The Memory Cupboard: A Thanksgiving Story by Charlotte Herman

The Memory Cupboard: A Thanksgiving Story Reviews

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  Manybooks

  With a wonderful, important message that people, that family, that loving relationships are more important than objects, than things (and while this might, indeed, be a bit of a cliché, it is still always and forever worth repeating), Charlotte Herman's The Memory Cupboard actually made me tear up more than once while reading. As someone who has always been rather clumsy (and was in my late 40s diagnosed with non verbal learning disabilities and dyspraxia), I was often as a child and even as a teenager in absolute dread of family celebrations, as unlike the little girl in the story (whose grandmother believes that people and family are more important than objects and understands that objects do get broken), if I spilled something, if I dropped a fork, or worse, broke a plate, all hell would often break loose (with accusations, condemnation etc.).
  
  And I just love the whole concept of a "memory cupboard" (of keeping one's treasured memories in a special place, even once they become worn out or get broken in some way), although I could rather well imagine that my own family (especially my father) would likely majorly frown at this, as the idea of keeping anything that is no longer of use or is no longer pristine would probably be seen as potential and problematic hoarding.
  
  Ben F. Stahl's accompanying illustrations are magical and expressive (the facial expressions in particular tug at your heart), and while on their own, they would probably be a bit too bold and bright for my personal tastes, combined with Charlotte Herman's sweet narrative, they are a perfect match, complementing, but also at times expanding on the text. Highly recommended, and not just for children (and while there is a lot of narrative present, I actually think that The Memory Cupboard could even be used with younger children, if one were reading the text aloud).
  
  Now The Memory Cupboard was chosen as one of our November 2015 group reads (about Thanksgiving) in the Children's Literature Group Picture Book Club, and since I could not get the book at the library and ILL often takes too long, I downloaded the Kindle version on my IPad. And I would most certainly NOT IN ANY WAY RECOMMEND reading the Kindle edition. The font size of the text is absolutely tiny (so tiny that even with my reading glasses, I was having serious comprehension and legibility issues), and the illustrations seem a bit fuzzy and out of focus at times.
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  Kathryn

  Well, the basic premise is rather predictable/cliche ("people are more important than things") but darn it if I wasn't sucked into the sweet granddaughter/grandmother moments and I absolutely love-love-love the idea of the Memory Cupboard. Can't say more without giving the story away.
  
  The book is illustrated by Ben Stahl, known by fans of LM Montgomery for his illustrations of the Bantam paperback editions in the '90s. (So I especially enjoyed the illustrations here!)
  
  So, this is maybe only a four star book, but I really loved the Ben Stahl aspect and the memory cupboard idea so I bumped it to five stars ;-)
  
  
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  Abigail

  When Katie and her parents travel for two days by train to get to her grandparents' house for Thanksgiving, the young girl is excited to see her extended family, and to visit with her beloved Grandma. But then an accident at dinner - Katie breaks the antique gravy boat given to Grandma by her own mother, and her Uncle Eddie, when they were children - casts a pall over the occasion. Can Grandma, by sharing her memory cupboard, with all its damaged treasures, show Katie that "people are more important than things...?"
  
  A poignant tale with a heartfelt message about what is truly important, one that had me tearing up as I read it, The Memory Cupboard is one holiday story that I recommend! Children from families with a strong Thanksgiving tradition, in particular, will enjoy this tale of a girl and her grandmother. The artwork by Ben F. Stahl - who illustrated another holiday tale,
  The St. Patrick's Day Shillelagh, that I enjoyed - was expressive and appealing. I don't tend to read a lot of Thanksgiving titles (compared to Halloween or Christmas, for instance), but I'm glad I gave this one a chance! Recommended to anyone looking for warm family stories for the Thanksgiving season.
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  Kathryn

  It's nice to have a sweet Thanksgiving story book to read. Too often this holiday is overlooked.
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  Cheryl

  This title has been mentioned several times in the Children's Books group, and now I've joined a library in the next county over and thus have been able to finally read it (and some others that my local library system doesn't own). Worth the wait. I agree with all the other reviewers. For some reason my favorite page is when the girl rings the bell in the living room, "Turkey time!" But apparently the baby is the only other child in this whole family? Does that mean Katie doesn't have to sit at the card table, the kids' table? Lucky girl....
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  Luisa Knight

  A story about a broken gravy boat and the reminder that it's not things, but people, that matter.
  
  Ages: 4 - 9
  
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  Dolly

  With a lovely messge about cherishing memories and loved ones and not things, this is a terrific book to read during the holiday season, especially at Thanksgiving. Lovely acrylic painting illustrations complement the story nicely. We really enjoyed reading this story together, even if we read it a couple of weeks after Thanksgiving.
  
