What Is Thanksgiving? [Board book]

Michelle Medlock Adams (Author), Amy Wummer (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2009 | Age Range: 2 and up

Here's a fun and lively introduction to the true meaning of Thanksgiving.

What is Thanksgiving Day about?
Please tell me what it means.
Is it about the yummy food,
Like turkey and green beans?

Following the success of What Is Christmas? and What Is Easter?, Michelle Adams brings the same humor and warmth to this little Thanksgiving board book. Through the whimsical art and rhyming verse that's fun to read, even the youngest child will come to understand that Thanksgiving is really about showing gratitude for all the blessings in our lives. Ages 2-5.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Michelle Adams began her career in journalism; but when she had two children of her own, she quickly turned to writing children's books, including the very successful What Is . . . ? series for CandyCane Press. Michelle lives in Bedford, Indiana, with her husband and two teenage girls. The other loves in her life are her three miniature dachshunds and Hoosiers basketball.

Amy Wummer has illustrated more than fifty books for children. In addition to this series, her titles for Ideals Publications include Five-Minute Devotions for Children and If Jesus Lived Inside My Heart.

Product Details

• Age Range: 2 and up
  
• Board book: 24 pages
• Publisher: CandyCane Press; Board Book edition (September 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0824918266
• ISBN-13: 978-0824918262
• Product Dimensions: 5.1 x 0.7 x 5.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #109,991 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #26 in Books > Children's Books > Holidays & Celebrations > Thanksgiving

More About the Author

Michelle Medlock Adams is an award-winning journalist and book author, earning top honors from the Associated Press, the Society of Professional Journalists, the Sunday and Features Editors, and the Hoosier State Press Association. Since graduating with a journalism degree from Indiana University in 1991, Michelle has worked as a newspaper reporter for a daily newspaper in Southern Indiana for five years; has acted as a stringer for the Associated Press in Indiana; has written full time for a worldwide ministry's website and magazine with 550,000 circulation; has authored 48 books and has written hundreds of freelance articles for newspapers, websites and magazines such as The Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Today's Christian Woman, CBN.com and Writer's Digest.
Michelle's book, "My Big Book of Prayers," earned her the 2012 SELAH award for the best 2011 children's book at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference. Also, her Christian Living book, "Living the Love Chapter" earned her the title of "Writer of the Year" in 2001 at the Write-to-Publish Conference in Wheaton, Illinois. And, her picture book, Conversations On the Ark earned her the "Barnes & Noble Texas Author of the Month" honor in May 2003. Also, in 2009 Michelle's picture book text for, "Mama's Belly" was selected as a top 12 finalist in the national ABC Picture Book Contest. Michelle has also served as a judge in "Writer's Digest Annual International Self-Published Book Awards" for five years and judged the Tweener Time International Chapter Book Competition sponsored by Tweener Ministries, Bethel College and Baker Trittin Press. Also, Michelle has ghostwritten books and articles for some of today's most effective and popular ministers.
In addition to writing, Michelle shares her knowledge of the publishing world at prestigious writers' conferences and workshops around the nation. She has spoken at the Pike's Peak Writers' Conference, the Glorieta Christian Writers' Conference, the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers' Conference, the North Texas Christian Writers' Conference, the Delaware Christian Writers' Conference, the Quad Cities Christian Writers' Conference, the Midwest Writers' Workshop at Ball State University, Write-by-the-Lake Writers' Workshop and Retreat at the University of Wisconsin and the Write-to-Publish Conference at Wheaton College to name a few. She also taught an accredited course, "Writing For Children," at Taylor University Fort Wayne (IN) during the fall of 2006. From speaking about writing in educational settings and writers' conferences to teaching the Word of God in churches, at women's retreats and luncheons--Michelle travels across the United States encouraging others. Over the past few years, she has spoken to a 10,000-member church, Living Word Bible Church in Mesa, Arizona, as well as the Fellowship Prayer Breakfast at the Black Historical Cultural Center in Amarillo, Texas, to highlight a few.
Because of her inspirational nature, Michelle has been a featured guest on several TV programs including: "God Answers Prayer" in Santa Fe, NM; "At Home Live" in Fort Worth, TX; and "The Harvest Show" in South Bend, IN, on LeSea Network. She has also made several appearances on the Greenwood, IN, TBN affiliate. And, she's been the guest on many prestigious radio programs across the United States including, "Healthy, Wealthy, WOW reality radio," "Water Through the Word" and "Kingdom Keys with Keith Gray."
Michelle resides in Bedford, IN., with her husband, Jeff (who was also her high school sweetheart); their two teenage daughters, Abby and Ally; their two miniature dachshunds, Miller and Mollie; and their kitty, Mia.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

