Thanksgiving, 2002
The following reviews were presented in our 2002 Thanksgiving feature.
Reviews
175 Easy-to-Do Thanksgiving Crafts
Edited by Sharon Dunn Umnik
Like leftover turkey, cooks are constantly seeking creative ways to serve the bird a second and third time. This collection offers more than forty ways to create turkeys-candle holders, centerpieces, napkin holders, wreaths, nut cup, doorknob decoration, place cards are just a few of the items in this craft book. There are lots of things to do, and most of them can be created easily with commonly found materials (recyclable in many cases) and very little investment in art supplies. A good choice for teachers, parents, and others who just like to make things and have a creative flair. 1996, Boyds Mills, Ages 7 to 11, $6.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot
ISBN: 1-56397-374-X
All About Turkeys
Jim Arnosky
With the approach of fall and the Thanksgiving holiday, Arnosky's book offers some basic information to kids about these strange birds. They are really funny looking, especially the protrusion called a caruncle on their heads that changes color when the bird is agitated. Turkey tracks, feathers and other features are highlighted in Arnosky's excellent watercolors. He also informs us that wild turkeys are making a comeback, and that they now range all over the east and southwest down into Mexico. These facts and other will amuse and amaze and may lead to some interesting discussions leading up to the Thanksgiving meal. Teachers may want to pair this book with The Great Turkey Walk by Kathleen Karr 1998, Farrar, Ages 10 up, $16.00) a humorous story about herding turkeys that will make a great read aloud for the early elementary grades. 1998, Scholastic, Ages 4 to 8, $15.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot
ISBN: 0-590-48147-9
Blue's Thanksgiving Feast
Jessica Lissy
Illustrated by David Cutting
Recognizable Blue and her friends are getting ready for Thanksgiving. As they go through the preparations, kids are asked to join in and give assistance. They need to find things on the grocery list, locate the specific ingredients, cooking utensils, decorations and chairs for the table. The text encourages interaction and learning; it also stresses cooperation without being didactic. Sometimes answers are provided on the next page, but not always. At the end of the book, everyone gathers together for the big holiday dinner and there is even a seat at the table for "U." One of the many "Blue's Clues" books based on the Nick Jr. series. 2001, Simon Spotlight, Ages 3 to 5, $3.50. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot
ISBN: 0-689-84185-X
The Children of the Morning Light: Wampanoag Tales As Told by Manitonquat
Medicine Story (Manitonquat)
Illustrated by Mary F. Arquette
Almost four centuries ago, Pilgrim and Wampanoag broke bread together in friendship. The English immigrants gave thanks for their bountiful harvest and the Native Americans who made it possible. When the holiday commemorating that day of thanksgiving appears on your agenda, open youngsters' eyes to the two communities represented at that long-ago picnic-perhaps the first multicultural potluck in North American history. Read aloud these Wampanoag tales as told by Manitonquat (Medicine Story). 1994, Macmillan, Ages 7 up, $17.00. Reviewer: Beverly Kobrin
ISBN: 0-02-765905-4
Crafts for Thanksgiving
Kathy Ross
Illustrated by Sharon Lane Holm
These twenty easy-to-do projects range from the creation of a Mayflower wall hanging to napkin rings, pumpkin centerpiece, hot pad for the Thanksgiving table, and even a cornucopia door hanging. Kids can spruce up the house or classroom for the big holiday. Each project lists the supplies needed and provides instructions accompanied by bright cheery watercolor illustrations of the project phases as well as the completed object. 1995, Millbrook, Ages 5 to 8, $15.90. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot
ISBN: 1-56294-535-1
Cranberries: Fruit of the Bog
Diane Burns
Photographs by Cheryl Walsh Bellville
November brings cooler weather, falling leaves, anticipation of changing seasonal rhythms. November brings that "fruit of the bog," the cranberry, without which feasts on tables across the country would surely be incomplete. But did you know that cranberries also had many medicinal uses in years gone by? Or that the name the Algonquin people gave the cranberry was ibimi, (ih-bih-mee) or "bitter berry"? Burns' book is informative and the photographs complement the text. 1994, Carolrhoda, Ages 7 to 10, $19.95, $7.95 Reviewer: Uma Krishnaswami
