Thanksgiving, 2004
The following reviews were presented in our 2004 Thanksgiving feature.
Reviews
10 Fat Turkey's
Tony Johnston
Illustrated by Rich Deas
The text is a silly rhyme that counts down from ten. it features turkeys on a fence and has the recurring refrain "Goggle Goggle Wibble Wobble" as each one falls off the fence and thus the numbers decrease by one. The turkeys are depicted doing some very improbable things such as roller-skating on the fence, walking it like a tightrope while balancing a board laden with bricks or strutting on a boar. The illustrations are far more humorous than the verse which uses words that many kids learning to count won't even be familiar with--strutting, boar, foofy. In the end the fence is destroyed and the turkeys end up heading for a tree for some more fooling around. A book that doesn't have a whole lot to offer. 2004, Scholastic, Ages 2 to 4, $3.50. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot
ISBN: 0-439-45948-6
The Firefighters' Thanksgiving
Maribeth Boelts
Illustrated by Terry Widener
It is Thanksgiving, and all is quiet at the fire station, so Lou volunteers to cook the Thanksgiving feast. Calls come in throughout the day and interfere with the meal preparation. Later in the day, Lou is injured while fighting a fire. It appears there will be no special feast, but a group of adults arrive late in the day and bring the turkey and all the trimmings to thank the firefighters for their dedication. The bold, graphic illustrations bring the reader into the action, whether it is at the fire station or at the scene of a fire. When a call comes into the station to report a fire, the time is mentioned within the rhyming text. This, too, gives a feeling of immediacy to the story. A wide range of perspectives, and a woman firefighter add interest to the illustrations done in acrylics. The challenges firefighters face while working are well represented in the illustrations and in Lou's injury and hospitalization. An action-packed thank you to these men and women who put their lives on the line each day. 2004, G P Putnam's Sons, Ages 5 to 8, $15.99. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo
ISBN: 0-399-23600-7
Grateful: A Song of Giving Thanks
John Bucchino
Illustrated by Anna-Lisa Hakkarainen
In this brisk-paced, consumer-driven world, when are children encouraged to pause and think about what they have? This gentle, drowsy but uplifting book, with its Christian slant, helps readers, young and old, stop and take stock. Bucchino, an award-winning composer and lyricist, has written music for Dreamworks as well as musicals. The words of his song are beautifully illustrated in bold colors by Finish artist Hakkaarainen, also an award-winner in her field. This is a perfect book for Fall, with Thanksgiving looming, followed by the most consumer/gift-giving holiday of all, Christmas. Although its religious slant may prevent this book from making the public schools, it should find a grateful audience in churches, church-based schools and day cares. The book includes a simplified musical score and CD, with singing by Art Garfunkel. Lovely, just lovely. 2003, HarperCollins Publishers, Ages 3 up, $16.99. Reviewer: Judy Crowder
ISBN: 0-06-051633-X
Hide-and-Seek Turkeys
Judith Ross Enderle and Stephanie Jacob Gordon
Illustrated by Teresa Murfin
The illustrations set this up as a play put on by children in turkey and fox costumes. It begins, "Ten little turkeys played hide-and-seek, till...the fox showed up, sneak, sneak, sneak." The turkeys go into the farmhouse and begin to hide in the clothing. One hides under a wig but there wasn't room for two. As another tries to hide, they have to move again to a larger item.. They hide in a variety of old-fashioned clothing such as high-button shoes, a tricorn hat, a corset, britches, a red waistcoat and white pantaloons. When the farmer comes into his house, the turkeys scatter and hide, leaving it to the reader to find them. The rhyming text will broaden children's vocabulary with clothing terms with which they are probably not familiar. It reinforces counting concepts. There is no mention of Thanksgiving, so while it can be used in the autumn, it is not limited to that time. The turkey costumes result in some really strange looking birds. On various pages of the book, preschoolers may not recognize them as children in costume, which could lead to some confusion about the story. 2004, Margaret K. McElderry/ Simon & Schuster, Ages 4 to 7, $15.95. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo
ISBN: 0-689-84715-7
I Am the Turkey
Michele Sobel Spirin
Pictures by Joy Allen
The cover picture gives readers an pretty good clue that this "An I Can Read Book" is going to be amusing. A young fellow stands behind a curtain dressed like a turkey. As readers quickly learn, Mark the fellow pictured on the jacket has been assigned to play the part of the turkey in the upcoming Thanksgiving play at school. At the dinner table that evening when Mark shares the news, his brother Tim has a great time teasing his younger brother about being a turkey. Mark starts to have doubts that perhaps his role is not really that important and perhaps he doesn't want to be in the play. His teacher Mrs. Willow ignores all the pleas and keeps insisting that he will be perfect for the part and that he really does have an important role. The kids rehearse and the big night arrives. John the Pilgrim with the closing lines suddenly suffers from stage fright and cannot say a word. Mark however, manges to step into the spotlight and save the play--he really does have the most important role and is proud to announce that he was indded the turkey in the play. The charming illustrations are just as amusing as the text and I am sure that Joy Allen will be udertaking more in this popular series. 2004, HarperCollins, Ages 4 to 8, $15.99. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot
ISBN: 0-06-0533230-0
ISBN: 0-06-0533231-9
Pilgrim Cat
Carol Antoinette Peacock
Illustrated by Doris Ettlinger
Before setting sail on the Mayflower, Faith Barrett notices a cat jumping onto the ship's deck. She adopts it during the voyage and names it Pounce. In turn, Pounce stays by Faith's side during her illness. Samoset and Squanto teach the Pilgrims how to hunt and what crops to plant. When Pounce disappears, it is Squanto who finds her and her five newborn kittens. The autumn harvest brings a bountiful crop, and the Pilgrims offer thanks for this and their new friends, the Wampanoag. Faith and Pounce will draw the reader into this fictionalized account of the first year at Plymouth Colony. Ettlinger's illustrations are full of details and present a range of perspectives of life on shipboard as well as at Plymouth that provide a strong sense of the time period. Peacock provides a reason for the Pilgrims' voyage, the difficulties they faced on shipboard and the challenges of their first year. This picture book is ideal for the Thanksgiving/Pilgrim/Colonial Life curriculum units. 2004, Albert Whitman & Company, Ages 7 to 9, $16.95. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo
ISBN: 0-8075-6532-6
Thank You, Thanksgiving
David Milgrim
In this adorable tale of a Thanksgiving Day errand, a little girl thanks all the things she is aware of along the way--the animals she sees and hears, the places she passes in her community, the natural world, etc. After accomplishing her mission, she returns home and is exuberantly thanked by her large family, who have been awaiting the arrival of...whipped cream! The digital oil pastel illustrations are bright and cartoon-y, perfect for the picture-book crowd. Kids will notice lots of clever little funnies in the pages, like animals peering in the general store window while the protagonist buys food for them along with the whipped cream, and a snow-baby with a pacifier among the neighborhood's snowmen. Pictures of extended family, turkey, pie and other traditions of Thanksgiving are vivid and happy, making this a great holiday read. Adults will chuckle at the references to that most inexplicable part of the tradition: football. Simple, repetitive text (on the order of Goodnight Moon) makes it a good choice for kids learning to read. 2003, Houghton Mifflin/Clarion Books, Ages 2 to 5, $9.95. Reviewer: Jane Harrington
ISBN: 0-618-27466-9
Thanks for Thanksgiving
Julie Markes
Illustrated by Doris Barrette
The list of things for which to be thankful is presented in rhymed couplets and gets a big boost from the action-packed illustrations which are a perfect complement to the text. They are playful and add inventive touches. As mother and father prepare the Thanksgiving feast, the children mention things they are thankful for ("Thank you for play dates, for swings and for slides," and "Thank you for kisses and tucks into bed" as well as others). Active siblings are invitingly illustrated in scenes using warm earth tones. This is one very busy family that truly appreciates the important elements of life. Parents will enjoy sharing this with their own children. Teachers and librarians will find these illustrations work well in a group setting. After the story they will want to ask the children what they are thankful for. 2004, HarperCollins, Ages 3 to 6, $12.99. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo
ISBN: 0-06-051096-X
The Thanksgiving Door
Debby Atwell
What a lovely Thanksgiving Day message is found in this story about people who unexpectedly come together to celebrate the holiday. When Ann burns the dinner on Thanksgiving Day, she and Ed are feeling glum. Ed remembers that a new restaurant named the New World Cafe has opened in their neighborhood. Having ruined their Thanksgiving Day tradition, Ann is not very excited about eating in a restaurant, but she agrees to go because Ed is hungry. Well, a big surprise awaits this forlorn couple. A big surprise also awaits the family that owns the New World Cafe. This large family has only recently moved to America, and they are planning their first Thanksgiving Day celebration. Although the restaurant is not open for business that day, the door is open, so Ann and Ed walk in. At first, the children try to scare the couple away. But grandmother will not hear of it and lectures the children about sharing, "Family cooks turkey big as a dog house, but we don't share?" Ann and Ed become the guests of honor and they are in for an evening of great food, great conversation, and dancing. Everyone is thankful on this very special Thanksgiving Day. This poignant story will entertain readers while conveying an important message about sharing. Being open-minded about people whose traditions and culture are different is also a theme. The simple text and vibrant folk-art illustrations will have readers returning again and again to the pages of this book. 2003, Walter Lorraine Books/Houston Mifflin, Ages 4 to 8, $15. Reviewer: Jeanne K. Pettenati
ISBN: 0-618-24036-5
Thanksgiving in the Barn
Nadine Bernard Westcott
A young girl has set up her Thanksgiving table in the barn. As the animals arrive, they bring items for the feast. Goat brings a can of cranberry sauce. The girl can have the cranberries and he will eat the can. Pig brings vanilla ice cream, cow brings pies made of hay and topped with whipped cream, turkey just brings himself and gives thanks "to be here and not on your plate!" Westcott's illustrations are full of her trademark humor. The featured animal "pops-up" on each turn of the page. The last pop-up features all of the animals and the little girl around the table. This fun little paperback book, with its tagboard-like pop-ups will require careful handling. 2004, Little Simon/ Simon & Schuster, Ages 3 to 6, $6.99. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo
ISBN: 0-689-85655-5
Thanksgiving Is...
