Growing up, I was pretty in tune to what it was appropriate to ask for and what wasn’t, whether it was a certain present or even a candy bar at the grocery store. But that didn’t mean that I didn’t sometimes take a chance and beg or feel bad when someone had something that I didn’t. But that made getting it that much more special, and it showed me what I was able to live without in order to assure that I had the necessities and didn’t go without those necessities the way that other people did. So, I definitely identified with the lesson in, Gwen’s Gratitude: A Moral Lesson on Gratitude, a picture book by Marie Zhang. Below is my review of Gwen’s Gratitude followed by an interview with Zhang.
Gwen’s Gratitude plot summary
Young Gwen finds herself feeling discouraged that things aren’t going her way. She doesn’t like the lunch her mom packs for her. She’s upset that the toy she likes at the store is too expensive. And she is angry when her coat hasn’t been washed. But whenever these things happen, she notices another kid nearby who doesn’t have anything at all. And that makes her feel grateful for what she does have.
The story
Told in a rhyming narration, Gwen’s Gratitude is less of a traditional story and more of a collection of situations that its protagonist experiences in order to learn a lesson in gratitude. Each situation is set up which upsets Gwen until she witnesses another person experiencing a similar and more extreme misfortune. And at that moment, she remembers to be grateful.
Gwen’s Gratitude is a story that reminds us that things don’t always go our way. Sometimes the desire is so great that it can make us feel unfortunate, and it takes seeing someone else in worse shape to make us feel fortunate.
A clever element to the story is that Zhang shows that we need constant reminders to be grateful. It’s easy to get caught up in our feelings, and we don’t always recognize that we’re being ungrateful, especially when it comes to situations that aren’t necessary for survival.
But when you’re young, especially, you don’t think of all of the elements that go into getting what you want. You just know you want it, and that is where your focus lies. Gwen isn’t a bad kid for feeling upset when she doesn’t get her way. In fact, she’s quick to recognize and correct her behavior when it is brought to her attention. And I like that the story shows that gratitude is something that we all have a hard time not only learning but maintaining.
The illustrations
The illustrations are bright, clean, and colorful. Gwen is depicted as a red-haired, big-eyed little girl with a face full of expression. We are taken through several scenarios set in multiple locations, and the backgrounds fill each page to create a simple yet easily-recognizable place with enough details to bring it to life, such as a playground, a store, and Gwen’s home.
I always love exploring the details in picture books: whether it be pictures hanging on a wall, a calendar with a particular date circled, or an animal lingering on every page. I love the little pieces of eraser that fall off onto the table while Gwen is doing her homework or the swishing motion that she makes while in the process of slamming a door. It makes the entire story feel more real and dramatic.
My recommendation
Gwen’s Gratitude will likely draw a primarily female audience due to the fact that its protagonist is a little girl and its style is your standard girl book, but it contains a lesson suitable to all readers. It teaches gratitude using empathy by pointing to someone who has less in order for Gwen to feel better about not having more.
The rhyme scheme can get a little clumsy if read aloud, but I like that it helps to tighten up the message and get to the point of each scenario. It works as a great reminder when we’re feeling cheated out of something to look towards what we do have and to not expect to be handed things we want but rather to work for them. After all, gratitude isn’t about putting away your desires; it’s about being satisfied by what you are given and thinking about those who work hard to get it for you or those who never do get as much as you.
My rating
An interview with Marie Zhang
The book is dedicated to your family. How much input did they have in the story and/or characters?
My family has always taught me the importance of gratitude. They shaped the way I looked at the world, and this was where my morals and values derived from.
Gwen needs constant reminders to be grateful. What do you think makes us keep forgetting to be grateful?
Especially when jealousy or envy gets to us, we tend to demand more than we have. Never being satisfied with what we already have and wanting more, leads to a vicious cycle. I think sometimes we also get caught up in the moment that we tend to take things for granted.
We NEED to learn to take time to stop, think, and slowly process the events leading up to what we receive. When we remember that people go out of their way to do nice things for us, we will learn to appreciate and be thankful.
Are any of Gwen’s experiences based on real events?
Not really. Personally, I’ve always been grateful for the little things in my life (even as a child). But from observing others throughout the years, I have realized that people tend to take things for granted.
It made me sad to see the practice of gratitude being neglected. So, I made a promise to myself to find a way to change the world one day.
How involved were you in the illustrations? Whose idea was it to include the cat in all of the illustrations set at home?
I did a lot of guiding in the illustration process, as I wanted to portray the story in the best way that could express gratitude. Including the cat was my idea. As cats are known to be affectionate, I thought that it would help soften Gwen’s character.
We used different shades of pink in the background to express that everything to be grateful for is everywhere. Green was to portray entitlement in the character. We made sure to use pink for her shoes, to express that she still has goodness in her. This shows that there’s always an opportunity for everyone to learn from their mistakes and be better people. It’s never too late for that.
Did you plan to make the lines rhyme from the beginning, or did it develop as you wrote?
It was a combination of both, but mostly the latter.
Will Gwen be popping up in any future stories?
Unfortunately, there are no plans for Gwen to appear in future stories.
How do you think it’s best to balance desire and gratitude?
We find it easy to desire but find it hard to practice gratitude. But when we are able to do both with ease, then both desire and gratitude will be balanced. The more we are grateful for what we already have, the more we receive.
Do you have a favorite line or illustration?
I think my favorite illustration would be of the main character looking at mom lying on the sofa with her eyes closed, exhausted. In this illustration, Gwen is reflecting on her behavior and realizing that she needs to change. Viewing the situation from another perspective, she is able to put herself in her mom’s shoes.
What’s next for you?
There are a few more books lined up for the Moral Values series.
Author links
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Buy it!
Buy a copy of Gwen’s Gratitude here, and help support local bookstores! This is an affiliate link, and I will earn a commission on any sales.
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