Thanksgiving Day

by Gail Gibbons

Presents information about the first Thanksgiving and the way that holiday is celebrated today.

Genres: Thanksgiving, Holiday, Picture Books, History, Nonfiction, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1983

About the author

From gailgibbons.com: I was born in Oak Park, Illinois, in 1944. Even as a little child, I was always busy putting books together. Sometimes I would bind them with yarn to hold the pages together. I've always loved drawing and painting. I was also a very curious child. My parents tell me that I was always asking lots and lots of questions.

Later, I went on to the University of Illinois, where I studied graphic design. Then I moved to New York City, where I got a job doing artwork for television shows. Eventually I was asked to do the artwork for a children's show. While doing that show, some of the children asked me if I had ever thought of doing children's books. My mind immediately recalled how much I enjoyed doing that type of thing when I was a child. So I put an idea for a book together and right away a publisher bought it. That book was called Willy and His Wheel Wagon. Since then, over 170 books that I have written and illustrated have been published. The type of books I write are non-fiction books. This is because I love researching so much. I get to ask lots of questions, just like when I was a kid. I also get to travel and meet lots of interesting people. While doing research for my book Nature's Green Umbrella: Tropical Rain Forests, I traveled to two islands where there are tropical rain forests, Saba and Dominica. I also had a great time writing and illustrating the book. I get a lot of pleasure from doing the type of work I do.

Reviews

[Annie Lima · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was looking for a book to read to my second- and third-grade reading and writing class (none of the students are American) that explains both the origins of Thanksgiving and how the holiday is celebrated in America today. I found this in the library, and it was perfect. I have added it to my lesson plans and plan to use it year after year. Thank you for a great resource!

[Margaret Chind · Rating 3 out of 5]

We watched this one as a library video from Overdrive. I'm happy about this new capability. It was a great ten or so minutes of quiet time around here while the girls got to watch and learn about Thanksgiving Day and the traditions it holds. We're always glad to experience a Gail Gibbons book.

[Andrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

As I'm finding with her books, they're really outdated and old-fashioned. The whole time I'm reading her I just keep thinking that they need a new edition and to be modernized and updated. The illustrations are old-fashioned and not great; they're simple and saturated with colors that don't match and there's not a lot of detail.

About half the book was on the Pilgrims and the Native Americans. I kept thinking this should be called The First Thanksgiving since so much of it was on that. Her writing is really simple, with usually one sentence on each page. It feels really inadequate, like so much more could be said. "Sometimes candles are lit" was on one page, and another said "Games are played." I was like is that all?

At one point it was a run-through of things eaten at Thanksgiving and she wrote that turkey is stuffed with breadcrumbs, herbs, and nuts and that doesn't make for great reading for kids who probably don't care to read an ingredient list. Then it was a list of things people do, not all of which apply. Like stickers being put on windows, candles being lit (I've never heard of that custom), and Thanksgiving hymns sung.

There are much better books on the subject and these are just too dated to enjoy, with standard info you've heard a hundred times.

[Paige · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it when I was six. Looking at it now, the illustrations could use some updating. The palette is fine- fitting for that time of year. The text is certainly suitable for children. The themes of gratitude and friendship are well done. The only real flaw, and I only see it now as an adult, is the portrayal of Native Americans. I don't know what precisely the Native American guests would have worn to that first Thanksgiving, but it being November in New England, I doubt it would have been what little is portrayed.

[Suzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very dated illustrations. Totes 80s.

[Little Champs]

H 49.05

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The basic story -- then and now.

The pilgrims and the natives should be at least a little wary, not smiley and super friendly.

Generated questions from the kids, which is good.

[Lynda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written in 1983, this picture book has a simplistic, perhaps not very accurate depiction of the first Thanksgiving. It is a bit lyrical and of course has lovely illustrations and bold colors.

[Sarang Ranade · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like how it teaches us things from old times and talks about thanksgiving .

[Shanna Gonzalez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Here is a retelling of the traditional Thanksgiving story for an elementary audience, with an explanation of modern observances of the holiday. It's illustrated in Gibbons' usual style -- simple drawings that get the point of the text across. It's not as compelling or engaging as some books of the same kind, and since half the book is devoted to modern observances, it's surprising that she leaves out the fact that Thanksgiving was only instituted as a national holiday 200 years after the Pilgrims' original feast. Like many Thanksgiving books, this one claims the Pilgrims ate the now-traditional turkey and cranberries -- which may not be true. (The primary sources attesting to the Pilgrim feast doesn't specifically mention either.)

