Celebrate Thanksgiving
This Thanksgiving marks the 60th anniversary of the National Thanksgiving Turkey "Pardon" at the White House. Live turkeys have been presented to the president off and on since Lincoln's term in office. In a ceremony started by Harry Truman in 1947, the Thanksgiving Turkey (an alternate is also chosen) is granted a "pardon" when it is presented to the president. The turkeys go to various parks, petting farms, animal exhibits, etc. where they live out their lives with out realizing just how close they came to being the featured guest at the annual feast. Visit the White House web site for pictures and more information: http://www.whitehouse.gov/holiday/thanksgiving/2007/.
No matter what the main course is at your Thanksgiving table (my neighbors have a huge stuffed squash and some friends think lasagna means Thanksgiving dinner-there must be a story in that!), the following book choices will help you get in the spirit of this day of thanksgiving These books cover a wide range of ages and interests, which should make it easy to find the perfect title to share with a school class or your family at home.
Contributor: Sheilah Egan
Reviews
The Best Thanksgiving Ever!
Teddy Slater
Illustrated by Ethan Long
As November approaches, the thoughts of Americans everywhere begin to turn to the same essential holiday elements: home, family, coming together, love, and the joy of giving thanks. Teddy Slater imagines these thoughts are shared by humans and not-so-humans. In fact, he imagines the holiday as it may be experienced by that central Thanksgiving feature: the turkey bird. With his wacky, rhyming text and Ethan Long's equally zany, cartoon-like illustrations, what a holiday it is! The Turkeys are hosting the feast, and their whole family is arriving from all over. The birds engage in the usual frenzy of cooking and cleaning, welcoming and visiting, hugging and kissing, thanking and singing, and then feasting ... on what? The subtly-foreshadowed but thoroughly clever conclusion to this fun little story is simple, laugh-out-loud genius. Slater and Long remind us that the holiday does not need to be all pious pilgrims and cornucopias; this would be a good, irreverent addition to any Thanksgiving holiday collection. 2005, Cartwheel/Scholastic, Ages 4 to 8, $5.99. REVIEWER: Heidi Hauser Green
ISBN: 978-0-439-87390-1
ISBN: 0-439-87390-8
America's Real First Thanksgiving
Robyn Gioia
In school most of us were taught that the first Thanksgiving was held in Plymouth MA in 1621. Research reveals that St. Augustine celebrated his first Thanksgiving with Timucua Indians fifty-six years earlier on September 8, 1565. At the Thanksgiving meal the Spanish and the native Americans shared their specialties. The recipe for Cocido--a Spanish stew of pork, garbanzo beans, and onions--is included. It is a dish worth trying. The Timucua may have offered turkey or venison and corn. There was also a chaplain present who offered a mass of Thanksgiving with a cross present. The Timucua who witnessed this followed by imitating what the Spanish did. One of the major features of the book is a look at the world as it was in 1565 and the lives of the Timucua prior the arrival of the Spaniards. This is followed by the role of the Spaniards in the founding of St. Augustine and their influence on the Timucua. The first true Thanksgiving is an eye opener and a welcome event which corrects an episode of American history. 2007, Pineapple Press, $14.95. Ages 11 to 15. Reviewer: Leila Toledo (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 1-56164-389-0
ISBN: 978-1-56164-3899
Beauty and the Beaks
Mary Jane Auch
Illustrated by Mary Jane Auch and Herm Auch
