PPBF: The Very First Thanksgiving Day

Welcome to another Perfect Picture Book Friday, inspired by children's picture book author, Susanna Hill.  Each Friday, we review a children's book of our choice and include links to crafts and other activities. Check out her comprehensive list of books categorized by subject for Teachers, Librarians and Parents here.

Author: Rhonda Gowler Greene
Illustrator: Susan Gaber
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Date: 2002

Ages: 4 to 8

First lines:

This is the very first Thanksgiving Day.
This is the food, gathered and blessed,
the corn and sweet berries, the wild turkey dressed,
shared on the very first Thanksgiving Day.

From the Front Flap:

The story of the first Thanksgiving celebration, told in cumulative rhyme, introduces young readers to America's most beloved national tradition, which began with a shared feast to rejoice in the bounty of
the land, new beginnings, and peace between two societies.

Exquisite paintings by Susan Gaber transport the reader back to the earliest days of American history with meticulous detail and breathtaking imagery.  Sure to be a yearly favorite, The Very First Thanksgiving Day will resonate with readers young and old on this day for thanks and blessings.


Why I like this book:

The illustrations are gorgeous and realistic. The pilgrims seem to speak to me from the page!  The story is simple and accurate, and told in a charming way.  It promises to engage even the youngest child.

Here are a few activities for the Thanksgiving season:

http://www.apples4theteacher.com/holidays/thanksgiving/

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/thanksgiving/

http://christianity.about.com/od/thanksgiving/tp/funthanksgiving.htm

http://ministry-to-children.com/thanksgiving-crafts-for-kids/

Happy Thanksgiving!!