ISBN: 0-87614-822-4
Daily Life in the Pilgrim Colony 1636
Paul Erickson
Fifteen years have passed since the First Thanksgiving and the world of the Pilgrims has changed. Excellent photographs, drawings, maps and text provide an accurate picture of the Pilgrims' way of life. The opening chapters provide the necessary background and set the stage for what follows. Each chapter in this oversized book delves into different facets of daily life3/4Getting dressed, Cooking and Eating, Health and Medicine, and much, much more. It is organized to take one through a day in the life of these early settlers. Readers will learn that kids slept on a mattress on the floor and parents were usually the only ones to have a bed and some privacy. Washing clothes was laborious work and outer clothing might not get washed for several years. Homes were very dark due to soot from fireplaces and lamps and the lack of glass in the windows. Glass was so expensive that people who had glass windows would remove them and take them to their new homes. There is a wealth of information that will assist report writers as well as those who are just curious about life in the Pilgrim Colony. The book closes with a look at special occasions and celebrations, including what has become known as the First Thanksgiving and a summation of the Pilgrims' place in history. There is an extensive index, glossary and timeline. An outstanding resource that should be part of any library or personal collection. 2001, Clarion, Ages 8 up, $20.00. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot
ISBN: 0-618-05846-X
ISBN: 0-395-98841-1
Fat Chance Thanksgiving
Patricia Lakin
Illustrated by Stacey Schuett
Carla and her mother are struggling to make ends meet. They have lost their apartment due to a fire and after months of living in a dingy hotel, they have been notified that their new apartment is ready. Carla has been entranced by the story of the Pilgrims and imagines herself in similar situations. She wants a Thanksgiving feast, but as her Mom points out -- "Fat chance." She just doesn't have the money and their friends are far away. Carla, undeterred, enlists the help of Julio, a classmate who lives in the building, and Mr. Lewis who runs the building. They need ten people to agree to participate and then Mr. Lewis will let them host the feast in the lobby. Using a tried and true approach with all of the guests bringing something, they manage to set up a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner. This heartwarming story clearly shows that one person can make a difference and that children as well as adults can be effective agents of change. Kids will love spunky Carla and savor her success. 2001, Whitman, Ages 5 to 9, $14.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot
ISBN: 0-8075-2288-0
The First Thanksgiving
Garnet Jackson
Illustrated by Carolyn Croll
The basic story of the Pilgrims3/4the hardship of the transatlantic crossing, a cruel first winter, and a successful spring and summer growing season that resulted in a bountiful fall harvest3/4is recounted in this early reader. Kids learn about the life in the common house, how help from Samoset and Squanto, Native Americans, made the spring plantings a success and how for three days the Pilgrims and Wampanoag feasted and played games. The concluding page notes that President Lincoln referred to this event in 1621 as the First Thanksgiving and then proclaimed an annual Thanksgiving holiday. The lively watercolor illustrations showing the details of homes, food and clothing will captivate the intended audience. A level 3 book in the "Hello Reader" series. 2000, Scholastic, Ages 6 to 8$3.99. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot
ISBN: 0-439-20628-6
The First Thanksgiving
Jean Craighead George
Illustrated by Thomas Locker
Appealing to the natural imagination, intellect and fairness of children, this stunning picture book account of the history leading to that first feast is unparalleled. Then add to the incomparable narration the oil paintings that provide panoramic perspective on the beautiful land called New England. Honest and packed with well-researched but little known details, this will be the story and these will be the pictures of Pilgrims and Indians, of Squanto and corn and cranberries, that will be recalled for as long as the reader celebrates the occasion. 1993, Philomel Books, Ages 5 to 8, $15.95. Reviewer: Deborah Zink Roffino
