Thank You

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An excerpt:

     [...] My husband, John, leads the prayer, beginning with the words "O Lord, bless this food and the hands that prepared it." Since those hands are most often mine, I like that, but I know that it is not just my hands that brought this food to the table. There are the farmers, like my friends the Paquins; the grocer, like my friend Jim Taylor; and many more whose names and contributions I'll never know -- not to mention the sun, the rain, the good earth, and the plants and animals whose lives nourish my life.

     If I think of everything and everyone who helped bring a meal to my table, I am overwhelmed with gratitude. But that is good. Mister Eckhart, who died almost seven hundred years ago, said, "If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is 'thank you', it will be enough."

~ from Giving Thanks: 

Poems, Prayers, and 
Praise Songs of Thanksgiving,

edited and with reflections by Katherine Paterson

Today I am thankful for so many things: my family, my friends, my home, the food on my table, good books, time to write... the list goes on and on. I am also thankful for the opportunity to write this blog and for you, my readers. I hope that your own lists of blessings are as long as mine and I am wishing you all a wonderful, happy Thanksgiving! 

Thanksgiving

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Thanksgiving

The year has turned its circle,
The seasons come and go.
The harvest is all gathered in
And chilly north winds blow.
Orchards have shared their treasures,
The fields, their yellow grain.
So open wide the doorway-
Thanksgiving comes again!

~ Author unknown

I can't believe how quickly the year has flown by -- can you? Thanksgiving is almost here once more. Open wide that doorway and welcome it in! :)

Talking Turkey: Books for Thanksgiving

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It's almost time for turkey! (Or ham or whatever it is that you like to eat on Thanksgiving Day. I know I'm especially looking forward to the pie!) I always like to get ready for holidays by reading books about them. Earlier this month I brought home a big stack of Thanksgiving books from our local library. I read through them all and picked out the ones that I enjoyed the most, shown below, to help you and your family get into the holiday spirit:

Picture Books:

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving,

written and illustrated by Charles M. Schultz, 2002

This book is based on the animated television special A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving that first aired in 1973. I remember watching it every year as a young girl. In the story, Peppermint Patty invites herself and some other friends to Charlie Brown's home for Thanksgiving. Little does she know that the only things Charlie Brown can "cook" are cold cereal and toast. With the help of Linus, Snoopy, and Woodstock, he comes up with an unusual Thanksgiving dinner that the friends will never forget!

For me, celebrating with the Peanuts gang (whether in book or movie form) is a Thanksgiving tradition, both amusing and sweet.

***

The Great Thanksgiving Escape,

written and illustrated by Mark Fearing, 2014

Gavin is ready for another boring holiday with his relatives, but his cousin Rhonda has a different idea. "Sometimes," she tells him, "you have to make your own fun." Can they make it through the Hall of Aunts or the horde of zombie teenagers? Or will they be captured before they've had a taste of freedom?

Although I can't relate to the whole "boring holiday with relatives" premise (because spending Thanksgiving or any other day with a houseful of my relatives has always been something I look forward to), this story cracked me up! I especially love Fearing's hilarious illustrations.

***

Fat Chance Thanksgiving,

written by Patricia Lakin

and illustrated by Stacey Schuett, 2001

Carla and Mama move into their new apartment. Every day, Carla dreams of being just like the smiling Pilgrim girl in her favorite book, surrounded by family and friends at a big Thanksgiving feast. "Fat chance," Mama says. Their apartment is tiny, Mama doesn't have much money, and their loved ones live far away. "Let's be thankful for what we do have and not wish for the impossible." But Carla wants this so badly -- and she has an idea of how to make it work...

I found this to be a charming story. I particularly appreciated Carla's positive outlook on life and her determination to make her dream come true. 

***

Nickommoh!:

A Thanksgiving Celebration,

written by Jackie French Koller

and illustrated by Marcia Sewall, 1999

According to the author's note at the back of this book, "Long before the first Pilgrim set foot in the New World, Native Americans were celebrating rites of thanksgiving [...]. Nickommah was the name given by the Narragansett Indian Tribe of present-day Rhode Island to these celebrations." This story describes such an observance. A glossary in the back provides definitions for the many Narragansett words used throughout the book.

Koller's poetic language and Sewall's richly-decorated illustrations combine to create a book both compelling and educational.

