It's dinner time and Grace and Mama are giving thanks for the varied ways they came by their meal. Mama starts with simple things, thanking the rain, soil and sunshine. But Grace has a surprising list of thank yous, from kangaroos (for not eating the carrots) to roadworkers (who fixed the path so they could ride to a stall to buy corn and kale).
It's a delightful celebration of gratitude, sustainability and community that shows young children there is so much more to the food they eat than just a trip to the supermarket. It also captures the desire of many families for a slower lifestyle with a focus on homegrown and handmade.
Balla's detailed and childlike illustrations are as enchanting as always, with a quintessential Australian style reflected in the fauna and flora, along with the diversity of Grace's rural neighbourhood.
It's a heartwarming and inspiring picture book that is sure to trigger many conversations and new dinner-time rituals.
Title: The Thank You Dish
Author/Illustrator: Trace Balla
Publisher: Allen & Unwin, $19.99
Publication Date: April 2017
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781760292355
For ages: 3-6
Type: Picture Book
