The Pilgrims' first Thanksgiving lasted three whole days. Ann McGovern's simple text introduces children to the struggles of the Pilgrims during their first year at Plymouth Colony and the events leading to the historic occasion we celebrate today.
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About the Author
Ann McGovern has been writing children's books for over 35 years. She has published over 45 titles including STONE SOUP, several books in the IF YOU LIVED.... series, and SCRAM, KID! (Viking, 1974), which won the Horn Book Award. McGovern spent part of her career at Scholastic, where she created the See-Saw Book Club. McGovern lives in New York City.
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More About the Author
Ann McGovern is the author of over 55 books for children and sales of her books exceed 30 million. She is the author of the classics STONE SOUP and TOO MUCH NOISE, as well as several IF YOU LIVED... books.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
53 of 53 people found the following review helpful
Format:School & Library Binding|Amazon Verified Purchase
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.
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.
30 of 31 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
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.
22 of 23 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
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.
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.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
this book keeps kids looking at the pictures and reading
The drawings are great and the kids seem to enjoy it.. The sentences are straight forward and probably every page has some good drawings. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Steve Talbert
5.0 out of 5 stars
Prek Class
Chose this book for my prek class to teach them about Thanksgiving and to help them understand what Thanksgiving was all about. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Debra Blackwood
5.0 out of 5 stars
A new family tradition
This book is excellent. It is filled with interesting facts and gives you a better understanding of what the pilgrims went through when they journeyed to and settled in this... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Lisa B
5.0 out of 5 stars
My students loved this book!
My children in speech group loved this story! They were able to recall details from the story and retold parts of the story to their teacher when they returned to class! Read more
Published 5 months ago by Stacy Easler
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good Book for Helping Children to Understand Thanksgiving
Good art, interesting facts, easy to read. Leads children to want to learn more about the people in the book. Promotes the early history of our country.
Published 6 months ago by Joanne M. Dykstra
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent book about Thanksgiving.
My daughters are 5 and 6 and have been reading for about a year now. When I first opened the book, there was a lot of text and I thought they would be unable to read it. Read more
Published 6 months ago by RCrowley32
4.0 out of 5 stars
Tells the general Pilgrim Thanksgiving story
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. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Stephanie's Mommy Brain
3.0 out of 5 stars
Good Kindergarten read
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. Read more
Published on December 19, 2010 by mrsmarple
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent & accurate read for children
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. Read more
Published on November 18, 2010 by thankful4books
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good explanation of first thanksgiving for toddlers
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"... Read more
Published on November 16, 2010 by Katherine Barton
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