52 of 59 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Cute Poetic Overview with Emphasis on Thanksgiving to God September 27, 2010

By DC World Traveler

Format:Board book|Amazon Verified Purchase

I was motivated to purchase this board book for my granddaughter BECAUSE of the review which mocked its mention of God.

I'm bufuddled that the offended reveiwer seems to think that the holiday is secular in origin in any respect whatsoever! The Pilgrims gave thanks to God for their safe transit to the New World, and for their very lives. From the time George Washington first proclaimed a national day of Thanksgiving, the thanks was directed to God. This was before ACLU and atheists chipped away at our founding fathers' unabashed thanks to God for the establishment of our great country. Perhaps the author needed to incorporate a little more history into the story.

All in all, it's a very pleasant recount of what most families experience on Thanksgiving, the preparations of cooking turkey and fixings, watching the Macy's Day Parade on TV (or in person for those lucky enough to get to NY), joining with family or friends over a meal, and football and conversation. However, the punch line, which is what it's all about, is being thankful to God, who gives us all that is good. Bravo for a great story in board book form! I am thankful (to God) that your creativity was bestowed on you :)

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Thanksgivng book for toddlers/preschoolers! December 3, 2009

By p31Mom

Format:Board book

This is the best book for Thanksgiving that I have found for toddlers & preschoolers! The text is written in a rhyming pattern that has a fun rhythem. The illustrations are realistic while still being child friendly, lots of things children like in each picture without being too busy. The books theme is what exactly is Thanksgiving? While the all of the many traditions that have grown up around Thanksgving are mentioned (such as good food such as turkey, green beans and apple pie, handprint turkey drawings, adults busy in the kitchen, parades and floats, family coming to visit, football and school plays) the book emphasizes that the purpose of Thanksgivng, the reason for the holiday is to give thanks to God for all of our blessings for yet another year. All of the above mentioned are used as examples of things for which to be grateful as well as pets and God's love for us.

Although people of all religious beliefs and those with limited or atheistic beliefs have adapted this holiday to their suite their own spiritual framework, this holiday is a Christian holiday, founded by Christians and continued by Chritians presidents of a Christian nation. The purpose of Thanksgiving is to give thanks to God. This message is simple and complete in this charming, enjoyable book. If one is not a Christian then this book would not be for you as it does include the secular aspects of the holiday, its message is the actual, original and true meaning of the holiday not a secularized version or a spiritually bankrupt version of the holiday's meaning.

This book does not include the original Thanksgivng story or history, just the original meaning that has been continued to present day.

The family depicted in the illustrations is of Eurpean ancestory. A darker skinned famiy is shown as visiting the family after dinner in the second to last scene. Also, an apparently Asian boy is also shown in this scene.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Good book for "meaning of thanksgiving" November 16, 2010

By Katherine Barton

Format:Board book|Amazon Verified Purchase

A quick and easy reminder to toddlers what Thanksgiving is all about. Only caution is that is does have a religious theme so if you are not Christian, you may not like it. I personally loved it and found it a perfect way to explain the real meaning behind Thanksgiving (other than the food, the football, the parade). It rhymes and its short so good really for any age.