There are more engaging Thanksgiving books available, but most of them are lengthy enough to preclude cramming into an already-busy holiday season. The main thing going for the book is its brevity. If you have only 5-10 minutes to give your elementary kids a basic understanding of why we have a turkey holiday in November, this provides an accessible succinct explanation, and it reads pretty well aloud. If you have half an hour or more, you might prefer a more in-depth treatment.

[☼Bookish in Virginia☼ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gail Gibbon's THANKSGIVING DAY is definitely a 'blast from the past'. The color choices of the art plus the fabulous 1980's moustaches sort of date this book.

At the beginning, it's pretty good. It tells in simple words, without a lot of sentences, a simplified story of how the pilgrims came to new continent.

"The Pilgrims wanted to worship God in their own way,
which they had not been allowed to do."

"They left their homes in England and saled across the
ocean to the New World in a ship called the Mayflower."

Where the book falls short is how it goes on (an on) about how we celebrate today. Do we really need a page about lighting candles? Nor a whole page about feature one sentence about a cornucopia?

I like the pages where the author connects our modern celebrations with those of the past, but it's a bit overdone for a book that's written at the 3rd Grade reading level.

'Meh' at best. There are better books to share.

[Luisa Knight · Rating 2 out of 5]

Colorful illustrations with a simple text.

Ages: 4 - 8

Cleanliness: an Indian is shown in a loincloth.

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[Asho · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a basic book about the "history" of Thanksgiving. I put history in quotes because it's a watered down, very simplistic, probably mostly false children's version of Thanksgiving history. But considering it's a children's book, that's okay. The illustrations are extremely bright and colorful, but also very dated. It's funny, as I read this I found myself thinking, "This has to have been written in the late '70s." The publication date is actually 1983, but close enough!

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

This looks like something I would have read in my elementary school library, and it caught my eye for that reason. At nearly 30 years old, it's obviously quite dated, but will amuse adults looking for a retro fix.

Veg*n parents note: As might be expected with an older book, only turkey is mentioned as the Thanksgiving centerpiece "everybody" prepares. No other food traditions are discussed.

[Marcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this one with the lower school this week to highlight the upcoming holiday. Gibbons is very good at this type of book-- introducing different aspects of a holiday. A little history, some cultural facts, and the human aspects (kindness, empathy) -- a perfect fit for launching further exploration of Thanksgiving.

[Callie Risse · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a simple book for young readers about the history of Thanksgiving as well as current traditions. With simple sentences and helpful pictures, this book covers everything from the Mayflower to pumpkin pie!

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book on Thanksgiving Day as part of my thanksgiving traditions. I love how cute the pictures are and the good messages there are to remind children AND adults as to what Thanksgiving Day is really about.

[Rebekah Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book seemed to be an accurate description of the first Thanksgiving for children. I liked the colors in the illustrations. It really explains why we celebrate this holiday today. This is a great holiday/seasonal book. It brings out historical facts but it is still fun to read.

[Patricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's only major flaw is in its historical inaccuracies concerning Thanksgiving. I did like that the Thanksgiving myth was not hyper focused on. Instead, an overall was done on how most modern Thanksgiving Days are celebrated.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This a very good summary of Thanksgiving for children. It's simple to understand and interesting to follow. The pictures are kind of ugly and outdated, but nonetheless, this is a very good and informative book.

[Cws]

JEAR3-Gib

[Jeannie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect for young children. Gail delivers the history of Thanksgiving in simply perfect terms.

[Katie Beck · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a good book to read to teach children not only about the first Thanksgiving but also how similiar it still is today.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

29 months - A very simple history and illustrations in bold colors of why we celebrate Thanksgiving.

[Horace Mann Family Reading Challenge · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book about how Thanksgiving was started. A.R.

[Lexie]

She was not interested in this book. Might be a little too advanced for her.

[Teri · Rating 1 out of 5]

Awful!!!

[Erika Little]

2 copies

[Hayley Peacock]

This is a great fun little book to talk about thanksgiving to little kids in like first grade. It talks about the pilgrims and the Indians and how they celebrated the first thanksgiving.