  This book was featured as one of the selections for the
  November 2015: Thanksgiving discussion for the
  Picture-Book Club in the Children's Books Group here at Goodreads.
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  Jenny

  What a beautiful story of a warm and loving relationship between a grandma and her granddaughter! Clearly, this grandma recognizes that accidents happen and that people and relationships are more important than things. It made me nostalgic for holidays spent with my own grandma and grandpa.
  
  This would make a great story to read during a personal narrative unit...students could think about objects they would put in their memory cupboard and could write the stories that are related to each object.
  
  
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  Beverly

  This was a very sweet story, featuring a relationship between grandmother and granddaughter, with Grandmother comforting and reassuring Katie after Katie has accidentally dropped and broken a treasured gray boat. Grandmother shows Katie the cupboard where she collects broken items; kept because they bring back certain memories. The acrylic paintings are lovely and realistic and remind me of Ted Rand's artwork.
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  SamZ

  Sweet tale about a grandmother and granddaughter turning an unfortunate accident into a wonderful lesson that people are more important than things.
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  Stacy

  I randomly picked this book up from the library with a handful of other Thanksgiving books. When I got home, the title and cover of this book drew me in and I decided to read this book first.
  
  I loved this endearing story of a granddaughter who accidentally broke the beloved gravy boat of her grandmother while trying to help clean up the Thanksgiving meal. This gravy boat had been lovingly purchased by the granddaughters mother and uncle many years before. I won’t give away the rest, but this story is a reminder that people are far more important then things. I love this sweet grandmother and the fact that she cherishes her granddaughter!
  
  This is a delightful book to read at Thanksgiving for young and old.
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  Jennifer

  Too long for a good group read aloud, this is a sweet story about a young girl who accidentally breaks her grandma's favorite gravy boat, the one given to her years ago by her children when they were young. The girl is broken-hearted, but Grandma teaches her that people and memories, not things are what really matter.
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  Shari

  Endearing story of family, love and the memories we treasure. Wonderful message of how people are always more important than things.
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  Danette

  "Sometimes, no matter how careful we are, things we're fond of get broken. But things are just things. People are more important, especially granddaughters."
  
  
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  Karen Duvall

  Even though previous heirlooms may break, it's the remembering of the people who used those items and made lasting memories that matters more.
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  Jackie

  Katie and her family travel miles across the country to visit her grandmother on Thanksgiving Day. She loves the warmth and familial bond of her extended family. As they sit down to the feast, Katie is entranced by the blue and white gravy boat that graces her grandmother's Thanksgiving table. While clearing away the dishes and left-overs after dinner, Katie accidently drops the gravy boat and is instantly in tears. Grandmother leads her by the hand and takes her to a special room that holds The Memory Cupboard. Inside this cupboard of long-ago, lost memories that have been chipped or broken, yet still illicit a fond memory, Katie and Grandmother share a lesson about people and family. Grandmother has some secrets to tell Katie, but the most important message is that people come before things and it is the memories and times spent together that are most important.
  
  Used for "We Are Thankful" Storytime-November, 2010.
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  Tracy

  CIP Summay: "Katie breaks a gravy boat at Thanksgiving dinner, her grandmother shows her that love is more important than objects."
  
  The theme of this story is that people are more important than things. This is especially important to recognize around Thanksgiving. The author is a resident of Lincolnwood and has come to our school to read and sign books. The story shows the traditions of one family at Thanksgiving and could lead into discussions of other family traditions with your students. We are discussing family traditions in third grade, and this would be a book that could be read aloud at this time.
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  Rosie

  Author Charlotte Herman and Illustrator Ben F. Stahl presents this lovely story called "The Memory Cupboard. A Thanksgiving Story."
  I picked this copy up at the library. I knew it would be a great one and I was right!
  The sweet sentiment this story displays, along with beautiful drawings, will give children and adults a delightful read.
  I highly recommend this book for all families and classrooms.
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  Julie

  This is a sweet Thanksgiving story about a little girl who accidentally drops and breaks one of her grandmother's treasures, and how her grandmother beautifully shows her that it is ok.
  
  My children and I all enjoyed it.
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  Skylar Burris

  Boring.
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  Jill

  It made me cry. The message was sweet and I loved the illustrations. I've read few Thanksgiving books I've really loved - well, actually I can't think of any. Now I have one.
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  Deanna

  I love this story, it brings up memories for me. It helps explain the need we have for keeping things for best and not using them as well as explaining things that bring joy to us, even though odd.
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  Jill

  We all loved this book. It is the perfect book for a grandmother to have and to read to grandchildren.
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  Emily

  Sweet message with beautiful illustrations.
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  Rachel

  Another Thanksgiving book I'd love to have on my collecting shelves. Great story!