This First Thanksgiving Day: A Counting Story [Paperback]

Laura Krauss Melmed (Author), Mark Buehner (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 3 and up | Grade Level: P and up

Countdown to Thanksgiving!

This rollicking counting story celebrates the very first Thanksgiving Day with vibrant illustrations and lively verse. Follow the Pilgrim and Wampanoag friends as they prepare for a great feast, and along the way look for the bold turkey on every page -- and for the very sharp of eye, there are all sorts of surprises hidden in the art!

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In Melmed's (The Rainbabies) counting book, one Pilgrim boy "sit[s] in a tree,/ dreaming of the tall, strong ship/ on which he crossed the sea"; on the opposite page, two girls "dressed in deerskin,/ gathering nuts below,/ [giggle] as they tiptoe by,/ too shy to say hello." Although a passing reference to Squanto suggests collaboration, the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag remain segregated until the final scene. Buehner (It's a Spoon, Not a Shovel) captures the beauty of autumnal skies and oceanside landscapes, but the uninitiated may be confused about how these two groups came to share the Thanksgiving table. Ages 3-8.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

K-Gr 2-Through a simple, rhyming text of 12 short poems, young readers will experience 10 Wampanoag and 10 Pilgrim friends getting ready for the first harvest feast in the New World. Similar in scope and theme, and a great complement to B. G. Hennessy's One Little, Two Little, Three Little Pilgrims (Viking, 2001; o.p.), this title adds the enjoyment of hidden pictures on each page. There is a turkey to find in each colorful spread and lots of small creatures to count. The feast scene has at least 10 critters, maybe more, frolicking, even making off with food. Lots of smiles and counting practice result in a super read-aloud.

Pamela K. Bomboy, Chesterfield County Public Schools, VA

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (September 2, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060541849
• ISBN-13: 978-0060541842
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8.3 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #643,136 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #72 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > People & Places > Holidays & Festivals > Thanksgiving

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful Thanksgiving book to share with your child., October 7, 2002

By 

Ariel Pawlak (POMPANO BEACH, FL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: This First Thanksgiving Day: A Counting Story (Hardcover)

I bought this book last year for my daughter who was two at the time. She loved this book so much that we have been reading it all year. This is a counting book with a Thanksgiving theme. The illustrations are so beautiful. It makes me miss New England in the fall. There are pictures of Native Americans and Pilgrims working and playing with their family and friends. This book was a great way for me to explain what Thanksgiving is all about to my young daughter. This is the pefect book to read on Thanksgiving but it it so beautiful that you will want to enjoy it all year long.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Hidden Surprises in the Artwork!, November 19, 2006

By 

History_of_Art_Geek (Phoenix, AZ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: This First Thanksgiving Day: A Counting Story (Paperback)

In reading this, I am captivated by the illustrations more than the writing. Mark Buehner, the illustrator, drenches the two-page spreads in warm autumnal hues: rusts, browns, and honey colors. We see falling leaves, and dozens of frisky woodland creatures jumping about the pages. The kids are happy, well fed, and playful as children should be. The colors are bright, bold and appeal to the eye.

Melmed's writing's a little forced in places, and I get caught up on a few of the verses when reading aloud. I'm not sure if it's the writing, or my delivery, but it's annoying. The First Thanksgiving Day: A Counting Story is a short book. It takes a little over a minute to read, but the artwork enthralls little ones, especially when they realize there's all sorts of hidden surprises. There's a well-hidden turkey on nearly every page, and it's fun to seek for him. Children will enjoy counting all the animals, or if they look further, they might detect some prehistoric creatures blended into the scenes as well.

This book is recommended to children 3 to 8 years, but I say 2 to 6 is more accurate. I did have to explain a few things to him like why the Wampanoag are hunting rabbits, and why they are weaving cattail reeds. He thought they were making baskets out of cat tails, and this upset him. The illustrations are beautiful, and the hide-and-seek qualities are a blast. Overall, The First Thanksgiving Day: A Counting Story is an enjoyable holiday read.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Adored by 2nd Grade Music Students, September 16, 2004

By 

songlover1 (Anchorage, AK) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: This First Thanksgiving Day: A Counting Story (Hardcover)

I read this to my second grade music classes and had them play a drum pattern after every page. The rhyme scheme is catchy, and the pictures are ADORABLE and highly detailed. The children all loved this book and wanted to try to find all of the hidden details besides the turkey. On the 1 page, for example, there is one canadian goose and 1 racoon hiding in the background; the 2 page hides 2 mallards and 2 rabbits in the background, page 10 hides 10 rabbits... All of the pages contain a hidden turkey (sometimes live and sometimes roasted!). The pictures look just like Plymouth Plantation if you've been there, and they show people of both cultures working and helping and getting along. This book has become one of my favorites to share with children.