Steven Kroll (1941–2011)

Brenda and Buddy Squirrel discover that things could always be worse in this Thanksgiving picture book about learning to count your blessings. Although the siblings try to be polite, after their parents tell them that on Thanksgiving Day they must show how thankful they are for one another, they have trouble maintaining their good behavior—even in church. Sibling rivalry, and their resentment of small slights leads them to think they really don't have anything to be thankful for. Then their cousins Penny and Chuck come to holiday dinner, and demonstrate what a truly spiteful relationship looks like...

Originally published in 1991, The Squirrels' Thanksgiving is the second seasonal picture book I have read from author/illustrator team Steven Kroll and Jeni Bassett, after their The Biggest Pumpkin Ever. Like that other book, it features anthropomorphic animals, using them in this case to explore family dynamics at the holidays, and to emphasize that sometimes, the people who annoy us from day to day, really aren't that bad. I'm not sure what it says, that this insight must come from an example of truly poor behavior—no hope of future character development for Penny and Chuck is offered in the narrative—but leaving that aside, I think many children will be able to identify with this tale of siblings squabbling at the holidays. The accompanying artwork isn't a standout, but is cute enough. I'm not honestly sure I would strongly recommend this one, save perhaps to picture book audiences looking for stories which address sibling rivalry at the holidays.… (more)

Clayton the village mouse and Desmond the field mouse both fall in love with the same pumpkin, Clayton visiting it during the day to care for it, and Desmond at night. With their faithful ministrations, the pumpkin soon begins to grow to an enormous size, with both mice making their plans: one wants to win the town pumpkin contest, while the other dreams of creating the most magnificent jack-o-lantern ever. When the two eventually meet, they decide to work together to fulfill both of their ambitions...

The first of a number of seasonal picture books from author/illustrator team Steven Kroll and Jeni Bassett to feature the mice of Mouseville, The Biggest Pumpkin Ever pairs an engaging story of hard work and dreaming big with cute illustrations. I liked the fact that Clayton and Desmond discovering one another led, not to conflict, but to the two working together. That said, I did think it a little odd that Desmond followed the course of action he did, given that the narrative tells us that the pumpkin was in Clayton's garden. Surely it isn't reasonable for him to expect that it would be his, to make into a jack-o-lantern, when it always belonged to someone else? Leaving that aside, this was a sweet, gentle little tale for the Halloween season, and I would recommend it to picture book readers seeking such fare.… (more)