A Thanksgiving Wish

Every year, Amanda's family drives across three states to her grandmother Bubbe's house for the Thanksgiving celebration. Bubbe loves Thanksgiving most, even more that Chanukah or Passover. She spends the entire month of Thanksgiving preparing for this one meal for her family. She cooks or bakes one thing every day so that she is ready for her family to arrive.

Amanda's favorite part of the holiday is when Bubbe comes to her bedside on Thanksgiving night and they pull the wishbone together. Actually, Bubbe has saved her wishbones all through the year so she can pull a wishbone with every one of her grandchildren...a big wish requires a big tom turkey wishbone, a medium wish requires a roast chicken wishbone, and a small wish requires a small wishbone from a little game hen. But you can't tell the wish, or it will not come true.

But this is the first Thanksgiving without Bubbe. Amanda's family invites the extended family to their house instead and tries to recreate all of Bubbe's special dishes in just two days. When the electrical circuits in the old house get overloaded from all the cooking and baking, the circuit breaker flips and the lights go out! Now how will they prepare their family feast?

Unexpected help arrives

from next door and soon the whole neighborhood is involved. The gravy may have turned out a little lumpy and it doesn't bring Bubbe back, but it does begin new healing traditions for all. Mrs Yee even convinces Amanda to pull the wishbone with her.

Dealing with loss around the holidays is not easy for an adult, much less a child. You may find that this cathartic tale, shining with good memories and fond reminiscences, helps to bring healing to your own soul, as well as your child's. The blessing of family times make this jewel of a story radiate with warmth, just as the pictures radiate with candlelight. And what of Bubbe's secret wish? It is love embodied.

This tale of accidental serendipity, forging new traditions and new community, helps us to realize that the love of those we miss is always with us, and that continuity can bring a comfort of its own.

John Thompson's lifelike, luminous paintings, effused with light and warmth, enhance the text of this sweet story, and his feast looks almost good enough to eat!

CONTENT CONSIDERATIONS:

loss of a grandparent