Gracias/Thanks

Why This Book?

Pura Belpré Illustrator Award Honor - American Library Association (ALA)

In a series of poetic sentences, a young boy (biracial Mexican/Caucasian) tells about some of the everyday things for which he is thankful.

There are so many things to be thankful for.

For one young boy, it's
flying ladybugs,
splashing ocean waves,
a best friend,
Dad's thick chocolate syrup,
and much more.

Straight from the heart of a child flows this lighthearted bilingual celebration of family, friendship, and fun. Come share the joy, and think about all the things for which you can say, "¡Gracias! Thanks!"

Pat Mora’s bilingual text highlights gratitude in everyday moments, big and small. With both English and Spanish woven throughout, it supports children in expressing appreciation across languages.

Montessori Connections

• Practical Life & Sensorial: Create a gratitude tree where children hang bilingual “thank you” notes.
• Language: Introduce the word gracias alongside “thank you.”
• Math & Order: Count the leaves or notes added to the gratitude tree.
• Art & Expression: Children draw one thing they are grateful for and label it in both languages.

Music & Movement
Sing a “thank you” song alternating English and Spanish lines.

Family Connections
Encourage families to share one “gracias/thanks” during mealtime.

Montessori Big Idea
Supports grace and courtesy, a central Montessori practice, while validating gratitude across cultures and languages.

Try This at Home
Start a small gratitude journal—write or draw one thing your child is thankful for each night in English or Spanish.