Cranberry Thanksgiving

Cranberryport

by Wende Devlin, Harry Devlin (illustrator)

Today was Thanksgiving, Grandmother's favorite day of the year. The cooking was done and her famous cranberry bread was cooling on the wooden board. Every year Grandmother invited a guest for dinner and allowed Maggie to do the same. "Ask someone poor or lonely," she always said.

She wasn't happy upon learning that Maggie had invited the unsavory Mr. Whiskers to dinner. Would her secret cranberry bread recipe be safe with him in the house?

After a long absence this delightful 1971 classic is back and so is the secret recipe for Grandmother's Famous Cranberry Bread!

Genres: Picture Books, Thanksgiving, Childrens, Holiday, Fiction, Food, Classics

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1971

Reviews

[Calista · Rating 5 out of 5]

New Review:

This is becoming a yearly story in our house for Thanksgiving like 'the Night Before Christmas' is at the Holidays. Our family loves this story. We had our amazing Thanksgiving, we watched a movie and then before dinner we got out this book and read the story to everyone. Then we went around and gave thanks for our favorite book or story of the year. I love it and I still need to own it.

This is a fantastic Thanksgiving book. It's a little mystery around food and family on the day. It's not about the historical aspect of the day which most days do celebration the pilgrims wiping out a many cultures over time. Grandmother is scared of Mr. Whiskers and he is scary looking, but he has a good heart and he is trustworthy.

2017 Review

I never heard of this gem.
THIS IS MY FAVORITE THANKSGIVING BOOK!!!

I love this story. It is all bout Thanksgiving and it has some real stuff in it. Grandma has a famous Cranberry bread recipe. They always invite guests to Thanksgiving dinner. Mr. Whiskers looks dirty and grandma doesn't trust him. Maggie has invited him to dinner. He is gruff. Grandma invites the clean looking Mr. Hodges to dinner. You can't always trust appearances.

Seriously, Why have I never heard of this!!!

This is an amazing book! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE

2nd year I got to read this book. This is still a gem and it's something different from the rest of the Thanksgiving stories out there. It's a mystery around a recipe. The kids were very excited to see this again. They remember it with fondness.

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grandmother reluctantly lets Mr. Whiskers attend her Thanksgiving dinner, even though she's convinced he's trying to steal her famous cranberry bread recipe. She's in for a surprise when the real thief is revealed. Another wonderful visit with the Cranberry gang, and a delicious-sounding recipe to boot!



Happy Thanksgiving to all!

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was thrilled to find that my library system actually has a copy of this book since it has received some stellar reviews but is apparently out of print and quite spendy used. I thought it was a charming read, but didn't quite live up to the "hype" for me. Even so, if you are able to find an inexpensive used copy or one at your library, this would make a great addition to Thanksgiving reads. The illustrations are adorable and have a delightful blend of old-fashionedness and an almost cartoony sensibility--that sounds really weird but I don't know how else to describe it, let me just say it WORKS! The story is a fun one, involving a slightly pretentious grandmother trying to keep her famous cranberry recipe secret--especially from the scruffy old "Mr. Whiskers" whom her granddaughter has befriended and invited over for dinner. Grandmother much prefers Mr. Horace with his gold cane and scent of lavender. But friendship can bloom between unlikely acquaintances, especially when there's pie and Thanksgiving in the air!

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grandmother and Maggie live on the edge of a cranberry bog in New England in this delightful Thanksgiving classic, first published in 1971. The creator of the finest cranberry bread in the country, Grandmother guards her recipe zealously, intending to pass it down to Maggie one day. When Thanksgiving dinner arrives, the two invited guests - the lavender-smelling, gold-cane-walking Mr. Horace, and the scruffy, bearded sea captain Mr. Whiskers (real name: Uriah Peabody) - couldn't present more of a contrast. Grandmother prefers Mr. Horace to the smelly Mr. Whiskers, whom she had never trusted, but appearances aren't everything, as she soon learns...

I have read and enjoyed all three of Wende and Harry Devlin's picture-books about the Old Black Witch - Old Black Witch! , Old Witch and the Polka-Dot Ribbon , and Old Witch Rescues Halloween! - but although I have long been aware of their Cranberry series, I have never gotten around to picking any of them up. How glad I am that I now have, as I found Cranberry Thanksgiving absolutely charming, enjoying both the story and the artwork. The illustrations here have a vintage cartoon-like style reminiscent of many of the books I read as a young girl, in the early 1980s. Recommended to anyone who appreciates vintage picture-books, or who is looking for fun Thanksgiving stories for the picture-book set!

[Luisa Knight · Rating 3 out of 5]

Surprising and delightful, and a story that deviates from the norm. You won't see this story coming or know where it's going. Super fun!

Ages: 4 - 9

Cleanliness: "goodness" is said.

**Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide a Cleanliness Report, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that!