ISBN: 0-399-21991-9
ISBN: 0-698-11392-6
The First Thanksgiving Feast
Joan Anderson
Photographs by George Ancona
Black and white photographs of real people give this chronicle of the Mayflower voyagers a "You Were There!" atmosphere. Actually, the authentic looking actors at the Plimouth Plantation, an outdoor living history museum in Plymouth, Massachusetts, portray the characters. With bona fide tools and implements filling the scenes, the reader is reminded that the Thanksgiving story is not some American fairy tale, but an account of flesh and blood people who struggled and sacrificed for freedom. 1989, Clarion Books, Ages 5 to 8, $5.95. Reviewer: Deborah Zink Roffino
ISBN: 0-395-51886-5
Franklin's Thanksgiving
Paulette Bourgeois and Brenda Clark
Illustrated by Brenda Clark
Thanksgiving is a time to gather extended family around the holiday table, and Franklin's family of turtles is no exception. But this year, Grandma and Grandpa can't come and Franklin grumbles that "it won't be the same." For awhile everyone is preoccupied with harvesting vegetables and making jam. Gradually, and unbeknownst to each other, each member of the family invites someone for Thanksgiving who is also going to be more alone than usual for the holiday3/4Owl the teacher, a neighbor with a broken ankle, the Bear family next door, and the new Moose family. Inevitably, the Thanksgiving feast spilled into the field and not a soul felt lonesome. It's a simple story, with brightly colored cartoon illustrations that introduces the Thanksgiving theme of sharing and shows the ability of a youngster to learn flexibility, come up with ideas and contribute to the family. 2001, Kids Can Press, Ages 3 to 7, $10.95. Reviewer: Karen Leggett
ISBN: 1-55074-798-3
Giving Thanks: The 1621 Harvest Feast
Kate Waters
Photographs by Russ Kendall
Waters and Kendall have produced a record of the reenactment of this early Thanksgiving celebration. The story is told through the voices of Dancing Moccasins, a 14-year-old Wampanoag boy and Resolved White, a 6-year-old Pilgrim. The setting is Plimoth Plantation where buildings, clothing, tools and all else have been created to reconstruct that time as closely as possible. It is an illuminating and fascinating account. Extensive notes are located on the closing pages. They provide facts about the actual event, tell more about Pilgrim and Wampanoag customs, foods and provide a history of the holiday now called Thanksgiving. There is also information about the actors and the work of Plimoth Plantation, a glossary and three-book bibliography. 2001, Scholastic, Ages 6 to 9, $16.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot
ISBN: 0-439-24395-5
Gracias: The Thanksgiving Turkey
Joy Crowley
Illustrated by Joe Cepeda
A turkey, a gift from Papa, arrives with instructions to fatten it up for Thanksgiving. Since their N.Y. City apartment is not a farm, Miguel and his abuelo build a cage and Miguel reads up on the care and feeding of turkeys. The neighbors know about the bird and help in the care of the turkey. The problem is who can eat a turkey who has a name, follows you to church, and is blessed by the Priest? Chicken anyone? 1996, Scholastic, Ages 4 to 7, $15.95. Reviewer: Jan Lieberman
ISBN: 0-590-46976-2
Guests
Michael Dorris
Michael Dorris, an established adult-fiction author, has published a second successful novel for middle grade readers. Guests, a slim lyrical volume, views the first Thanksgiving from a Native American perspective. Dorris, himself Native American, grew up reading books with stereotyped Indians unlike anybody he knew or wanted to know. His fills his children's books with memories of his Native American community -- the laughter, storytelling and intimacy all missing in the books of his childhood. Moss, the hero of Guests, is only a season from making a solitary journey into the forest to seek the vision that will transform him from boy to man. At the story's opening, he cannot understand why strangers have been invited to his people's special feast day. He sulks, then flees to be alone in the forest, finding a young woman from his tribe who has also run away because her family truly makes her miserable. Moss' journey away from self-absorption into compassion takes center stage; Dorris keeps the Europeans in the wings, dwarfing the presumptuous ethnocentric vision of the first Thanksgiving. Dorris' poetic, storyteller's voice and strong characterizations dramatize this shift without sermonizing. Bravo! 1994, Hyperion, Ages 8 to 12, $13.95 and $4.50. Reviewer: Susie Wilde