***

A Thanksgiving Wish,

written by Michael J. Rosen

and illustrated by John Thompson, 1999

Every Thanksgiving, Amanda's family has gathered at her grandmother Bubbe's house. It was Bubbe's special holiday and she would spend the entire month of November getting ready for it. Amanda's favorite part was always at bedtime, when Bubbe let Amanda choose a wishbone to make a Thanksgiving wish. But now her grandmother has passed away. Amanda's family gathers together, but nothing is the same. And Bubbe is not there this year to share a wish.

This is a sad yet heart-warming book. I recommend reading it with some Kleenex close by! Thompson's stunning paintings complement the story well.

***

Early Readers:

Annie and Snowball and the Thankful Friends,

written by Cynthia Rylant

and illustrated by Sucie Stevenson, 2011

Annie loves Thanksgiving. There is a big table at her house and she wants lots of people around it this year for the feast. But Annie just lives with her father and her rabbit, Snowball. Who can she invite to share the holiday meal with them?

This book for beginning readers shows how special it can be to include those around us in our holiday activities.

***

The Thanksgiving Beast Feast,

written and illustrated by Karen Gray Ruelle, 1999

Thanksgiving is Harry's favorite holiday, and Emily's, too, because they love the food. When their mother explains that the holiday is also about giving thanks, and teaches them about the first Thanksgiving, the siblings come up with an idea to share a feast with some unusual guests, their neighborhood wildlife.

I liked this book because the story reminded me of my own kids. I can just picture them going along with Harry and Emily's idea! I also enjoyed the gentle humor that Ruelle included throughout.

***

The Know-Nothings Talk Turkey, 

written by Michele Sobel Spirn

and illustrated by R. W. Alley, 2000

The Know-Nothings -- Boris, Morris, Norris, and Doris -- are not sure how to celebrate Thanksgiving until Doris reads about it in a book. She explains that many people serve a turkey dinner. But how can they serve the turkey his dinner if he won't even sit down?

This is a fun, silly book that kids will love to read. It will leave them (and any adults listening or reading along) laughing!

***

Middle Grade Nonfiction:

1621: A New Look at Thanksgiving,

written by Catherine O'Neill Grace and Margaret M. Bruchac,

photographs by Sissie Brimberg and Cotton Coulson, 2001

From the book's inside front cover: "Taking a new look at Thanksgiving means putting aside the myth. It means taking a new look at history. It means questioning what we think we know. It means recovering lost voices -- the voices of the Wampanoag people. True history includes the voices of all its participants. Read, listen, and think about our shared history."

I was fascinated by this book. I'll admit, I had never looked much beyond the myths of Thanksgiving before. I learned so many things about the Wampanoag people and the true history of Thanksgiving from these pages. I also enjoyed looking at the photographs, taken at Plimoth Plantation in 2000, when several hundred people (including over one hundred Wampanoag) gathered there to reenact the 1621 harvest gathering.

***

Giving Thanks: Poems, Prayers, and

Praise Songs of Thanksgiving,

edited and with reflections by Katherine Paterson

and illustrated by Pamela Dalton, 2013

This special book contains over 50 prayers, poems, and songs from a wide range of cultures, religions, and voices, including Desmond Tutu, e. e. cummings, John Wesley, and Wendell Berry. Combined with Dalton's gorgeous cut-paper artwork and reflections from Paterson, this book is one I would love to add to my collection! I know that I would turn to it again and again -- and not only in November.

***

My Very Own Thanksgiving:

A Book of Cooking and Crafts,

written by Robin West

and illustrated by Robert L. and Diane Wolfe (photos)

and Susan Slattery Burke (drawings), 1993

The recipes in this book are divided into five different menus: Harvest Feast, Take Pity on the Turkey, Set Sail on the Mayflower, The Big Game, and We Gather Together. They include several easy recipes for beginners, plus some more-advanced recipes for kids and parents to work on together. I have not had a chance to try any of the recipes yet, but there are several that caught my eye. I plan to make a few next week!

In between recipes you will find step-by-step instructions for five cute Thanksgiving crafts, as well as stories, Thanksgiving facts, and ideas for fun games to play over the holidays.