One can only imagine the great fun Mary Jane and Herm have working together to create their eye-catching, pun-filled collaborations. Fascinated with chickens, Mary Jane creates her three-dimensional characters with felted wool, polymer clay and a variety of costumes she sews herself from all sorts of fabrics, feathers, ribbons, do-dads, and what-have-yous. Herm takes photos of all sorts of things and manipulates everything (including the chicken creations) with his computer to produce the hilarious books that feature Mary Jane's wild and feathery stories. This book centers on the arrival of Lance, the turkey, who has come for a feast to which the chickens have not been invited. Beauty, the owner of The Chic Hen beauty parlor, tries to curb the gossip and beak clacking that goes on in her establishment but when on-so-stuck-up Lance sashays through the door the air is filled with henny (read "catty," but I could not mix fauna) comments. The puns and use of "egg..." for spelling everything from "Eggsit" (the sign over the door) to "eggstensive" (used to describe just how much work it would take to "spruce-up" the new bird in the neighborhood) make this a wonderful book to read aloud. Upper grade teachers will be able to use this "eggceptional" book to discuss the use of language and how it can actually become a part of the story itself. Younger readers/listeners will find the storyline funny enough to make up for any of the humor that is over their heads. The scene when Beauty discovers just what sort of feast features Lance as its main guest (that is to say Thanksgiving, of course) is nothing short of a real "hoot." Auch uses polymer clay to create the eyeballs and beaks of her chickens and when Beauty sees the cookbook opened to "Roast Turkey with Chestnut Dressing" her expression is too funny for works...Auch deserves an award for that one look. Well, maybe the award should be for the look on Lances face when he exclaims, "Wattle I do?" Or, maybe it should be for the scene with the hens gathered in Beauty's shop having their feathers "done" while reading magazines with advertisements that feature "Chicksticks in 6 Beakoming Colors" OR ...well, you get the idea. This is simply creative fun at its best. I think that creative writing classes could get a great deal of "eggcellent" "eggsamples" out of the study of this wonderfully "eggsecuted" farce. 2007, Holiday House, $16.95, Ages 5 up. Reviewer: Sheilah Egan (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-8234-1990-6
ISBN: 0-8234-1990-8
Celebrate Thanksgiving with Turkey, Family, and Counting Blessings
Deborah Heiligman
Consultant, Elizabeth Pleck
The photographs that accompany this comprehensive examination of Thanksgiving as it is celebrated in the United States are of the highest quality. This title is, after all, part of National Geographic's "Holidays Around the World" series, so one would expect no less. The text is well considered, and an extremely fair treatment of all aspects of the history of this well-loved holiday. Beginning with the most basic concept that the day is set aside to celebrate the harvest and give thanks for the bounty of nature, the author goes on to recount the factual details, the traditions, and to describe the evolution of the celebration itself. The 1619 observation of a day of Thanksgiving at Virginia's Berkeley Plantation is given credit as being the first Thanksgiving, while the 1621 harvest festival at Plymouth, Massachusetts is referred to as "what we call the 'First Thanksgiving.'" The photos of the reenactments and the use of two very different type face sizes (one large with simple language and the regular size type used for the informational text) gives access to a variety of ages/readers. One could read the simple text all the way through to the sentence "We feel full." or use the simple text as a springboard for the more dense text which goes into greater depth about the various ways people around the country share food, family reunions, football games, prayer services, grand parades and ceremonies of mourning (for the Native Americans whose lives were lost). The back matter includes "Just the Facts, Native American Thanksgiving Prayer, Timeline of American Thanksgiving," a recipe for Cranberry and Peach Preserves, "Harvest Festivals Around the World," a bibliography, a glossary, a listing of web sites (all of which are valid as of this review), and an essay by Dr. Elizabeth Pleck on "Thanksgiving: Its Meanings and Traditions." Every library should have a copy. 2006, National Geographic, $15.95. Ages 3 up. Reviewer: Sheilah Egan (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Children's Catalog, Nineteenth Edition, Supplement, 2007; H.W. Wilson; United States
ISBN: 0-79225928-9
ISBN: 0-79225929-7
ISBN: 978-079225928-2
ISBN: 978-0-79225929-9
Happy Thanksgiving, Gus!