ISBN: 0-7868-0047-X
ISBN: 0-7868-1108-0
Harvest
Kris Waldher
While not specifically a Thanksgiving book, this celebration of earth's bounty3/4vegetables, herbs and flowers from a family garden3/4is most appropriate for the holiday. The almost poetic text and soft toned illustrations offer a peaceful look at a girl and her mother gathering the fruits and vegetables from their garden. They spend time canning, drying, baking and storing the fruits and vegetables that will provide for them during the winter months. The young girl reflects on all of their earlier work3/4preparing the soil, planting seeds, watering and weeding and finally the wonderful harvest. The story ends with her tucked in her bed and looking at a huge harvest moon3/4finally at rest just like her garden. 2001, Walker, Ages 3 to 6, $15.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot
ISBN: 0-8027-8792-4
My Very Own Thanksgiving: A Book of Cooking and Crafts
Robin West
Illustrated by Susan S. Burke
All you'll need to know for a variety of holiday feasts-even the crafty centerpieces. Accessible materials, good menu options, patterns for costumes, and a sprinkling of history make this a fine choice for the classroom. Cute graphics and clear instructions are a bonus. 1993, Carolrhoda, Ages 5 to 10, $21.95. Reviewer: Deborah Zink Roffino
ISBN: 0-87614-723-6
N.C. Wyeth's Pilgrims
Robert San Souci
Mr. San Souci's account of the Pilgrims' progress is set against the backdrop of N.C. Wyeth's murals commissioned in the early 1940s by the New York Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. Paintings and words vivify the times that preceded the settlers' first Thanksgiving Day in North America. The artist's romanticized interpretation occasionally belies the author's well-researched narrative, however, and, in an afterword, Mr. San Souci carefully notes which details are misrepresented. He also provides more information about Mr. Wyeth, his murals, and the establishment of Thanksgiving Day, the holiday. A reproduction of the Mayflower passenger list comprises this charming book's endpapers. 1991, Chronicle, Ages 9 up, $14.95. Reviewer: Beverly Kobrin
ISBN: 0-87701-806-5
The Night Before Thanksgiving
Natasha Wing
Illustrated by Tammie Lyon
"'Twas the night before Thanksgiving/ and all through the nation/ families got ready/ for the big celebration." Sound familiar? A clever take-off of the Clement Clarke Moore original, this version is a thoroughly modern portrayal of one family's Thanksgiving preparations. The lively illustrations portray a houseful of relatives arriving by car, plane and train. Mom is frantically preparing the food with "help" from the kids. Cousins arrive and soon the house is strewn with toys and video games. Finally the feast is prepared and everyone gathers to eat. Young children will enjoy the flow and rhyme of the story. New readers can tackle text that contains some difficult words but is accompanied by lots of visual clues. This is the latest of the "The Night Before..." books in the "Reading Railroad" series. 2001, Grosset & Dunlap, Ages 3 to 8, $3.49. Reviewer: Cheryl Peterson
ISBN: 0-448-42529-7
An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving
Louisa May Alcott
Illustrated by Jody Wheeler
Mama is suddenly called away to help her sick mother, but the children, headed by oldest daughter Tilly, decide that they can handle the Thanksgiving dinner. After many mishaps, including an encounter with a neighbor boy dressed up in a bearskin, dinner is underway and happily Ma, Pa, and other relatives come to join in. The dinner isn't perfect, but the loving family and joy of being together makes this a perfect story for a family to share. 1995 (orig. 1993), Ideals, Ages 4 to 8, $13.95 and $5.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot
ISBN: 1-57102-053-5
ISBN: 0-8249-8620-2
ISBN: 0-8249-8630-X
One Little, Two Little, Three Little Pilgrims
B. G. Hennessy
Illustrated by Lynne Cravath