***

Thanksgiving, 

written by Ellyn Sanna, 2005

This cookbook contains 17 delicious-sounding recipes for your holiday feast as well as information about Thanksgiving culture, history, and traditions. Again, I found some recipes inside that I am putting on my menu for next week!

I found this book in my library's middle grade nonfiction section. In my opinion, however, this one seems like it belongs more in the young adult or adult section. Younger children can certainly help out with these recipes but -- with the exception of the Cranberry Nut Snack Mix recipe -- I wouldn't recommend allowing an elementary school child to try making them on his/her own.

***

For even more books about Thanksgiving, here are links to my posts from previous years:

Celebrating Thanksgiving With Books
A Feast of Books for Thanksgiving

Have you read any of the books above? If so, I'd love to hear what you thought of them. Also, please share any of your favorite Thanksgiving books that you don't see here -- I am always looking for new ones to read! :)

It is time, now.

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An excerpt:

     Now frost lies thick on the fields at dawn, and the winged ones pass overhead in great numbers, calling out their good-byes. It is Taqountikeeswush, the Moon of the Falling Leaves. The Creator's gifts have been harvested, dried, and tucked away in auqunnash in the bosom of Earth Mother. They will provide for the People all through the long, cold months to come, the long, cold months of Papone. It is time, now. Time for the People to come together, together to give thanks.

~ from Nickommoh!: 

A Thanksgiving Celebration,

written by Jackie French Koller

Taqountikeeswush - Harvest Month

auqunnash - pits dug into the earth and lined with mats

Papone - winter

Across time and cultures, people have gathered together to celebrate the harvest and give thanks. I'm looking forward to doing the same next week. How about you?

Autumn, Queen of Year

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Autumn, Queen of Year

When the pumpkins are so yellow
And the vines with grapes abound,
When the melons are so mellow
And the nuts fall to the ground;
When persimmons lose their bitters,
And the apples are so red;
When we love to eat corn fritters
Since the roasting ears have fled;
When vacation days are over
And the children go to school,
They no longer play in clover,
But must learn "Arithmos-rule,"
When weird Hallowe'en's most naughty elves
With gnomes and sprites appear,
While fat Thanksgiving fills the shelves -
'Tis AUTUMN, QUEEN OF YEAR.

~ Winifred Sackville Stoner, Jr.

I like how Stoner calls Halloween "weird" and Thanksgiving "fat". I enjoy her rhymes, too. But my favorite thing about this poem is how autumn is named queen of the year. What do you like (or dislike) about the poem?

Giving Thanks

Image courtesy of NYPL's Digital Gallery

Giving Thanks

For the hay and the corn and the wheat that is reaped,
For the labor well done, and the barns that are heaped,
For the sun and the dew and the sweet honeycomb,
For the rose and the song and the harvest brought home -
Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving!

For the trade and the skill and the wealth in our land,
For the cunning and strength of the workingman's hand,
For the good that our artists and poets have taught,
For the friendship that hope and affection have brought -
Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving!

For the homes that with purest affection are blest,
For the season of plenty and well-deserved rest,
For our country extending from sea unto sea;
The land that is known as the "Land of the Free" -
Thanksgiving! Thanksgiving!

~ Author Unknown

Wishing you all a wonderful Thanksgiving
filled with blessings and happy memories!

Magnanimous

This week's word is magnanimous [mag-nan-uh-muhs], an adjective meaning "generous; noble".  Its synonyms include: benevolent, bountiful, and charitable.  I thought it was a fitting word for the holiday season.  Here are a few example sentences:

The couple's magnanimous donation provided 

enough food and clothing for ten families.

Known as a magnanimous man throughout his life, 

he dedicated his life to serving others.

Thank you for the gift -- it was so 

magnanimous of you!

How would you use the word magnanimous?

Thanksgiving Time

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Thanksgiving Time

When all the leaves are off the boughs,
And nuts and apples gathered in,
And cornstalks waiting for the cows,
And pumpkins safe in barn and bin,
Then Mother says, "My children dear,
The fields are brown, and autumn flies;
Thanksgiving Day is very near,
And we must make thanksgiving pies!"

~ Author Unknown

I have a long list of things to do today, to get our family ready to go out of town for the holiday.  In between packing and writing out instructions for our pet sitter and cleaning out the car, I must make a pumpkin pie. (For Thanksgiving Day is very near!)  Yum.  I love all the different foods we have at Thanksgiving, but my favorite dish has to be the pie.  What is your favorite thing to eat on Thanksgiving?

