1621: A New Look at Thanksgiving (National Geographic) [Paperback]

Catherine O'Neill Grace (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up | Series: National Geographic

In cooperation with the Plimoth Plantation, a living-history museum in Massachusetts, National Geographic has recreated the first Thanksgiving. Photographs by National Geographic photographers of the recreation at Plimoth Plantation illustrate this book. In 1621, in a small settlement on the edge of the sea, 52 English colonists celebrated their first harvest. The colonists were joined by 90 men of the Wampanoag tribe for a gathering that was to last three days in a town now known as Plymouth. Over the centuries, there have been countless versions of this story, creating a popular myth of the first Thanksgiving. Many Americans imagine brave, peaceful settlers inviting a few wild Indians over for a turkey dinner. But there was no pumpkin pie or cranberry sauce at this celebration. There were no Indians with woven blankets over their shoulders and large feathered headdresses. No pilgrims with somber black clothes and silver buckle hats either. The English didn't even call themselves Pilgrims. This book puts aside that myth and takes a new look at our American history. It questions what we know and recovers lost voices of the Wampanoag people. True history includes the voices of all its participants. 1621: A New Look at Thanksgiving invites young people to read, listen, and think about our shared history. The book also features a foreword, a section on the actual reenactment and the concept of living history, a chronology, an index, and a bibliography.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Grace (the I Want to Be... series) and Bruchac (an adviser for the Wampanoag Indian Program at Plimoth Plantation) provide a well-researched, smooth account of the Wampanoag side of the Thanksgiving story. Arguing that "a number of today's assumptions about that event are based more on fiction than on fact," the authors explain a map that shows Wampanoag territory and the ways in which they acted as "caretakers" never owners of the land, and fascinating facts (e.g., the first Bible printed in the New World was in the W“panƒak language). Though some readers may object to the strong tone (e.g., "The history of the English colonies in America is a history of European people imposing their culture, politics, and religion onto Native people"), the authors posit a provocative and convincing view of what actually happened that first Thanksgiving and note that many modern descendants of Native peoples observe the holiday as a national day of mourning. Crisp, clear photographs taken at Plimoth Plantation showing actors in period dress with 17th-century artifacts, coupled with a perspective that children may never have heard, make this the most memorable Thanksgiving volume of the season. Ages 8-12.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From School Library Journal

Gr 3-5-A considerable amount of information is packed into this pictorial presentation of the reenactment of the first Thanksgiving, held at Plimoth Plantation museum in October, 2000. Countering the prevailing, traditional story of the first Thanksgiving, with its black-hatted, silver-buckled Pilgrims; blanket-clad, be-feathered Indians; cranberry sauce; pumpkin pie; and turkey, this lushly illustrated photo-essay presents a more measured, balanced, and historically accurate version of the three-day harvest celebration in 1621. Five chapters give background on the Wampanoag people, colonization, Indian diplomacy, the harvest of 1621, and the evolution of the Thanksgiving story. A brief introduction and an afterword serve to set the stage and bring to a conclusion the story of incipient race relations in 17th-century Massachusetts, the impact of which is felt to the present. While debunking the Thanksgiving story as it is most frequently told, this recounting in no way detracts from the historical importance of the holiday. Pair it with Kate Waters's Tapenum's Day (Scholastic, 1996) for a penetrating alternative look at a uniquely American celebration.

