Customer Reviews

The Pilgrims' First Thanksgiving

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

My children are 3 and 5 at this time (boy and girl) and I have been having a hard time finding a good age appropriate book about Thanksgiving.

When they were younger I used "The Story of Thanksgiving" boardbook by Nancy J. Skarmeas. A book that is pretty much on target for the toddler and early preschool crowd. But what to do now?

I looked at several books and none seemed to be appropriate. They were either too cynical, or too babyish. This book however pretty much fits the bill. The text talks in terms that preschoolers and kindergarteners understand. And it talks about hardship but isn't too graphic. An example of text follows.

The Mayflower was a big as two trucks.
But it was not big enough.
The Pilgrims and sailors crowded together to sleep.
They crowded together to eat.
The children had no room to run around.
They had no toys.
They had to leave most things behind.

These are details which my children could relate to.

Five Stars. We ran across the older version illustrated by Joe Lasker, and while the new artwork by Ekroy Freem looks really good (and is the one that's available now on Amazon) I wouldn't worry if you wanted to get the older version either.

The previous edition of this book, published in 1973, has been a favorite introduction to the Pilgrims for primary students in our school for many years. Written at about a third grade reading level, it works as a readable chapter book, as well as a quick read-aloud. The black, white and turquoise drawings in the older version were adequate, but the text always deserved more detailed and interesting illustrations. While I have not see this new edition, it appears that this situation has now been remedied.

My students have always taken an interest in the kid's perspective of life aboard the Mayflower and during the first year at Plymouth. They love to know that the Pilgrims took two dogs and a cat with them. They wonder about the "same old salted beef and fish" that had to be eaten. They plug their noses when they think about the Pilgrims wearing "the same clothes every day," even sleeping in them.

They marvel at the straw roofs of the new homes being set on fire by sparks that flew up the chimney. They are stunned to learn that good manners meant children had to stand during meals, and that they could only speak when spoken to by an adult. Then my students smack their lips at the many foods that were eaten at the first Thanksgiving: wild turkeys, geese, ducks, deer, lobsters, clams, oysters and fish, not to mention the many vegetables, and of course, popcorn.

I look forward to adding the new edition of this classic to our library collection.

Like other reviewers, I also think that this is an appropriate book for children around the theme of Thanksgiving. The book looks at the lives of the children: their hardships, their work, their wonder.

Squanto shows up on page 29, seventeen pages after the Pilgrims disembark from the Mayflower onto an uninhabited land. Squanto eventually shows up and teaches the Pilgrims how to hunt for game, forage for edible and medicinal plants, and plant corn (31). He is a storyteller and is the center of the children's attention (32). Other "friendly Indians who lived nearby" show up at the end of the book to help the children find nuts and wild fruit (41). Of course, ninety Indians show up at the three-day feast of Thanksgiving: "There were more Indians than Pilgrims" (46).

This is a good book to begin looking at issues around the "mythological history" of the United States. What happened to Squanto and the tribes that the Pilgrims first encountered? Are Native Americans of today thankful for the same reasons that most white Americans are? This book could be the start of some real and wonderful discussion concerning our nations' histories and the real meaning of thanks.

Wonderful full color, life-like illustrations on every page. You won't waste your money on this PILGRIMS ! Very well done prespective of the pilgrim children's lives. How did they spend their time? Good introduction to Squanto. Happy Thanksgiving !

Yes, the information of the first Thanksgiving is there. The information presented was just a little dry. It reminds me of so many history classes where the teacher had told the stories so much that they have just lost interest. The heart is not there.

In my opinion, better options are Squanto and the Miracle of Thanksgiving or If You Sailed on the Mayflower in 1620. Squanto and the Miracle of Thanksgiving is history how it should be told in my opinion. This is by far my favorite Thanksgiving book for my kids. If You Sailed on the Mayflower actually relates what the lives of the Pilgrim children was like. It is broken down into sections so that you can stop and talk about each topic as it compares to the life of your own child. My son really responded to this book because it draws pictures in the child's head of the life a pilgrim child on the Mayflower led. I wouild strongly advise checking out one of these two books intead.

This book was full of information. So full in fact that it is almost too much for it's intended age group. To read this with my 3 year old, who LOVES stories, we had to read it in three installments. The book seemed more appropriate for children who are older or can read to themselves, my 6 year old loved it!

When purchasing holiday related books I look for both detailed and generic books. Squanto and the Thanksgiving Miracle is one of those detailed Thanksgiving books. It focuses on just Squanto and his part in the first Thanksgiving story.

The Pilgrim's First Thanksgiving by Ann McGovern is a generic Thanksgiving book. By generic I mean it tells the broad story of the Pilgrims leaving England, traveling in the Mayflower, building Plymouth and celebrating the first Thanksgiving. It doesn't delve too deeply into any one section of the story.

McGovern does a good job of condensing the Pilgrim story and presenting it in language children can relate to. She makes a point of telling that the children couldn't run and play on the Mayflower and that they worked hard to help their parents build Plymouth.

My children usually connect more with historic stories that mention the lives of children. As a result, I appreciate McGovern including those simple details in her book.

If you are looking for a general Thanksgiving children's picture book, I highly recommend The Pilgrim's First Thanksgiving.

I was looking for a good book on the first Thanksgiving to read to Kindergarteners and this book fits that criteria but I wish it had a little more factual info about that era. It was almost tooo general.

My pre-school aged son loves this book! I can now say that I have found a book that is accurate in it's Thanksgiving story and yet age appropriate for my young children. There are fine details found in this book that really capture the moment and help the reader to better understand what took place so many years ago!

A little long for my three year old but my four year old loved it ... later after the first time I read it to her, I quizzed her and she remembered the "Mayflower" and "Plymouth" and "Pilgrims". A good quick history lesson for preschoolers.