There are almost as many books listed in the bibliography as there are pages in this small book-a tribute to the extent of research possible even for a simple picture book. The text is a holiday rendition of a traditional children's song, but youngsters learn the name of a specific native American tribe-the Wampanoag-and see its housing, villages, dugout canoes, and the children's games and chores. There is a similar wealth of information in the cartoon-style drawings of the Pilgrim children and their lifestyle. The uniform smile on all the children's faces is frustrating in light of all the detailed bits of information otherwise available in the illustrations. There is enough repetitive language for early readers to feel successful, and there is visual reinforcement for new words like "clams," "beets," or "squash." Overall, One Little, Two Little-good for reading or singing out loud-is a lighthearted introduction to an important American holiday. It should catch the attention of young children at home or in school. 1999, Puffin Books, Ages 3 to 8, $15.99 and $6.99. Reviewer: Karen Leggett
ISBN: 0-670-87779-4
ISBN: 0-14-230006-3
Over the River and Through the Wood
Lydia Maria Child
Illustrated by David Catrow
This poem became a song and has for more than 150 years been associated with Thanksgiving. Catrow has provided an artistic interpretation that is far from traditional. His Thanksgiving family sets out in their van with kids screaming in the backseat. Baby somehow gets out of his car seat, slips through the window, and begins a fantastic journey, one that includes riding on the back of a horse pulling a hansom cab, sailing through the air with a huge balloon in Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade, and it concludes when he parachutes back safely into his grandmother's arms. It's wild and wacky, and not to everyone's taste. 1996, Holt, Ages 5 to 9, $15.95, $14.88 and $3.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot
ISBN: 0-8050-3825-6
ISBN: 1-55858-211-8
ISBN: 0-590-41190-X
Over the River and Through the Woods
Lydia Child
Illustrated by Brinton Turkle
If you are visiting relatives for Thanksgiving, don't forget a read of this favorite holiday poem-book. It outlines a journey by sleigh to Grandmother's house and a feast with pudding and pumpkin pie. 1987, Scholastic, Ages 5 to 9, $3.95. Reviewer: Mary Quattlebaum
ISBN: 0-590-41190-X
Pilgrim Voices: Our First Year in the New World
Edited by Connie Roop and Peter Roop
Illustrations by Shelley Prichett
Lest we forget the original significance of Thanksgiving, the Roops have provided an excellent account of the Pilgrims and the hardships and triumphs leading up to their first Thanksgiving. It is all the more meaningful, because the text consists of excerpts taken from diaries and records written by the Pilgrims. The first year was devastating with more than half the settlers dying, but they were able to survive with the assistance of Native peoples. That no one returned to England in the spring is a testament to their commitment and the hope of a better life in the New World. 1995, Walker, Ages 8 to 12, $17.85 and $16.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot
ISBN: 0-8027-8315-5
ISBN: 0-8027-8314-7
Pilgrims and Puritans: 1620 - 1676
Christopher Collier and James Lincoln Collier
From the loading of the Speedwell, through the Thanksgiving feast, and subsequent events, this text gives young readers what they are looking for in a history book. Accurate accounts of battles, treaties, and the people involved will keep kids interested. Too often social studies books get either buried in useless information or slip past important information and not provide enough detail. This tends to not be a problem in this third book of this series. It occasionally gets a little deep but the explanations of legends and events make it worth the effort. Any instructor can easily integrate this book into the curriculum at the intermediate level and above thus making history come to life for these students. It is part of the "The Drama of American History" series. 1998, Benchmark Books, Ages 10 up, $28.50. Reviewer: Scott S. Floyd
ISBN: 0-7614-0438-4
A Plump and Perky Turkey
Teresa Bateman
Illustrated by Jeff Shelly
