Dana Sheridan's Reading List

"There are a massive number of Gerald and Piggie books. They’re magical on so many levels and The Thank You Book is how Mo Willems tied them together. He brings back all the characters he created in the series for a show of gratitude and love. He even includes a thank you card for the reader in the back of book! It’s a book about gratitude for the family of characters he created, and for the family of readers he created. It was an amazing way to end the series. When I read (and re-read) a book, the characters are basically friends I’m visiting. And when your friends turn from the page and talk to you directly, it’s very special. Breaking down that fourth wall is a powerful way for writers to really acknowledge and connect with their audiences."

"When I see Karma Wilson’s name on a book, I know the verse is going to be stellar. She’s so playful and fun. Bear Says Thanks , in the spirit of Thanksgiving, is about food and sharing. But there is more to Thanksgiving than that; it’s a holiday about family and the feeling of belonging. That is what this book is about—being with others who love you as you are. It’s just great. Well, we could trace this all the way back to the early domestication of animals for companionship. Or simply say that animals provide a feeling of companionship that readers often seek when opening a book? And, as an artist myself, I can tell you it’s really fun to draw a bear on roller skates!"