November had come...

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An excerpt:

     November had come and the crops were in. The walls of the cheerful kitchen were hung with garlands of dried apples, onions, and corn. Up aloft from the beams shone crookneck squashes, juicy hams, and dried venison.

     Mrs. Bassett bustled to and fro, flushed and floury, for today was Thanksgiving.  Tilly, the oldest daughter, was briskly grinding spices as Prue kept time with the chopper.  The twins, Roxy and Rhody, sliced away at the apples while Seth and Solomon shelled corn for popping.

~ from An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving,

written by Louisa May Alcott

Just reading this makes me hungry... and eager for Thanksgiving dinner!  I like all the details Alcott uses, and the picture she paints in my mind with her words.  She offers sights, sounds, and even smells in just two short paragraphs.  Reading this also inspires me to try writing about my own family's Thanksgiving -- I'll have to keep this passage in mind later this week!  How would you describe holidays at your house?

Feeling thankful...

Image courtesy of The Gutenberg Project

About a year ago I shared a post about some of the things I was thankful for, all related to books and writing.  I am still very grateful for the items on that list, many of which are summed up in this quote:

"The love of learning, 

the sequestered nooks,

And all the sweet 

serenity of books."

~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

This year, I am also thankful for:

• More time to write, now that all three of my kids are in school for six hours every day.
• Dictionaries and thesauruses
• My kids' creative imaginations and their love of writing.  Emmalie has written many stories over the years (some quite long).  Nick enjoys writing nonfiction pieces about animals.  And, just recently, Ben began writing his first "book".  He is currently on Chapter 7 (each chapter is only 3-5 sentences long) and he is so excited about it! Every day he looks forward to writing something new and then sharing it with everyone in the family. :)
• Discovering some blogs that inspire me every time I read them, including The Poem Farm, Laura Salas: Writing the World for Kids, and No Water River: The Picture Book and Poetry Place.
• This blog, which motivates me daily to keep reading, writing, learning, and dreaming.
• The wonderful books I've read this year because of this blog.  As you know, I'm a BookWyrm.  I would read (and read and read!) whether I had Blue Sky, Big Dreams to write or not.  But because I do have this blog, I have sought out and then read many books that I might never have crossed paths with otherwise.
• All of my friends and readers.  Thank you so much for supporting me, back when I first launched this blog and in the seventeen months since, urging me to keep it up.  I also owe you a HUGE thank you for all the encouragement you've given me, to keep writing (and submitting!) my poems, stories, and novels. Writing can be a lonely job at times, and it's easy to get discouraged. It really helps -- and means so much to me -- knowing that I have friends out there cheering me on!

What are you thankful for this year?

A Feast of Books for Thanksgiving

Image courtesy of NYPL's Digital Gallery

I don't know about you, but I am really looking forward to a big Thanksgiving feast next week.  Yum. :)  In preparation for the holiday, my seven-year-old Ben and I have been feasting our eyes on Thanksgiving-themed books.  I wrote about some of our favorites in a post last November, and wanted to share some others with you this year:

The Thanksgiving Story,

written by Alice Dalgliesh

and illustrated by Helen Sewell, 1954

In this book, Dalgliesh tells the story of one Pilgrim family and their journey from England to Plymouth Rock, concluding with the feast of celebration a year later for the colonists and the natives who'd helped the newcomers survive hunger, cold, and sickness.

I found this to be a well-written story of historical fiction -- easy to understand, yet interesting and informative.

***

Over the River and Through the Wood,
lyrics written by Lydia Maria Child
and illustrated by Brinton Turkle, 1975

Back in the 1840's, Child wrote a poem about traveling to her grandparents' on Thanksgiving Day; the poem was later turned into the now-famous song.  I still remember singing "Over the River and Through the Woods" with my sister every year when we were growing up, as we rode in our car on the way to our own grandparents' home for the holiday. (And we really did go over a river and through some woods to get there.) This book includes the lyrics to the song, the sheet music, and several illustrations -- black and white ones facing the lyrics and also several two-page color spreads.