Without prospects of a turkey, the people of Squawk Valley face bowls of shredded wheat for Thanksgiving dinner. They all agree that what they need is a plump and perky turkey to satisfy their need. Ebenezer Beezer, to the delight of the people, comes up with a brilliant plan. Posters are plastered on every tree in the forest advertising for a turkey model to pose for the upcoming craft fair. Pete, a plump and perky turkey, struts proudly into town. "Twas the week before Thanksgiving when Pete posed to do his part, and the artsy-craftsy townsfolk started making turkey art." They made sculptures out of spuds, oatmeal, soap and various other materials, but just as the judging gets underway, Pete disappears. Written in a playful poetic form with vibrant paintings that dance across the pages, Bateman's book is bound to become an annual seasonal treat. 2001, Winslow Press, Ages All, $15.95. Reviewer: Laura Hummel
ISBN: 1-890817-91-0
The Pumpkin Pie Thanksgiving Puzzle
Valerie Farfield
Illustrated by Julie Durrell
Sergeant Sniff is off to Farmer Fur's farm to get a pumpkin so she can make her famous pumpkin pie. She gets a big beautiful pumpkin, not noticing that it has won a prize. Her dinner preparations are interrupted when Deputy Duck arrives and tells her that someone has nabbed Farmer Fur's prize pumpkin. The hunt is on and after a variety of mishaps, Sergeant Sniff invites the gang back to her house for a snack. It finally dawns of the detective that she has made her first class pie from the prize-winning pumpkin. The big feature in this story is the scratch and sniff sections on the pages. As the book says, it's a cornucopia of Thanksgiving smells3/4pumpkin, cinnamon, marshmallow, hay, orange, whipped cream and pumpkin pie. It is fun and kids will enjoy the text, the art and the scents. 2001, HarperFestival, Ages 2 to 5, $6.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot
ISBN: 0-694-01596-2
Rivka's First Thanksgiving
Elsa Okon Rael
Illustrated by Maryann Kovalski
How does a small girl convince her immigrant elders that an American holiday is suitable for Jews also to celebrate? Especially when they don't know what a turkey is or what Indians have to do with them? Rivka is persuasive enough to send her Bubbeh (grandmother) to consult the Rabbi for an answer, but neither Rivka nor Bubbeh are persuasive enough to convince the Rabbi. Seeing her hopes to introduce her family to this wonderful feast evaporating, Rivka takes matters into her own hands in this beautiful story about adopting the best of America into one's own culture and festivals. The author might have made an even stronger story by pleading that Jews already had a similar celebration-Sukkot, their own harvest feast. But Rivka carries the day in any case, and this is a story that will warm all hearts, as did Rael's What Zeesie Saw on Delancy Street and When Zaydeh Danced on Eldridge Street. Kovalski's colored pencil and acrylic drawings are impeccable in tone and coloration, lending golden warmth to this lovely book. 2001, McElderry, Ages 5 to 9, $16.00. Reviewer: Judy Chernak
ISBN: 0-689-83901-4
Squanto and the First Thanksgiving
Joyce K. Kessel
Between the time the earliest English settlers and the ones we call Pilgrims arrived in what is now Plymouth, a Patuxet Indian named Squanto had twice been enslaved, taken to Europe, freed, and returned to his homeland. On his second return, however, he found land but no home. All of his people were dead from smallpox, brought to them unwittingly by the English. In her simply written, yet highly informative Squanto and the First Thanksgiving, Joyce K. Kessel tells how, ironically, the misfortune of the last of the Patuxets became the Pilgrims' blessing. 1983, Carolrhoda, Ages 7 up, $14.95 and $5.95. Reviewer: Beverly Kobrin
ISBN: 0-87614-199-8
ISBN: 0-87614-452-0
The Story of Thanksgiving
Robert Merrill Bartlett
Illustrated by Sally Wern Comport
Several excellent new books have been published to provide a look at that first Thanksgiving. Bartlett's story is actually a reissue of a 1965 book. It is the art by Sally Wren Comport that is new. Bartlett notes that people have historically celebrated the fall harvest and the Pilgrims brought their English customs and traditions with them. After the severe deprivations of their first winter, the Pilgrims aided by friendly Native Americas were able to plant crops. By the fall, they knew that there would be enough food to get through another winter. This first feast, a boisterous party included ninety Wampanoags, featured plenty of food and games. The pictures use fall colors and the colored paper backgrounds really make the golds and oranges stand out. 2001, HarperCollins, Ages 7 to 10, $14.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot
ISBN: 0-06-028778-0
ISBN: 0-06-028779-9
The Story of the Pilgrims
Katherine Ross
Illustrated by Carolyn Croll
With bright, stylized illustrations and a simple but clearly written text, Ross and Croll have provided a story of Thanksgiving for very young children. The Pilgrims left England due to religious persecution, and they faced many hardships on the voyage and during the first winter. But surviving against all odds, the settlers invited the Indians who had befriended them to a feast to offer thanks, thus establishing the basis of the Thanksgiving holiday. 1995, Random, Ages 3 to 6, $3.25. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot
ISBN: 0-679-85292-1
Thanksgiving
Mari C. Schuh
The history, traditions and popular customs relating to Thanksgiving3/4a national holiday make up the text of this book. Readers learn that President Abraham Lincoln established the holiday, which is now celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November. The pictures show a Thanksgiving Day parade, family and friends gathering for a feast and while mention is made of football games, no picture is shown. There is a glossary, and it might have been quite useful to define blessings, since that is what the book is all about according to the opening page3/4"People give thanks for their blessings on Thanksgiving." The concluding pages offer a words to know section, mini bibliography and reference to Internet sites. There is an index/word list. Part of the "Holidays and Celebrations" series. 2002, Pebble Books/Capstone Press, Ages 5 to 7, $14.60. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot
ISBN: 0-7368-0981-3
Thanksgiving at Obaachan's
Janet Mitsui Brown
A Japanese-American girl goes to spend Thanksgiving with her obaachan (grandmother). The family has the traditional turkey, mashed potatoes, peas, and stuffing plus the addition of rice and Japanese pickles and other Japanese delicacies. It doesn't matter that neither granddaughter or grandmother speak the other's language; the language they share is one of love. A good multicultural choice. 1994, Polychrome, Ages 4 up, $12.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot
ISBN: 1-879965-07-0
Thanksgiving Is. . .
Louise Borden
Illustrated by Steve Björkman
The delightful illustrations in this book from the "Hello Reader!" series combine with simple text to describe Thanksgiving. The text is not a narrative, but rather a collection of facts and ideas about Thanksgiving. For the child already familiar with Thanksgiving's origins and traditions, this book provides impressions of how the Pilgrims came to their new home and the hard work and cooperation that went in to the first harvest. Teachers or parents might use this book to spark discussion about what Thanksgiving means to children. 1997, Cartwheel Books/Scholastic, Ages 6 to 8, $1.95. Reviewer: Eileen Hanning
ISBN: 0-590-33128-0
Thanksgiving: Stories and Poems
Edited by Caroline Feller Bauer
Illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott
Here is a wealth of material to explain, enjoy, and enrich the celebration of Thanksgiving. Bauer has collected many warm, thoughtful stories, whimsical poems, songs, and even recipes for Thanksgiving. She has drawn from well known authors such as Aileen Fisher, Yoshiko Uchida, and Jack Prelusky and all selections are delightfully illustrated in black and white. 1994, HarperCollins, Age 5 to 9, $14.00 and $14.89. Reviewer: Elizabeth Bagg
ISBN: 0-06-023326-5
ISBN: 0-06-023327-3
A Thanksgiving Turkey
Julian Scheer
Illustrated by Ronald Himler