Jacklyn Williams
Illustrated by Doug Cushman
Part of the "Read it! Readers" series, this title is about Gus the Hedgehog and his friend, Bean. Since Thanksgiving is fast approaching, Gus has to take a picture of the one thing he is most thankful for to share with his class. Gus and Bean can think of many things to be thankful for, but have a hard time choosing one. Gus brings his camera when he goes pumpkin picking in case he stumbles upon something he is very thankful for. This book is an orange level book which is the highest level in the series. Children will be able to use the illustrations to guide them through harder words and phrases. Each page contains one to two paragraphs of text with a lot of dialogue. Some of the pages are more dense with text than illustrations, while other pages have larger pictures with only short sentences. This is a fun book about Thanksgiving with a story that young readers will enjoy reading. 2006, Picture Window Books, $18.60. Ages 4 to 8. Reviewer: Erin Teagan (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 1-404809619
ISBN: 978-1-404809611
Harvest Festival
Jullian Powell
Bright, colorful photographs show customs connected to the harvest amid short paragraphs, colored boxes of related facts, and colored patches with quotes from children. Harvests of plants and animals, such as wheat or fish, are celebrated with special meals, giving thanks, singing, dancing, and parades. Americans celebrate Thanksgiving and remember the Pilgrims. Sheep-shearing in Australia is a time of festivity. In a parade at Tomar, Portugal, girls carry trays holding thirty bread rolls decorated with wheat and paper flowers. Melissa, age eight, is quoted: "My sister carried a tray at this year's harvest festival. She said it was very heavy, but I want to carry one when I'm older." Sikhs dance at the Baisakhi festival in April. Facts about religions mentioned--Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Judaism, and Sikhism--are listed. The lists tell what followers are called, names for gods, important figures, places of worship, and holy books. A glossary and an index are included. Children will find this reference book inviting. Part of the "Why Is This Day Special?" series. 2007 (orig. 2005), Smart Apple Media/The Creative Company, $25.65. Ages 7 to 10. Reviewer: Carlee Hallman (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-1-58340-950-3
ISBN: 1-58340-950-5
It's Thanksgiving!
Jack Prelutsky
Illustrations by Marylin Hafner
This is a lovely account of the celebration of Thanksgiving from HarperCollins' "I Can Read" series. Each facet of Thanksgiving is covered, from school projects to the landing of the pilgrims to the Thanksgiving Day Parade. Even the turkeys have a page devoted to them. This delightful story by Jack Prelutsky, the first Children's Poet Laureate, captures every essence of this special day. Even with all the information given for this holiday, the story has a warmth and natural charm that all children can relate to. One chapter, "I Went Hungry on Thanksgiving" addresses the simple feeling of a child who feels she cannot eat because of her new braces. The poetry is naturally outstanding, as are the illustrations. Hafner's drawings match the text perfectly, add a bit of humor and charm, and are well-placed so as to not interfere with the text. From beginning to end, this is about as perfect as you can get for a holiday book for children. 2007 (orig. 1982), HarperCollins, Ages 4 to 8, $15.99. REVIEWER: Joan Elste
ISBN: 978-0-06-053710-4
ISBN: 978-06-053709-8
The Pilgrims and the First Thanksgiving
Mary Englar
Part of the "Graphic Library" series, this title gives a great sense of what it was like to arrive on the Mayflower, including having to live on a freezing ship during the winter months until shelters were built, as the Pilgrims were ill-equipped and ill-prepared for the conditions they found. Because of native peoples like Samoset and Tesquantum, known as Squanto, the Pilgrims learned how to plant crops, fish, hunt, and take care of themselves. The thankful Pilgrims invited local tribes to a harvest feast to celebrate their bounty of food and the fact that their settlement was growing stronger after initial disease and starvation. At the end of the easy-to-read comic-style book, additional short facts about the Pilgrims are presented, as well as a glossary and list of further sources. This graphic depiction of the Pilgrims' harvest festival is an excellent resource for reluctant readers in elementary, middle, and upper school. 2007, Capstone Press, $25.26. Ages 8 up. Reviewer: Kathryn Erskine (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-7368-5492-4