So Follow or Friend me here on GoodReads! And be sure to check out my bio page to learn a little about me and the Picture Book/Chapter Book Calendars I sell on Etsy!

[Nieva21 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every thanksgiving growing up I read this book and baked the bread, but this term reading this book took on a special meaning for me with the way of dissecting children's literature. I realized why I liked this book and wanted to re-read it, particularly it's way of teaching children about make-shift families and sticking together during the holidays. I feel this book is a written straight from the heart and you can feel the warmth from the lessons as well as the fact that it's still popular about thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is a very enjoyable holiday that is important for children to learn how to be thankful for what they have; this book works on the lesson of less is more and being proud of who you are, which all children should take to heart.

[Nancy Ellis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very cute children's story about a little girl and her grandmother and their interesting Thanksgiving dinner guests. The grandmother is known for her cranberry bread recipe which she goes to great lengths to keep secret. That is the main reason I looked for this book. Someone in a book group had recommended the recipe which is included at the end of the book, and I'm always on the lookout for good cranberry recipes! It looks like a good one, and I'll definitely be trying it this month.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reread of a book I owned back in the 70's. Mr. Whiskers whiskers used to freak me out...Lol! Good story and good message.

[Peter Cannon, PhD, MLIS · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Thanksgiving "who-done-it" takes place in a small New England town where an unlikely hero must find out who stole an age-old secret in order to save Thanksgiving. Social mores are disrupted and our normative conceptions of worth are challenged, giving the reader an opportunity to travel back in time to experience life during the heyday of the cranberry industrial revolution in this latest installment from Wende and Harry Devlin. Younger readers will enjoy Dr. Wilson's award-winning dramatic reading of this classic berry-based yarn. Some depictions of holiday violence.

[Adele · Rating 4 out of 5]

A goodreads friend reviewed this book and when I clicked through I learned that Devlin is the author of a major nostalgia book from my childhood: How Fletcher Was Hatched. I may actually have read this one as a child as well, but I don't remember it. The illustrations are very interesting to look at, particularly the line work and cross-hatching. I love Mr. Whiskers' beard, which sometimes fills most of a page! I found the story to be predictable, but the "twist" would probably surprise the young children who are the intended audience. I had fun noticing little things that make this book feel like something of a historical artifact. On the recipe for cranberry bread that follows the story it says, "Get Mother to help" and assures us "Recipe tested by the Food Department of Parents' Magazine"

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

We read Cranberry Thanksgiving for our Five in a Row curriculum and loved it! My daughter really enjoyed the story and so many details stuck with her after just the first "row." It's a great story about a girl named Maggie, her friend Mr. Whiskers, and her somewhat judgemental Grandmother with whom she lives. This book prompts discussions about judging others based on appearances, being rude to others, and being compassionate. We will read one more time and then bake Grandmother's Famous Cranberry Bread (veganized of course!) this weekend.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved this story of Grandmother and Maggie's celebration of Thanksgiving. Grandmother invited the refined Mr. Horace as her guest and is dismayed that Maggie has invited their neighbor, Mr. Whiskers. But things aren't always as they seem.

[Kyleduke · Rating 2 out of 5]

the book was really boring no good parts of the book.

[Melody Schwarting · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed revisiting this childhood favorite! A cute Thanskgiving story, one that's not centered around a large nuclear family. Cranberry orange will always be my pumpkin spice.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely re-read of this book from my childhood about a mysterious neighbor, invited for a New England Thanksgiving dinner. Beautiful illustrations and a great message of including persons we may not know around our own table, and the rewards that may bring. A bit of a mystery involved here. Added bonus, some recipes included!! A great seasonal read for families, if you can find it!

[sincerely · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loveee these illustrations and my kids loved the story.

[Bronwyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was really cute. We read these as kids and my mom got this one for my son. It’s a sweet book about family, getting together, and looks being deceiving.

[Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book where the story all takes place on Thanksgiving Day. Maggie is a girl who lives with her grandmother on a cranberry farm. Every year for Thanksgiving dinner, Grandmother and Maggie each invite a guest. This particular year Grandmother invites Mr. Horace, who is a distinguished gentleman who is staying at the local hotel. Maggie invites Mr. Whiskers, a former ship captain who is disliked by Grandmother. After dinner this year, Mr. Horace is caught stealing Grandmother's recipe for cranberry bread, for which she is famous. Mr. Whiskers comes to the rescue and is now seen more favorably in Grandmother's eyes.

I love the pictures in this book, and I also love that it includes the recipe for Grandmother's Famous Cranberry Bread. The story is also entertaining and includes a conflict and resolution.

I would use this book in November as the Thanksgiving holiday approaches. It can be used to show how looks do not define a person's character. It also depicts forgiveness.