While all the other books mentioned in this post are ones that I found at the library, this one sits on our bookshelf here at home.  I bought it from Scholastic Books back when I was in second grade or so.  I remember wanting it so that I could always have a copy of all the lyrics to the song.  I know that I brought it along in the car more than once, so that my sister and I could regale our parents with every single verse over and over again.  I'm sure they appreciated that.  

Note: I had the book sitting out for this post, and Ben picked it up to flip through.  He was thrilled to see all the verses printed there, and immediately began singing them. My parents would probably call that karma.... ;)

***

A Turkey for Thanksgiving,

written by Eve Bunting

and illustrated by Diane de Groat, 1991

Mrs. Moose is getting everything ready for a Thanksgiving Day feast with friends, but she's missing one thing -- a turkey.  She asks her husband to go find one for her, which he does.  Turkey, understandably, wants nothing to do with the holiday dinner.  When Mr. Moose brings him home anyway, Turkey is relieved to discover that Mrs. Moose wants him at her table, not on it.

This is a tender, humorous book.  Ben and I especially liked the pleasant surprise at the end!

***

Gracias the Thanksgiving Turkey,

written by Joy Cowley

and illustrated by Joe Cepeda, 1996

Miguel's father, a long-distance truck driver, sends his son a live turkey, asking him to fatten her up for Thanksgiving. Miguel names the bird Gracias.  He takes good care of the turkey, even taking her for walks around the streets of New York on a leash, and quickly becomes attached to the large bird.  How will Miguel keep his new amiga from becoming Thanksgiving dinner?  (This book also contains a short glossary of Spanish words used throughout the tale.)

Ben and I loved the colorful, expressive pictures in this book. We also enjoyed how the amusing story unfolds and how it is finally resolved at the end.  

***

Turkey Pox,
written by Laurie Halse Anderson
and illustrated by Dorothy Donohue, 1996

Charity and her family rush around, getting everything ready for Thanksgiving dinner at Nana's.  Charity itches and itches (and scratches and scratches), but doesn't think anything of it until the family's in the car, on their way, and suddenly her parents realize that she is covered with chicken pox.  (Or is it turkey pox?)  Sadly, the family returns home, thinking they will have to celebrate Thanksgiving without Nana or her wonderful roast turkey.  Lucky for them, Nana refuses to have her holiday spoiled by a few spots....

This story had Ben and me giggling on almost every page! From the comical illustrations to Aunt Imogene's wacky dialogue to Nana's clever prank at the end of the book, this is a fun book to read aloud and start the holidays off with a smile.

***

This is the Turkey,

written by Abby Levine

and illustrated by Paige Billin-Frye, 2000

In this cumulative rhyming book, Max and his family get ready for their Thanksgiving feast.  Everything is turning out perfectly -- until a silly mishap puts the roast turkey out of commission.  Will Thanksgiving be ruined?  Of course not. Family, friends, and thankfulness save the day.

Both Ben and I were entertained by this story.  I especially liked how Levine tells it in "The House That Jack Built" style, but with a twist.  I also liked the gentle message that things don't have to go perfectly to have a special day.

***

A Plump and Perky Turkey,

written by Teresa Bateman

and illustrated by Jeff Shelly, 2001

When the people of Squawk Valley find themselves without a turkey for Thanksgiving, they come up with a plan to lure one to town.  They advertise for a turkey model to come help them out with an arts and crafts show... and Pete the turkey takes the bait.  Pete poses while the townspeople paint pictures of him and sculpt likenesses of him out of clay, but then manages to disappear before he is captured, leaving the town with only shredded wheat for Thanksgiving dinner.

This rhyming story is a bit of a tongue twister at times to read out loud, but its goofy plot and illustrations make it worth trying!

***

Thank You, Thanksgiving,

written and illustrated by David Milgrim, 2003

In this simple yet inspiring book, a young girl is thankful for the world around her.

I think reading this story with a loved one would be a great way to introduce the concepts of Thanksgiving to toddlers and preschoolers.  Though Ben is quite a bit older than that now, he (and I) still appreciated the main character's attitude of gratitude as well as Milgrim's charming illustrations.