A 13-year-old boy is uprooted from school and friends to move to rural Virginia, where he and his mother live with the boy's grandfather on a small, working farm. "That did not go over so well, but I had to make the most of it," said the boy, recognizing and sharing one of the life's most valuable lessons. The boy's routine soon included feeding steers, chickens and pigs before climbing on the school bus. He learned the secrets of animals in the woods from his grandfather and even went wild turkey hunting3/4in search of a "fat, older gobbler" for Thanksgiving. They played hide and seek with one wild turkey for days and finally came face to gobble with the wily bird, his "breast so long it dragged on the ground." The boy was ready to shoot his first Thanksgiving dinner when Grandfather jumped up and scared the turkey away. "Did you see the beard?", asked Grandfather, " Old bird, He's been in these woods as long, as long..." "as long as you, thought the boy." It's a different sort of Thanksgiving story, with a surprise ending which gives the boy, the grandfather, and the young reader a new appreciation for the value and beauty of growing old. Soft watercolors by Ronald Himler fill every page right to the edge with the cold pre-dawn gray of the woods, the colorful frightened flight of the old bird, and the touching friendship that grows between the old man and the young boy. 2001, Holiday House, Ages 5 to 10, $16.95. Reviewer: Karen Leggett
ISBN: 0-8234-1674-7
This First Thanksgiving Day: A Counting Story
Laura Krauss Melmed
Illustrated by Mark Buehner
Simple rhymes for each number from one to twelve fill in some background about the Pilgrim and Wampanoag children preparing for the Thanksgiving feast. All join together at twelve tables in a prayer of thanks. Everyone is happy and everything seems fine in this probably more legendary than truthful taste of the holiday's history. Buehner's paintings supply youngsters going about their chores in a benign autumn setting of fall leaves and intense blue sky. The color-rich double pages depict the preparations, historic costumes and artifacts with an emphasis on the decorative rather than the details. 2001, HarperCollins Publishers, Ages 3 to 6, $15.95. Reviewers: Ken and Sylvia Marantz
ISBN: 0-688-14554-X
A Turkey For Thanksgiving
Eve Bunting
Illustrated by Diane de Groat
The expressions on Mr. Moose's face and those of his friends make this book a standout. When combined with the charming and funny story of Mrs. Moose wanting to have a turkey for Thanksgiving dinner, parents and teachers should be prepared to read this one aloud quite a few times. 1995 (orig. 1991), Clarion, Ages 3 to 6, $13.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot
ISBN: 0-89919-793-0
Turkey Pox
Laurie Halse Anderson
Illustrated by Dorothy Donohue
The family is getting ready for Thanksgiving and Charity is so looking forward to going to visit grandmother. But alas as they get ready to set out, Charity has come down with chicken pox and the family must stay home. What will Thanksgiving be like without grandmother's wonderful turkey? Never fear, our resourceful grandmother arrives at the door with the bird. The story is fairly predictable, but it may interest the very young. 1996, Whitman, Ages 4 to 7, $14.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot
ISBN: 0-8075-8127-5
Turkeys, Pilgrims, and Indian Corn
Edna Barth
Illustrated by Ursula Arndt
This book tells the story of Thanksgiving in North America. Barth devotes a short chapter each to topics of interest to child readers. There is a chapter on the cranberry and how it got its name, and one on the Indian neighbors and the importance of their help to the struggling colonists. Another chapter highlights the pilgrim children and includes anecdotes about the mischievous Billington brothers. John Billington was lost in the woods for five days and ate wintergreen and partridge berries until some Indians found him. The Indians returned him to the distraught Pilgrims and gave him strings of wampum as a gift. While climbing a tree one day, Francis Billington saw a vast wash of shining water and thought he had sighted the Pacific Ocean. The pond he had actually discovered is still called "Billington's Sea." Ursula Arndt's black line drawings, with touches of yellow, meticulously detail aspects of the Pilgrims' life, from their clothing to the appearance of their two dogs. 1981, Houghton, Ages 8 to 12, $6.95. Reviewer: Mary Quattlebaum
ISBN: 0-89919-039-1
The Very First Thanksgiving: Pioneers on the Rio Grande
Bea Bragg
Illustrated by Antonio Castro
Twenty-three years before the Mayflower arrived, a great thanksgiving feast was held near El Paso by an expedition of Spanish settlers. The story of their journey is told through the eyes of two young boys who were part of the expedition. 1989, Harbinger, Ages 10 up, $7.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot
ISBN: 0-943173-22-1
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