[Shanna Gonzalez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maggie and her grandmother live at the edge of a New England cranberry bog, and every year they each choose a guest to join them for a Thanksgiving feast. This year Grandmother invites the lavender-pomaded Mr. Horace. Maggie invites her gruff, scruffy friend Mr. Whiskers, and Grandmother is horrified because not only does he smell bad, but she is sure he's after her secret cranberry bread recipe! After a beautiful meal, her fears are vindicated: one of the guests tries to steal the recipe, but the outcome of the scuffle that ensues is a big surprise.

This is an old-fashioned, lighthearted story which shows a friendship blooming across dividing lines of culture. We're gently reminded that we can't always judge people by appearances. It's a fun, wholesome read, and Grandmother's secret cranberry bread recipe is included.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book as well as all the other ...Cranberry books by Wende Devlin. I have read this to my own 4 kids during the Thanksgiving season and last year read it to my kindergarten class in my homeschool co-op. The kids in my co-op class loved the suspense of figuring out who stole grandmother's recipe. We also talked about not judging people on how they look and talk because of who they thought stole the recipe.This is a wonderful story about family,friendship,tradition and not judging on the basis of looks or speech(though this may be over the heads of young children).

[RC · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a heart-warming story about a young girl, Maggie, who lives on a cranberry bog with her grandmother. Maggie's grandmother is famous for her cranberry bread recipe and is very suspicious of anyone trying to steal it, especially a local fisherman Mr. Whiskers. Much to her grandmother's dismay, however, Maggie invites Mr. Whisker's to Thanksgiving. In a tale that highlights the delicious food of the holiday and the loving spirit behind it, Cranberry Thanksgiving is a true treat the shows that friendship and kindness are what Thanksgiving is all about.

[LCL Children'S · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Cranberry Thanksgiving, we first meet Maggie, Grandmother, and Mr. Whiskers. Maggie and Grandmother each invite a friend to Thanksgiving dinner. Grandmother invites polite and proper Mr. Horace. Maggie invites her friend Mr. Whiskers. Grandmother doesn't trust Mr. Whiskers and is sure he is after her famous, secret recipe for cranberry bread. But who really tries to steal the recipe and who is the hero? Read the story to find out and try the recipe for Grandmother's Famous Cranberry Bread that is at the end of the book. JM (Utica)

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wordy, lushly illustrated little story about not jumping to conclusions about people--and being welcoming to everyone at our holiday table. Grandma's well-loved cranberry bread recipe is provided, with a comment instructing children to "ask Mother for help." (Not surprising for a book that's nearly 50 years old.)

Veg*n parents note: A turkey on a platter is shown a couple of times, and we see a close-up of a bone on a character's plate. The cranberry bread recipe uses dairy and eggs, but in today's world, those things are pretty easy to substitute in baking.

[Rosa Cline · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is four or five books in this series and although you can read them out of order (and not real sure there is an order) This one gives you a nice back ground on the relationship between two of the main characters. So if you read the others and wondered 'why' they were the way they were this book helps explain that. Also this book helps readers-listeners to 'don't judge by what you see' as the elderly woman in the book discovers in the end. A wonderful caring friendship book.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book when I was a kid. It's a classic and I still love to read it. The illustrations are old style, but that's what makes it so comfortable and endearing. You'll love this book especially if you're from back east. It also comes with the cranberry bread recipe at the back of the book that Mr. Horace (story character) tries to steal from grandmother.

[Paul Hankins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grandmother's Cranberry Bread draws two visitors to her home for Thanksgiving dinner, but does one of those guests have designs on stealing the recipe?

Wende and Harry Devlin created my favorite picture book from my childhood, HOW FLETCHER WAS HATCHED, so it was a thrill to find this title in the bins the other day at the warehouse.

Just in time for the approaching holiday.

[Roberta · Rating 3 out of 5]

This Thanksgiving parable shows us that you can't judge a book by its cover. Grandmother doesn't like Maggie's friend Mr. Whiskers because he's unkempt and uncouth. She DOES like Mr. Horace because he's neat and clean and has impeccable manners. But, Grandmother is in for a big surprise after dinner. Grandmother's famous cranberry bread recipe is included in the book.

[Jean-Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

We just read Aesop's fables before diving into this book and we decided that moral of this story was never judge a man by his whiskers/smell/tie. :-) This is a fun books to read aloud. And on the back cover you can find the recipe for Grandmother's Famous Cranberry Bread. The charming 1970s illustrations remind me of my childhood.

[Megan Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

A family tradition for 40 years! My mum and dad got me a first edition the year this book was published. Not only is the story adorable (a good old-fashioned children's story), but the recipe is great, too. We've been making "Grandma's" cranberry bread since 1971. This is one of my most prized books.

[Lori Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quirky vintage story of a grandmother/daughter family, their odd neighbor, a special recipe, a mysterious ill-intentioned guest, an annoyance-turned-savior as old prejudices are shattered, and new friendships, all in the name of Thanksgiving. I find it strange and inconsistent, yet loveable; my daughter (age 6) asks for it to be read again and again.