Duck and Hippo Give Thanks

PreS-Gr 2—The third book in the series follows serious, industrious Hippo and free-spirited, playful Duck as they prepare for Thanksgiving. Hippo is looking forward to "a good, old-fashioned Thanksgiving." Duck is happy to help Hippo with preparations, including inviting their friends Elephant, Turtle, and Pig. On Thanksgiving, Hippo spends the day busily preparing for the dinner. When he is finished, he sits down to wait for his guests to arrive. When they finally do, they each have a surprise for Hippo. Their contributions, however, clash with Hippo's idea of "a good, old-fashioned Thanksgiving." In the end, Hippo is able to relax his convictions of what Thanksgiving should be and enjoy his friends for who they are. This message of appreciation fits in well with the Thanksgiving theme. Hippo and Duck both demonstrate patience and compromise in their friendship, even when the differences between the two seem destined to lead to clashes. The cartoon illustrations match well with the playful tone of the story.