ISBN: 0-7368-5492-4
Pilgrims in America
L.L. Owens
The details of the first Thanksgiving between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag tribe provide the introduction to this history of Plymouth, Massachusetts, the second English settlement in the New World. Information about the national holiday and how it came about connects the past events to the current American celebration. Historical information about the Pilgrims, who they were, and why they traveled across the ocean to an unknown land is given and substantiated by diary entries by William Bradford and other people, as well as historical documents. In addition, illustrations and pictures provide a visual interpretation of the time period. Sidebars such as "People of the First Light" (a history of the Wampanoag Indians), "Pilgrim Occupations," "The Mayflower Compact," "Pilgrim Leaders," and "What Happened to the Mayflower?" provide supporting information for the study of this time in American history. Short biographies of seven important people of the settlement, a simple time line (1620-1863), a glossary, a list of other resources, and an index make this book very useful as an introduction to American history. 2007, Rourke Publishing, $29.93. Ages 9 to 12. Reviewer: Naomi Williamson (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 160044122X
ISBN: 9781600441226
Run Turkey Run
Diane Mayr
Illustrated by Laura Radner
Utilizing lots of onomatopoeia, Mayr makes this picture book a pleasure to read aloud. Children will love joining in with the titles's refrain admonishing the turkey to flee. The turkey tries to escape from the farmer by hiding in the pigpen ("muckity-muck" covered in mud but recognizable), the duck pond ("splishity-splash" the mask and snorkel are a dead giveaway), and the horse barn ("clankity-clank" only his head fits into the feed pail). With the farmer hot on his trail, turkey has no choice but to flee to the forest where he hides in the trees ("crunchity-crunch" pretty good camouflage). The reader sees that the farmer's family has grilled cheese sandwiches "with all the trimmings" for Thanksgiving dinner. Then in December, we see the farmer's family setting out to find a Christmas tree. Yes, they discover the turkey in the wood and the children shout once again "Run, Turkey, Run!" The loosely drawn, watercolor illustrations are perfectly matched to the text and season the story with a large dash of humor. I loved the details such as a duck in the pond grabbing the oar to overbalance the farmer and tip him out of the boat. These little touches make this a lot of fun to share with an observant reader. Teachers and care givers will use this to discuss careful observance of details (the reader sees that each animal joins in the effort to help turkey escape, etc.) and enjoyment of humor that does not depend solely on the text. 2007, Walker and Company, $15.95, Ages 3 to 8. Reviewer: Sheilah Egan (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-8027-9630-1
ISBN: 0-8027-9630-3
Thanks a Million: Poems
Nikki Grimes
Pictures by Cozbi A. Cabrera
Simple, beautiful pictures surrounded by simple, dazzling words make this a wonderful book to share with young and old alike. The author does an excellent job conveying how a simple "thank you" can bring so much joy and pleasure to people and touch ordinary lives in extraordinary ways. In the poem "Lunch Box Love Notes," a girl learns how much her mother appreciates help with her baby brother. In "The Good Neighbor," a young girl secretly leaves a chocolate bar for her babysitter. All the poems are written from the perspective of a child who wants to let someone important in his/her life how much s/he is appreciated. Although some poems may seem overly-sentimental, this is a wonderful read-aloud book for parents and children to enjoy together. Kids who pick this book up on their own may or may not enjoy the poems as much as the pictures, depending on whether or not they enjoy poetic verses. For children who have never read poetry, this is a beautiful introduction to poetry through stories of giving thanks. 2006, Greenwillow Books/HarperCollins, $15.99. Ages 5 up. Reviewer: Caitlyn Payne (Children's Literature).