***

The Memory Cupboard:

A Thanksgiving Story,

written by Charlotte Herman

and illustrated by Ben F. Stahl, 2003

When Katie and her parents visit Grandma for Thanksgiving, Katie accidentally breaks the special gravy boat her mother and uncle gave Grandma when they were young.  Katie feels awful, but then Grandma -- who knows what's really important -- shows Katie her memory cupboard.  Inside, the cupboard is filled with items that have broken over the years, yet remain cherished memories.

With rich illustrations that convey a loving family, this is a heartwarming story.  It emphasizes the truth that "things are just things.  People are more important...."  

***

Pilgrim Cat,

written by Carol Antoinette Peacock

and illustrated by Doris Ettlinger, 2004

Faith, a young girl sailing from England to the New World aboard the Mayflower, spots a stowaway cat.  Naming him Pounce, she quickly befriends the cat.  Through storms, illness, and a long, hard winter in a new land, Pounce stays by Faith's side.  When he disappears the next summer, Faith is devastated.  Where can Pounce be?  Don't worry -- Pounce eventually turns up again, and Faith has much to be thankful for at harvest time.

Though the story is fictional, Peacock infuses it with historical facts, making the Colonial period come alive in readers' minds.

***

The Firefighters' Thanksgiving,

written by Maribeth Boelts

and illustrated by Terry Widener, 2004

It's Thanksgiving Day and the firefighters at Station 1 are getting ready to celebrate.  The alarm sounds several times throughout the day, however, and each time they must leave their cooking unfinished.  Then one of the firefighters gets hurt and is rushed to the hospital.  It turns out that he'll be okay -- but will the firefighters ever get to enjoy the holiday?

Before we read this book together, Ben didn't realize that firefighters (and many others) must work on holidays.  The story sparked a conversation about all the people in our community who deserve our support and heartfelt thanks.

***

An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving,

written by Louisa May Alcott

and illustrated by James Bernardin, 2005

The Bassett family is "poor in money, but rich in land and love".  They are in the middle of preparing Thanksgiving dinner when they receive news that Mrs. Bassett's mother is very ill.  When Mr. and Mrs. Bassett leave to take care of her, young Tilly decides to surprise her parents by completing the meal before they get back.  The other children help, but no one knows exactly how to make the various dishes.  Dinner doesn't turn out quite as expected, but there remains much to be thankful for.  The book includes a recipe for Apple Slump.

This is a shortened version of Alcott's holiday tale, originally published in 1881.  I have not read the original, so I don't know how the two compare, but I felt that this text was just right for a picture book setting.  Filled with warmth and gentle humor, this book makes a great addition to any family's Thanksgiving reading list.

***

Over the River:

A Turkey's Tale,

based on the lyrics written by Lydia Maria Child
 and illustrated by Derek Anderson, 2005

Like the book Over the River and Through the Wood shown at the top of this post, this book is based on the poem/song lyrics written by Child in the 1840's.  In Anderson's version, however, a turkey family is traveling to Grandmother's house (along with a horse who literally carries a sleigh), while fleeing from a young hunter and his dog.  Song lyrics and music are included on the book's endpapers.

The playful pictures in this book kept Ben and me chuckling throughout.

***

Beauty and the Beaks:

A Turkey's Cautionary Tale,

written by Mary Jane Auch

and illustrated by Mary Jane and Herm Auch, 2007

Beauty (owner of the beauty shop The Chic Hen) and her chicken friends gossip about Lance, the conceited turkey who is the only one invited to the farmhouse feast.  When Beauty later discovers that Lance is going to be the main course, however, she hatches a zany plan to save him.

Bad puns and silliness abound in this eggcellent story.  In addition, the illustrations (photographs of elaborate chicken mannequins) are fascinating -- Ben and I loved all the tiny details.

***

We Gather Together:

Celebrating the Harvest Season,

written by Wendy Pfeffer

and illustrated by Linda Bleck, 2006

This nonfiction picture book explains the fall equinox and various traditions around the world related to the harvest season, including the Jewish Sukkot, India's rice festival, Pongol, Japan's Moon Viewing ceremony, and America's Thanksgiving.  The book also provides instructions for various activities and recipes.

Ben and I found this to be an intriguing, entertaining book, filled with kid-friendly information and vibrant illustrations. I even learned a few things myself!

***

Have you read any of the books above?  If so, what did you think of them?  Are there any other Thanksgiving-themed books that you recommend?  I would love to hear about them!