Ann Welton, Grant Elementary School, Tacoma, WA

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 48 pages
• Publisher: National Geographic Children's Books (October 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0792261399
• ISBN-13: 978-0792261391
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 0.1 x 10.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #346,610 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #15 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > People & Places > Explore the World > Other
  • #42 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > People & Places > Holidays & Festivals > Thanksgiving
  • #52 in Books > Children's Books > Holidays & Celebrations > Thanksgiving

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An exquisite book, September 10, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: 1621: A New Look at Thanksgiving (Hardcover)

This is a beautifully written and exquisitely photographed book about the first Thanksgiving celebration in 1621 (according to the Western calendar). The photos were taken during re-enactments at Plimoth Plantation, and are historically accurate as well as lovely to look at. The text gives the Wampanoag perspective on the event with sensitivity and vibrancy. All in a book that is clearly successful in engaging young readers, no matter how much or how little they already know--or think they know--about the history of Thanksgiving.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars one of the few books about thanksgiving that this Indian father will read to his kids, October 9, 2009

By 

Michael E. Roberts "tlingit" (boulder colorado) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: 1621: A New Look at Thanksgiving (Hardcover)

As a Tlingit father, i am constantly having to show up at my childrens' schools every year to educate principals and teachers and tear down stereotypes and outdated bulliten board charicatures.

And while the season from Columbus Day to Thankgiving (November is Native American History month) is frought with mis-information and stereotypes about Indians that I, and my children, seemingly have to protest and endure, this book is a welcome relief to the revisionist history that is usually taught in schools.

22 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars New Perspectives on Thanksgiving, March 8, 2005

By 

Rick M. Mcgarry "Livingston Parent Journal" (Fowlerville, MI United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: 1621: A New Look at Thanksgiving (Hardcover)

What did they really eat at the first Thanksgiving?

Venison, roast duck, roast goose, clams and other shellfish, succulent eels, white bread, corn bread, leeks and watercress, wild plums and dried berries, wild grape wine.

How did the pilgrims come to find an Indian that spoke English when they arrived in the New World?

Tisquantum, also known as Squanto, had been kidnapped by earlier explorers, but had managed to return to his home in what is now called New England.

Was the first Thanksgiving really in 1621?

In the fall of 1621 the Pilgrims spent 3 days celebrating their first harvest in the New World with at least 90 Native American guests, but the pilgrims never referred to this as a day of thanksgiving. It was in 1623 when a two month drought ended after their fervent prayers that the first recorded religious thanksgiving day occurred. This day focused more on worship than on feasting.

The book 1621 A New Look at Thanksgiving is published by the National Geographic Society, which is evidenced by the excellence of its photographs. It was put together with the help of the folks at Plimouth Plantation, a living history museum of 17th century Plymouth, located in Plymouth, Massachusetts.

The information is not primarily in the form of a story. The chapters are short, just a few pages, rather like photo essays, and they tend to stand by themselves, allowing the reader to pick and choose.

The authors believe they have significant new perspectives to share.
" There was neither cranberry sauce nor pumpkin pie at the 1621 harvest celebration. There were no Indians with woven blankets over their shoulders and large feathered headdresses cascading down their backs. There were no Pilgrims in somber black clothes and tall hats with silver buckles, either. The English didn't even call themselves Pilgrims at the time"

In giving information about the first Thanksgiving there are a few chapters sharing from the viewpoint of the Wampanoag native people, as well as a page about the history of the holiday, a chronology, and a couple of recipes, including this one for Stewed Pompion.

4 cups of cooked pumpkin or squash (seeded, and steamed or baked), roughly mashed
3 tablespoons butter
2 to 3 teaspoons cider vinegar
1 or 2 teaspoons ground ginger
½ teaspoon salt

In a saucepan over medium heat, stir and heat all the ingredients together. Adjust seasonings to taste and serve hot.

We used concentrated apple juice and regular vinegar instead of apple cider vinegar. It has a rustic authentic flavor, which no one in our house enjoyed too much except me. For a family of four a half batch is probably sufficient.

The website for Plimouth Plantation is http://www.plimoth.org/
You can read a lot there about the Indians, the people we call the pilgrims, the first thanksgiving, the settlement at Plymouth, and of course the living history museum. For those with a high speed connection I recommend clicking Online Fun - Become a Historian! on the home page. This activity teaches about how history is researched and recorded as well as about what is commonly known as the First Thanksgiving.