1 comments about Mayflower 1620: A New Look at a Pilgrim Voyage.

1. The collaborative effort of the Plimoth Plantation, authors Peter Arenstam, John Kemp, and Catherine O'Neill Grace, and photographers Sisse Brimberg and Cotton Coulson, Mayflower 1620: A New Look At A Pilgrim Voyage is a superb picture book retelling of history for young people, about the voyage of the Mayflower ship and the lives of the colonists who braved hardship for a new future. Gorgeous, full-color photographs capture reenactments of how life aboard the Mayflower was like, and the down-to-earth text presents the events of history in detail. An enthusiastically recommended and enthralling educational read, Mayflower 1620 is ideal for young readers seeking to broaden and improve their knowledge of American colonial history as well as their basic reading skills.

5 comments about A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (Peanuts).

1. The book is good, however it is way too small. There are many pages and it was intended to be a story for my Pre K class. I had to omit several lines and pages. I was disappointed as I did not expect such a tiny and complicated book.



2. This book is very small, but hardcover. My kids enjoyed the story anyway and got them to read it without a fight because it was so little. Still had 30 pages though, I believe. Anyway, cute little book - just get it when it's on sale for $1 like I did.



3. Charlie Brown has a bit of a problem with the old holiday days off thing, it seems. This team, he has an additional burden, that of being the food provider. Not sure I would want to be going to dinner if Charlie Brown was cooking, but I might take a chance on the Snoopster, though.
   
   More of the usual Peanuts sort of thing here with the rest of the gang.



4. A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (Peanuts)
   I was very disappointed with this product. There was no indication in the description that this book was actually in miniature size. Although it may be a cute stocking stuffer, it is not a suitable addition to a classroom or personal library, as this was meant to be.



5. Live and learn. I never thought to look at the dimensions of a book in the description. I mean, why would I? They don't make teeny weeny books that appear normal size on the computer, right? um--wrong. It's teeny.
   
   Now, my kids think it's the cutest thing, so that makes it worthwhile. If not for that, I would call this a bad joke.

5 comments about Thank You, Sarah: The Woman Who Saved Thanksgiving.

1. Yippie-Skippie for Laurie Halse Anderson, a descendant of Sarah Josepha Buell Hale! Laurie seems to be every bit as bold, brave, stubborn and smart as her main character, Sarah. This 2002 juvenile literature has loose Rockwell-like drawings in soft, harvest colors. Each page logically flows into the text with innocence and humor as Laurie tells of her 'heroine with pen' in a uniquely modern, conversational fashion that evokes the spirit of forging ahead into new frontiers. She makes it easy for children to grasp the idea of tackling and persevering a task to get it done right. In Sarah's case, quality took time, something our fast-paced children can't hear enough. It's an eventful book of fact, feelings and hard work that are so necessary for successful results. Boys will have an appreciation for Sarah's fortitude (not just in football season) and girls will be inspired to carry on the overseeing spirit of Sarah. Laurie really makes history a fun read! Thank you, Laurie! You are most kind to carry on the "get-to-it-to-get-it-done" attitude that obviously runs through your veins! The pen IS mightier than the sword.
   Patricia Watkins, author of BOYD-FRIEND



2. This book defines Thanksgiving as the Pilgrims thanking the Native Americans for saving them from starvation. The truth is that the Pilgrims gave thanks to God. Whatever you think of God, that is an historical fact. The book is adorably done, and I love that it tells us of this unsung hero who saved Thanksgiving with her perseverance and letter-writing, but if you were hoping that this book would teach your children about Thanksgiving, or if the idea of revisionist history offends your principles, then you will be disappointed with this selection.



3. I must admit that I was not aware that Sarah Josepha Buell Hale (who wrote "Mary had a little lamb") had such a pivotal role in our Thanksgiving traditions. We know that Thanksgiving got its start with the Pilgrims and Indians having a celebratory feast in honor of a bountiful fall harvest. What I think most of us don't know is that the annual celebration was falling by the wayside much to the dismay of Sarah Hale, as stated by this book. This biography goes on to tell how Sarah never gave up on having Thanksgiving declared a national holiday. The illustrations add a humorous touch that keep kids interested...like the happy sassy turkeys on the pages that state, "WE ALMOST LOST THANKSGIVING!" These same pages also show a forlorn Indian, Pilgrim boy and a grandma (with hash on a tray), along with a crying football player and men holding a deflating dinosaur parade float as well as a very shocked man in his easy chair discovering there is no football on TV. The author touches on numerous things that Sarah accomplished with her mighty pen. I think this is a fantastic way to share the many contributions of Sarha Hale with your children. There is a lot of history packed into this fun little book. When giving thanks this Thanksgiving Day, don't forget to include Sarah Hale.