The simple act of saying "thank you" can change relationships and attitudes. This lovely collection of sixteen poems that describe thankfulness and expressing thanks is a wonderful way to share the importance and power of these two words with children. The opening poem "Reward" is worth the price of admission--simple but very moving: "Thank you / is a seed I plant / in the garden of your heart. / Your smile is the flower. / A slow and sweet surprise, / it blooms before my eyes!" The illustrations are well suited to the tenor of the poetry giving visual substance to the words so nicely laid out by the author. I especially like the wide range of types of poems, including a rebus, a riddle, haiku, and other verse forms. The colorful pictures showcase the talent of the artist, such as for the poem "Even the Trees" where the illustrations embody the words themselves. I do have a concern with "A Lesson from the Deaf" in which the beautiful poem describes making the sign for "thank you" without "breathing a word." The sign described seems to be the gesture for "good" instead of for "thank you." Just as speech patterns vary across the country, perhaps this is just a difference in where and when a person learned sign language and which system was studied (American Sign Language, Signed English, or another system), nevertheless it is confusing. Otherwise, this is a notable addition to the world of poetry and will be utilized by all who work with children in any aspect of what is currently referred to as "character education." I think of books like this as enhancing basic life lessons--good for all of us. 2006, Greenwillow/HarperCollins, $15.99. Ages 5 up. Reviewer: Sheilah Egan (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
The Best Children's Books of the Year, 2007; Bank Street College of Education; Outstanding Merit; United States
Children's Catalog, Nineteenth Edition, 2006; H.W. Wilson; United States
Choices, 2007 ; Cooperative Children's Book Center; United States
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
Black-Eyed Susan Book Award, 2007-2008; Nominee; Picture Book; Maryland
ISBN: 0-688-17292-X
ISBN: 0-688-17293-8
ISBN: 978-0-688-17292-3
ISBN: 978-0-688-17293-0
Thanksgiving: A Day of Thanks
Amanda Doering
The meaning of this holiday is explored through a short history and traditions. A funny story and a hands-on activity are included. Each page of simple text is illustrated by brightly colored photographs. A happy extended family of African descent is shown giving thanks at a well-set table with traditional food. The Macy's Day Parade and football games are part of many celebrations. Capsules show further facts, such as: "Thanksgiving is the busiest travel time of the year in the United States." The president of the United States saves the life of one turkey each year, and people get to vote on a name for the turkey. Directions are given for making a turkey from colored construction paper by gluing outlines of hands and feet. Large print, simple vocabulary, and clear chapter titles invite children into the text. There is a table of contents, glossary with pronunciation guide, lists for further reading, Web sites, and an index. Part of the "First Facts" series and "Holidays and Culture" extension, this is a great resource for libraries for children. 2006, Capstone Press, $21.26. Ages 5 to 8. Reviewer: Carlee Hallman (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-7368-6399-5
ISBN: 0-7368-6399-0
We Gather Together: Celebrating the Harvest Season
Wendy Pfeffer
Illustrated by Linda Bleck
Around the world, harvest time is celebrated with a variety of communal meals and rituals. Using these times of gathering, the author gives a concise look at the seasonal changes caused by the Earth's tilting on its axis. Intended for young readers/listeners, this explanation of the vernal equinox, autumnal equinox, spring solstice, and winter solstice is very child friendly and could be useful to those who have not been exposed to this science concept. The colorful folk-art style illustrations are simplified but clear and enhance the text as it gives the roots for a variety of harvest celebrations; while providing an easily understood visual of the relationship of the Earth and sun during different phases of the Earth's rotation and tilting on its own axis. Starting with how animals prepare for the winter during the autumnal season, readers are given a swift history of the development of agriculture and a wide range of harvest festivals, including: Sukkot (Jewish), Pongal (Indian rice festival), Lantern Festival (Japan), Moon Viewing ceremony (Japan), Nigerian Yam festival, Wheat harvesting traditions from Britain, and (of course), Thanksgiving (America and other countries). The back matter includes "Equinox Facts," experiments, recipes, activities, and a list of international harvest festivals for further study. Further readings are cited, as well as three Web sites that are all functional at the time of this review. This will be a very useful addition to a home or school library--instructive but appealing in format and presentation. 2006, Dutton/Penguin, $17.99. Ages 6 to 10. Reviewer: Sheilah Egan (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Children's Catalog, Nineteenth Edition, Supplement, 2007; H.W. Wilson; United States
ISBN: 0-525-47669-5
ISBN: 978-0-525-47669-6
To read reviews of Thanksgiving books from previous years, click on the following links:
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
Updated 10/30/07
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