PILGRIMS, TURKEYS, AND THE WOMAN WHO SAVED THANKSGIVING

First, the Turkeys:
Creative mom Vanessa Rough, over at Silly Eagle Books blog, posted a really cute popsicle-stick turkey craft for Thanksgiving, and a picture book I can't wait to get my hands on, Mousekin's Thanksgiving. I'm hoping to find the book at my library, because it's out of print. The whole series of Mousekin books by Edith Miller, published from 1964 to 1992, can be found listed at Loganberry Books.


From Library School Journal:  In another cozy installment in the "Mousekin" series, bright-eyed Mousekin rushes from animal to animal searching for the mysterious creature who has eaten his winter food stores. The happy ending shows a wild turkey digging up food for Mousekin and his friends. Muted watercolor wash drawings capture the quiet atmosphere of the forest at the time of the first snowfall. Miller gently conveys accurate information about nature while she tells a good story. A read-aloud for the whole year, not just Thanksgiving. (ages 3-7)

MY GOOD BOOKS THANKSGIVING PICKS FOR THIS YEAR:
If You Were At... The First Thanksgiving, by Anne Kamma, illustrations by Bert Dodson.  From Scholastic: Nearly half of the fifty-two Pilgrims at the First Thanksgiving were children ages sixteen and younger. What was it like being part of the historic harvest festival that inspired our modern holiday? How did the children contribute to the feast? What did they wear? Did they have turkey and pumpkin pie?

My own kids loved this style, so helpful in exploring history: written from a child's perspective and using a question-and-answer format, this book answers many questions about the early pilgrims and what it was like being part of the historic harvest festival that inspired our modern holiday. (Ages 7 and up)



Thank You, Sarah: The Woman Who Saved Thanksgiving by Laurie Halse Anderson, illustrations by Matt Faulkner.  In doing some research last year about Thanksgiving, I discovered that the woman attributed to starting a letter writing campaign (of 38 years!) to garner support in making Thanksgiving a national holiday was none other than Sarah Josepha Hale, the writer of the nursery rhyme, "Mary Had a Little Lamb"!  If you didn't see that post, click here for the short version of her story and her 1858 article from Godey's Lady's Book.

This year, I'm recommending a children's book about this historical heroine and her success in securing our nation's unique Day of Giving Thanks.  Told in a humorous style with silly caricatures, this book will interest children ages 5-10. (and parents will like it too!)

Below are my Good Books Thanksgiving recommendations from last year. Click HERE for details.