4. If you want to increase people's knowledge about the Thanksgiving holiday in the United States -- and provide them with a model of perseverance -- _Thank You, Sarah_ by Laurie Halse Anderson will perfectly fill the bill.
   
   Did you know that in the early 1800s, before Thanksgiving was a national holiday, people celebrated Thanksgiving at different times -- or ignored it altogether? The holiday was in danger of dying out completely. Sarah Hale, however, believed not only that Thanksgiving should be preserved but that the entire nation should celebrate it on the same day.
   
   Sarah Hale championed many causes. She favored education for girls, and she opposed corsets -- to name only two. Sarah set about to change the world by writing letters. (She was also the first female magazine editor in America, and she wrote poetry, novels, and biographies as well. She even wrote "Mary Had a Little Lamb," based on an experience she had as a teacher.)
   
   In her campaign to have everyone in the United States celebrate Thanksgiving on the same day, Sarah wrote thousands of letters -- and she inspired thousands of other women to write letters, too. Her crusade continued for 38 years, and she appealed to five United States Presidents before Thanksgiving was made a national holiday.
   
   Laurie Halse Anderson's lively story is perfectly complemented by Matt Faulkner's illustrations. The story is followed by "A Feast of Facts," four pages of additional information about the development of Thanksgiving traditions and about Sarah Hale and the time in which she lived.
   
   _Thank You, Sarah_ increases readers' appreciation of Thanksgiving, introduces us to an inspiring woman, and encourages us that our individual efforts can make a difference in the world.



5. I wanted to love this book. I love teaching history through story and biography and here's an unsung heroine... but WHY do we think we must package stories for children in such vapid ways? In over simplifying the writing we remove beautiful prose as part of our heritage, and from the minds of our children. The irreverence (You think you know everything about Thanksgiving) was tiresome -- I encourage my students to think that when it comes to history we NEVER know everything... and BIG LETTERS for things like "WE ALMOST LOST THANKSGIVING" should be left to the reader's intonation rather than a gimicky method of making text stand out.
   
   While I note other reviews stating that all history teachers should include this book, the children I teach, including my own, did not have any positive response for this book other than it was mildly interesting to talk about the impact one person can have if they just keep at something they truly believe in. It could have been told in a way that might have had a larger vocabulary (How were books like Winnie the Pooh, pre-the Disney Easy Readers versions, ever considered children's books in days gone by?) but more gripping and memorable. While I admire that the author wanted to honor her family history and put a lot of heart into it, I'd love to see someone tackle this topic again and this time with less of the hip and trendy approach. My copy, sadly, went to the library freebie table.

4 comments about Three Young Pilgrims.

1. This is a wonderful and informative book for children and adults that tells the story of the Allerton family as they travel to America. Readers will enjoy both the illustrations -- detailed cut-aways of the ships they sailed in -- and the text which does not mince words about the difficulties of the journey. For anyone who has relatives on the Mayflower, this is a lovely story of how our ancestors first came to this country. It reminds us of how brave they were.



2. I discovered Three Young Pilgrims by accident and had to have it. Beautifully told believable story that brings history alive for all ages and illustrations are detailed and excellent. I recommend it for ages 7 to 107!



3. Cheryl Harness has produced the most unusual gem of the Mayflower story that I have yet run across. The story, by adult standards is choppy in its progression, but is quite charming in its childlike perspective of the harshness that the pilgrims must have faced both on the Mayflower and in the founding of Plymouth including the time of the Thanksgiving feast. The story is sandwiched between pages that give interesting details of the ship, the voyage, and the people and events of the time that would be certain to satisfy the curious reader or listener. The artwork was beautifully illustrated in watercolor, gouache, and colored pencil and has been wonderfully reproduced in colored ink. This is both a wonderful holiday and historical book that should please all ages.