Gail Gibbons
In a simple text of two or three lines per page, Gibbons presents clear and concise explanations of the American Thanksgiving. Beginning with the date for the celebration, she then goes back to the traditions of early harvest festivals, followed by information about the Pilgrims and the first Thanksgiving. When it became a holiday, its symbols and the variety of ways in which people spend the day conclude the book. There is a very brief mention of the date for the Canadian Thanksgiving. The illustrations show families and friends together, the seventeenth century Pilgrims in their colony, their interaction with the American Indians ,and the twenty-first century Americans in various activities. A joyous explanation of the holiday that will brighten the collection of Thanksgiving books. 2004, Holiday House, Ages 5 to 8, $16.95. Reviewer: Sharon Salluzzo
ISBN: 0-8431-0464-3
Thanksgiving on Plymouth Plantation
Diane Stanley
Illustrated by Holly Berry
Twins Lenny and Liz are off to visit Grandma for Thanksgiving, but theirs is no ordinary Grandma. When Mom and Dad head off to the apple orchard, Granny dons her magic hat and time travels the twins (and the family dog) to 1621 Plymouth for the first Thanksgiving. There they meet the Mayflower Pilgrims and see first hand what life was like. They help to gather food for the colony, meet Squanto and celebrate the harvest feast with the Pilgrims and Wampanoag people. The story is presented through narrator-like blocks of text and conversational word balloons. As usual, Stanley hits her mark--the book is well researched and entertaining. An author's note presents the history of Thanksgiving as well as a pointer to the Plymouth Plantation website for more information. Berry's illustrations are a perfect match for this style of storytelling. They are colorful, appealing and contain a great deal of information themselves. The book's endpapers show illustrated Thanksgiving dinners now and then, and the difference between the meals is eye-opening (boiled eel, anyone?). This is a must have book for Thanksgiving, Pilgrim units or to illustrate how history sometimes blurs the line between truth and fiction. 2004, Joanna Cotler Books, Ages 5 to 10, $15.99. Reviewer: Sharon Oliver
ISBN: 0-06-027069-1
'Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving
Dav Pilkey
Using the familiar 'Twas the Night Before Christmas as the basis of his text, Pilky recounts all the tings appropriate to the day before Thanksgiving. It is fall and a group of school kids board the school bus for a field trip. While on the bus they sing and "visions of drumsticks danced in their brains." The destination is a turkey farm. Instead of Jolly St, Nick they meet Farmer Mack Nuggett "He was dressed all in denim from his head to his toe,.." He calls the little turkeys and the kids have plenty of fun until they lean the fate of their fine feathered friends. The kids come up with a plan and by the time the school bus drives off there isn't a turkey in sight--they all found homes with the kids and not a turkey was eaten by any of those families. The illustrations will bring smiles and some will resonate with adults and not kids such as the depiction of the farmer and his wife which is based on American Gothic by Grant Wood.
2004 (orig. 1990), Scholastic, Ages 2 to 4, $5.99. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot
ISBN: 0-439-66937-5
To return to our most recent Thanksgiving feature, click here.
Updated 10/22/04
To stay up to date on new books on this topic, consider subscribing to The Children's Literature Comprehensive Database. For your free trial, click here.
If you’re interested in reviewing children's and young adult books, then send a resume and writing sample to marilyn@childrenslit.com.