The Autumn Equinox: Celebrating the Harvest

by Ellen Jackson

Discusses the significance of some of the harvest festivals around the world and describes how they are celebrated.

Genres: Childrens, Picture Books, Nonfiction, Thanksgiving, Nature, Cultural

32 pages, Paperback

First published June 26, 2000

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Author Ellen Jackson and illustrator Jan Davey Ellis, who have also produced picture-books about the Winter Solstice, Spring Equinox and Summer Solstice, here explore the Autumn Equinox, and the many harvest festivals worldwide that coincide with it. From the American Thanksgiving, which opens the book and is explored more fully later on, to the Chinese Mid-Autumn Moon Festival, from the Celtic Samhain (a precursor of Halloween) to the Iroquois Green Corn Dance, many different traditions are described. The book concludes with a brief retelling of a Sauk folktale, and with various craft ideas associated with each holiday or festival described...

Although The Autumn Equinox: Celebrating the Harvest is the first of Jackson and Ellis' four books exploring the cardinal points of the solar calendar that I have read, it will definitely not be the last. Having read all four of Wendy Pfeffer's books, which also cover these important days, I have long also been aware of the Jackson/Ellis series, and have meant to get to them. I'm glad I finally did, as I found the text here informative, the artwork appealing, and the craft ideas fun. My only criticism would be the fact that the Chinese Mid-Autumn Moon Festival is never explicitly named, even though there is a page devoted to it, which seems an odd oversight. That said, I can see this one working very well in a classroom unit on the autumn, and would recommend it to anyone seeking picture-books that explore the idea of harvest festivals as a worldwide phenomenon.

[Emelda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Again, Ms. Jackson make a simple, annoying mistake: she claims that Ceres was the goddess of corn. No. Corn came from the Americas, therefore if you are describing a old-world goddess in her prime... her worshipers wouldn't know what corn was.

Anyway. Again, interesting and simple. Not particularly compelling, hence the 3 stars.

[Stella · Rating 2 out of 5]

Covers a diverse collection of world harvest festivals, and in this it should be applauded. But it is problematic that the author includes crops such as corn and pumpkins as part of "traditional" European celebrations...before these were imported from the Americas. Makes me wonder what other information might be inaccurate.

[Patricia N. McLaughlin · Rating 2 out of 5]

As other reviewers have pointed out, some of the information in this book is woefully inaccurate. Corn and pumpkins, for instance, were imported to Europe from the Americas, so they would not have been included in harvest celebrations. Moreover, the short but wordy summaries try to cover too much ground and end up glossing over too much about the cultures and their festivals. Accompanying illustrations don’t add another thousand words of explanation either. Given the abrupt transition from the summaries, why was “An Autumn Story” included at all? End pages include a variety of harvest-related classroom activities, plus a bibliography for further information on harvest celebrations.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book offers a glimpse of how people of the past from many different cultures celebrated the harvest. From these various beliefs and traditions we find the origin of the word "cereal", some of the background of current halloween traditions, the Chinese moon cake festival, and the American Thanksgiving.

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book shares the many different cultures from around the globe, and how the people celebrate the change of season known as the Autumn Equinox. From folk lore to pagan rituals, the bounty of the harvest is celebrated by all mankind.

[Ogechukwu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Geared more towards students in middle school. One thing I like about this book is the different classroom activities in the back of the book.

[Melki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely illustrations by Jan Davey Ellis highlight this look at harvest festivals around the world and throughout history.

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book would be really great to just have around for someone like Ben to pick up and read when he's bored. I couldn't bring myself to actually read it to anybody, and I had a hard time paraphrasing it. It seems to have lots of good info, but would be better for older kids to just read on their own. For littles, I'll stick with simpler autumn books.

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

A discussion of the history and traditions of the Autumnal Equinox. Also included are recipes and activities discussed in the traditions. The science of an equinox is explained first thing and a Native American tale is included.

[Mainchild]

NF 394.264 Jack