   Crazy James




4. Great book about the Pilgrims with lots of historical detail about the different families. Cut-away of the Mayflower with labels and drawings of each of the passengers with their names, makes the story come to life.

5 comments about 1621: A New Look at Thanksgiving (I Am American).

1. This is a beautifully written and exquisitely photographed book about the first Thanksgiving celebration in 1621 (according to the Western calendar). The photos were taken during re-enactments at Plimoth Plantation, and are historically accurate as well as lovely to look at. The text gives the Wampanoag perspective on the event with sensitivity and vibrancy. All in a book that is clearly successful in engaging young readers, no matter how much or how little they already know--or think they know--about the history of Thanksgiving.



2. I highly recommend this book. As the daughter of a Cherokee-English African-American woman,educator and grandmother I was always taught the truth along with my brothers about this very important holiday/harvest festival. Early on we were taught to share what we had with the less fortunate and to give to others who really needed something. Also my grandmother the late,great Hattie Little-Tabor who was my mom's mother fed homless people who stopped by her home during the Great Depression. This book brought back full circle the fact that we must all strive to work together to overcome greed to serve all in need. I highly recommend this book.



3. What did they really eat at the first Thanksgiving?
   
   Venison, roast duck, roast goose, clams and other shellfish, succulent eels, white bread, corn bread, leeks and watercress, wild plums and dried berries, wild grape wine.
   
   How did the pilgrims come to find an Indian that spoke English when they arrived in the New World?
   
   Tisquantum, also known as Squanto, had been kidnapped by earlier explorers, but had managed to return to his home in what is now called New England.
   
   Was the first Thanksgiving really in 1621?
   
   In the fall of 1621 the Pilgrims spent 3 days celebrating their first harvest in the New World with at least 90 Native American guests, but the pilgrims never referred to this as a day of thanksgiving. It was in 1623 when a two month drought ended after their fervent prayers that the first recorded religious thanksgiving day occurred. This day focused more on worship than on feasting.
   
   The book 1621 A New Look at Thanksgiving is published by the National Geographic Society, which is evidenced by the excellence of its photographs. It was put together with the help of the folks at Plimouth Plantation, a living history museum of 17th century Plymouth, located in Plymouth, Massachusetts.
   
   The information is not primarily in the form of a story. The chapters are short, just a few pages, rather like photo essays, and they tend to stand by themselves, allowing the reader to pick and choose.
   
   The authors believe they have significant new perspectives to share.
   " There was neither cranberry sauce nor pumpkin pie at the 1621 harvest celebration. There were no Indians with woven blankets over their shoulders and large feathered headdresses cascading down their backs. There were no Pilgrims in somber black clothes and tall hats with silver buckles, either. The English didn't even call themselves Pilgrims at the time"
   
   In giving information about the first Thanksgiving there are a few chapters sharing from the viewpoint of the Wampanoag native people, as well as a page about the history of the holiday, a chronology, and a couple of recipes, including this one for Stewed Pompion.
   
   4 cups of cooked pumpkin or squash (seeded, and steamed or baked), roughly mashed
   3 tablespoons butter
   2 to 3 teaspoons cider vinegar
   1 or 2 teaspoons ground ginger
   ½ teaspoon salt
   
   In a saucepan over medium heat, stir and heat all the ingredients together. Adjust seasonings to taste and serve hot.
   
   We used concentrated apple juice and regular vinegar instead of apple cider vinegar. It has a rustic authentic flavor, which no one in our house enjoyed too much except me. For a family of four a half batch is probably sufficient.
   
   The website for Plimouth Plantation is http://www.plimoth.org/
   You can read a lot there about the Indians, the people we call the pilgrims, the first thanksgiving, the settlement at Plymouth, and of course the living history museum. For those with a high speed connection I recommend clicking Online Fun - Become a Historian! on the home page. This activity teaches about how history is researched and recorded as well as about what is commonly known as the First Thanksgiving.



4. Excellent resource for units on Native American cultures or communities. My students are doing a unit on communities using Plymouth colony and the Wampanoag tribe as examples of early communities. Great resource to accompany Tampenum's Day, Sarah Morton's Day, Samuel Eaton's Day and other books about Plymouth colony.



5. Informed History - This is what we should be teaching our children. This should be a standard in every classroom! Beautiful pictures too!

5 comments about The Gadget War (Puffin Chapters).

