Thanksgiving Counting

McGrath uses the occasion of Thanksgiving to help readers count to six in this board book, which launches the First Celebrations series, along with Halloween Colors. After brief hinting at the holiday’s origins (“The first Thanksgiving feast was long ago. This pilgrim is holding one ear of corn”), the book shifts to the present, as Mom places two cranberries in a bowl, three candles decorate the table, and so on. Tagel contributes crisp, blocky scenes featuring dot-eyed, doll-like characters, with plenty of attention devoted to the food associated with the holiday. It’s a light diversion that should keep the very young occupied while the turkey is finishing up in the oven. Up to age 3. (Aug.)