Product Description

The Thanksgiving Story "is the only really distinguished book we have on that holiday. Miss Dalgliesh has told the Pilgrim story simply from the point of view of the Hopkins family whose little Oceanus was born on the Mayflower; and Miss Sewell has made wonderful full-color pictures. A beautiful book".--The Horn Book. Caldecott Honor Book.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #92245 in Books
• Published on: 1985-09-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 32 pages

From Publishers Weekly
Dagliesh and Sewell received praise for the clarity and immediacy of their picture book, a hit of the season in 1954. Today's children, beginners and advanced readers, will value the story about one family's first Thanksgiving in the Plymouth Colony, strikingly present in stylized, naive pictures like colored etchings. Giles, Constance and Damaris Hopkins are aboard the Mayflower, overcrowded when the Speedwell turns back to England. On the journey, the children's baby brother is born and named Oceanus; he will be one of the smallest in the company of settlers who endure the terrible first year in the New World and gather to celebrate the harvest the next November. The story ends with the great feast to which the colonists invited the Indian chief Massasoit, Squanto and their people who had helped the strangers survive hunger, cold and sickness.
Copyright 1985 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Customer Reviews

Great history simply told.
This is an excellent "history book" for listeners as young as first grade, maybe even Kindergarten if the child is accustomed to chapter books. It tells the story of the arrival of the Pilgrims, and the times leading up to the first Thanksgiving. There are five chapters, and illustrations on most pages. The story is told in a manner that is full of historical detail, and yet also delightfully simple. We follow three Pilgrim children--Giles, Constance, and Damaris Hopkins--and read of their experiences travelling on the Mayflower, building a settlement in New Plymouth, first being afraid of and then befriending some Indians, and finally sharing a feast together, each thanking God in their own way. This would be a great family read for Thanksgiving Day, or leading up to it.

Finally! A THANKSgiving book....
I was just at a huge retail bookseller yesterday looking at Thanksgiving books that I could read to my homeschooled Kindergartener. There is a large selelction of bland books about thanksgiving. The wise child will say, "But, WHO are we thanking?" after reading most of those books. THIS book answers that question...GOD! Yes, while it seems politically incorrect, the truth is that the first settlers to our country WERE religious pilgrims, seeking a safe haven from religious persecution. This book is a gem in a PC sea of bland, corny thanksgiving day books for children. Children will enjoy the simple story; those just getting into chapter books will enjoy feeling successful reading a 'big kid' chapter book; and they will enjoy seeing how God blesses the faithful when they endure through trying times and complete hard work. This is a great book that your early elementary aged children will enjoy and can become a traditional read aloud for your family on the holiday!

The Thanksgiving Story
Wonderful easy to read chapter book dealing with everything from the Mayflower and Speedwell to Squanto in a very realistic, historical manner. As a first grade teacher, I have found this book to be both interesting for young readers as well as informative. It differs than other "Thanksgiving" books in that although it is most sympathetic to the abilities of the reader, it provides a very compassionate, "adult" look into our history. It is much more than just a "pilgrims, Mayflower, Indians and turkey" story book! It is an excellent resource for the home and the classroom!END