1. This book is about a girl named Kelly. Kelly made alot of inventions about 46 inventions, And she is only in the 3rd grade. And if you have a problem Kelly will come up with a gadget to solve it. Then one day this guy named Albert Einstein came in Kelly's class room and that was a problem for Kelly. Albert is a young inventor's camp,And he is going to show the real gadget wiz.



2. My 3rd-grade class all got to read this book because it's short and fun. It is on our Accelerated Reader list, and we all loved it!



3. This is our first book by this author, but it won't be the last! It tells the story of Kelly, a clever third grader who excels at designing and making gadgets for any purpose. She is regarded highly by her classmates and teacher until a new student joins the class -- a boy who not only designs gadgets himself, but almost instantly gets the class laughing AT Kelly. How their gadget war escalates, and how it's eventually resolved, is handled brilliantly by the author. Duffey not only shows creative problem solving, but she adds a little philosophy, too -- all still accessible to the early reader! With humor and thought, Kelly grows up a little and makes a new friend.
   
   This is fun for students and people who read to students, and the plot revolves around a female protagonist who can still appeal to boy readers.
   
   Highly worthwhile and extremely enjoyable, at 75 pages of large type, this is a great introduction to longer fiction for young readers.



4. I ordered this book, asked for overnight shipping because of a deadline (the book was needed for a school report) and only learned the day it was supposed to arrive (afte receiving a confirmation that the book was in stock and would be there on time) that I would not receive it until 5 days later! I called Amazon to cancel and they also cancelled my 90 free shipping trial and refused to reinstate it. It was probably the worst online buying experience I have ever had.



5. Genre & Age
   Series book. 3rd grade chapter book.
   
   Summary
   Kelly Sparks makes points with her classmates because she is the gadget whiz. When a new boy comes to the school, he calls himself the "read" gadget whiz. The two begin a gadget war, each trying to out-do the other. When the pair get into trouble for hitting the principal with an orange, they discover the real reason for rules--not hurting others--and that the "mean" principal has a sense of humor and is a real person.

3 comments about Alligator Arrived With Apples : A Potluck Alphabet Feast.

1. As a kindergarten teacher I am always on the lookout for alphabet books that portray letters and sounds in a different way than I read just the day before, while keeping to the same concepts. We really enjoyed the illustrations here. Several of my students noticed that this illustrator drew the ducks in the book we used on our first day of school because the pictures are simple, clear, and not too ornate. We enjoyed this work, and heartily recommend you stop by to have lunch or dinner with these folks while learning the a, b, c's.



2. A delightful and rollicking ABC, this picture-book will be appreciated by anyone who loves good food, celebration, Thanksgiving --- and maybe most of all, anyone who does all these things and is ALSO a vegetarian. Not that there's a vegetarian agenda --- the book is not at all evangelical --- but it happens that at this Thanksgiving feast, Turkey is a guest, not an entree, Trucking in Turnips (just as Bear Brought Banana Bread, Biscuits & Butter and Cat Carried Cherry Compote and Cranberry Cobbler). We read ALLIGATOR aloud before every Thanksgiving at our home, and it makes all of us, of all ages, giggle, cheer, and happily dig in. A true celebration of a book, and delicious.



3. Alligator Arrived with Apples: A Potluck Alphabet Feast is an endearing story. It is so cute; it begs to be read repeatedly. The illustrations are adorable, and they remind me of a cross between Sandra Boynton's crazy characters, and Richards Scarry's Busytown animals. Technically speaking, the illustrations are very basic with simple washes of color, but the personalities of the animals are so droll the pictures are irresistible.
   I wasn't sure how my son would react to this book. He's in Kindergarten, thus, he's outgrown alphabet books, but he adored this Thanksgiving tale. Many of the food items are new to his young eyes, and he was curious about each one. The copyright page is a two-page spread that features all the menu items. The food is in alphabetic order, and labeled accordingly. I think we discussed this page four separate times. We also poured over the picture where the tables are set, and the place cards are aligned in front of the each place setting. My son wanted to address each animal, and was distraught when he discovered there wasn't an animal for the letter "R". He kept telling me that the Pigs should have invited a rabbit. What could I do but agree with him?
   
   Parents will like reading this short, 40-page tale because it's clever, and amusing. The vegetarians will be pleased as well, because all the food choices are vegan. The book doesn't offer an age recommendation, but I think 3 to 6 years is probably appropriate. This is an unexpected holiday delight.

