affected you like this? Did you ever write the author and tell them so?
9. What is a shelter? Why do some families end up staying in them? What is the child wishing for? What is she still grateful for? How can you help? How can you show your own gratefulness for the place you call home?
10. What holiday is being celebrated in the final poem? How can we show our thanks throughout the year? What are you most grateful for?

Projects:

Verbal/Linguistic:

Write a letter poem to someone you are grateful for (reread “Dear Teacher” and “Dear Author” for examples). Copy the poem in a Thank You card and deliver it!

Visual/ Spatial:

Create a rebus card for someone special. You can create the images yourself or cut them out of old magazines.

Mathematical/Logical:

You want to bake cookies to say thank you to your friends on the soccer team for having a great season. Can you figure out these math problems?

1. Each box of brownies will make 20. There are 22 kids on your team. How many boxes will you need? Can each kid have two brownies? How many leftovers will there be? What if you share with the other team you’re playing on Saturday that has 18 players? How many boxes do you need now?
2. You decide to sell brownies and donate the money to the homeless shelter. You can sell each brownie for .75 cents. If you use four boxes of brownies how much money will you donate? What if you have to buy more eggs for your mom at 2.25 a dozen first? What if you make ten boxes of brownies?
3. You want to make brownies for the elderly grandparents who live in the rest home with your great grandma. You also decide to create each one a card. If there are fifty residents in the home how many boxes of brownie mix do you need? If one piece of paper can make two cards how many pages should you count out? If each box of brownies needs three eggs how many dozen should you buy?

-or-

Interview family and friends about what they are most grateful for. Graph your answers on chart below!

Drama/Kinesthetic:

Learn the American Sign Language words for “Thank You,”  “Please,” “What is your name?” and “You’re welcome.”

Intrapersonal:

Cut out a piece of regular plain paper into strips and then tape or glue them together into a long banner. Write (or draw) pictures of all the things you’re thankful for. Roll it up and keep near your bed (or in your desk or locker). Whenever you’re having a bad day remember all the blessings you have!

Interpersonal:

Thank You Surprises. Create cards, letters, postcards or even small homemade gifts (or unexpected acts) and leave them for people who you appreciate but don’t often tell. As a class, brainstorm a list of things you can do for others like washing dishes, dusting, or sweeping the walkway which are free but would make someone very happy!

Thanks a Million Graph

Color in one block as you interview friends and family about what they are most grateful for:

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