5 comments about Cranberry Thanksgiving.

1. This book is very charming indeed! Maggie is a delightful young girl that knows looks aren't everything and befriends a man not based on his looks but based on his need for a friend. And when things start to fall apart at the Thanksgiving dinner she holds everyone together. I read this book to my children and we all loved it and are grateful to know there are others like it.
   
   It is a great book that brings about the true spirit of thanksgiving with a little lesson thrown in, and the basis of the book...the secret Cranberry Bread recipe...is a delightful way to tie-in these fun and whimsical characters. And, to my delight, the recipe is included at the back of the book!
   
   Great for parents to read and great for children to read!



2. This was one of my favorite books when I was a child. I loved the story tremendously, and the illustrations were mesmorizing. It always would put me in the mood for Thanksgiving, any time of year! I still read it today, and the pictures bring me back to a wonderful time. All of Harry Devlin's books are fantastic...and the Cranberry series is a must for children of all ages.



3. This book has been a favorite in my family since my three children were little; we always read it at Thanksgiving time and made the special Cranberry bread, which is really delicious! Now that my children are grown up with children of their own, they are continuing the tradition. A very special book!



4. This is a great book to own and read every year. I love the moral of the book...don't judge a book by its cover! We also made a cranberry recipe (although not the one in the book)... it was fun and memorable!



5. I used to read this book as a child at my Grandparents home during the holidays. I know others in the family have "dibs" on this book...so I've bought my own! It will become part of our family tradition to read this through the holiday season as well.

2 comments about The Story of the Pilgrims (Pictureback(R)).

1. I have been perusing children's books for historical events and people. This is a nice introduction to the Mayflower and the history of Thanksgiving. It gives enough detail that very young children will actually learn some history, yet it is short and to the point to keep their interest. The only fault is that I could not get a hardcover edition.
   
   I like this one better than The Pilgrims' First Thanksgiving by Ann McGovern.



2. Thanksgiving is a harvest festival; a time to show appreciation for all we have. Teaching our children a biased viewpoint of the First Thanksgiving empowers racism to continue in this country. Popular renditions of the First Thanksgiving (such as this book) give children the mistaken impression that the relationship between American Indians and English colonists was one of mutual help, respect and friendship. This popular belief does not take into account the way in which the colonists persecuted the American Indians, sold them into slavery and drove them from their homes. Not to mention the epidemic diseases colonists brought to America, genocide and erosion of tribal soverreignty. Get to know American Indian history through their stories, captured by Gerald McDermott or other authors at another time of year rather than celebrating the dreadful.

4 comments about Franklin's Thanksgiving (Franklin).

1. Thanksgiving often gets covered up with the rush for Christmas and we were looking for something to help us properly recognize this family holiday. Sharon Jennings gives us a warm story of Franklin's family that fits the bill. My 4 year old loves Franklin and this story is helping bridge the time between Halloween and Thanksgiving by giving us a family story worth sharing.
   The colors of fall jump off the page and engage both our children, even our 6 year old. If you enjoy Franklin you will want to add this to you child's holiday book collection.



2. This Book is one of my favorites. Franklin starts off in the beginning really upset because His grandparents couldn't make it for thanksgiving this year. It had always been a tradition for the family to get together and celebrate the holiday. So to make e Franklin happy his parents went out and invited other people in the town to come to dinner for a surprise. Not knowing Franklin invited his own people. So when thanksgiving morning came tons of people were at the house. And they all had a great thanksgiving. I would recommend this book to children 4-10. It was really cute and had great detailed pictures.



3. In this tale, Franklin, his friends and his family deal with Thanksgiving. The story is simple and to the point. The message is sharing and helping each other. As with the other Franklin books, the illustaations are great, very detailed and the colors are wonderful. The text goes quite well with the illustratons. The book is a true joy to read with the young ones, or one that the young ones like to read to them selves. Highly recommend this one and the other Franklin books in the series. This is good stuff here.



4. Franklin's grandparents can't visit for the Thanksgiving feast, so Franklin and his parents all secretly invite other friends. They end up with so many guests that they have to eat outside. The more the merrier!
   I can't help but feel a bit sad, though, that his grandparents can't make it. This is for ages around 4-6.