Giving Thanks: The 1621 Harvest Feast

by Kate Waters, Russ Kendall (Illustrator)

Sometime between September 21 and November 9, 1621, the English colonists, whom we call Pilgrims, and the Wampanoag people shared a harvest celebration. That meal has become known as the First Thanksgiving. This is the story of what may have actually happened during those days, as told by Dancing Moccasins, a fourteen-year-old Wampanoag boy, and Resolved White, a six-year-old English boy.

Photographed in full color at the Plimoth Plantation, this fascinating reenactment will let readers experience the time when English colonists settled on the rich and fertile land of the Wampanoag people.

Genres: Thanksgiving, History, Picture Books, Nonfiction, Native American, Holiday, American History

40 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 2001

About the author

Author Kate Waters went on to earn a B.A. from Newtown College of the Sacred Heart (Boston College) and a M.L.S. from Simmons' Graduate School of Library and Information Science. She grew up in a big family in which storytelling was very important. She worked as a librarian for ten years at the Boston Public Library. There she became very interested in telling stories to young people and finding out what they enjoyed reading. She moved to New York where she worked on a children's magazine. While working at the magazine, she started to think about new ways to present history and traditions to children. Her books include pictures of actors depicting the stories Kate writes. In addition, her books have been praised for their content and have won many awards. Kate currently lives in New York City.

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

Told from the perspectives of a young Wampanoag boy named Dancing Moccasins and a young English colonist named Resolved White, the narrative of this historical picture-book explores the events of the harvest feast of 1621, when the Wampanoag people visited the English colony of Plymouth, in what is now Massachusetts. It was this visit that inspired the story of the 'First Thanksgiving' that has become mythologized in American history. The book is illustrated with photographs of reenactors from Plimoth Plantation, a living museum devoted to the history of the Plymouth Colony. An extensive afterword gives more information about the myth and history of the first Thanksgiving, the type of foods eaten and clothing worn by both natives and settlers, and the role of Plimoth Plantation in preserving history...

Giving Thanks: The 1621 Harvest Feast is one of a number of books - other titles include Sarah Morton's Day: A Day in the Life of a Pilgrim Girl , Samuel Eaton's Day: A Day in the Life of a Pilgrim Boy , and Tapenum's Day: A Wampanoag Indian Boy in Pilgrim Times: - from author Kate Waters and photographer Russ Kendall that explore Colonial American history through the lens of reenactors at Plimoth Plantation. I found it engaging and informative, and think that it would work very well in a study unit on early Colonial American history and/or the story of the "first" Thanksgiving. The use of photographs of historical reenactors will make the narrative come alive for many young people, and make it feel real for them in ways that illustrations might not. Recommended to anyone looking for children's books that offer a more realistic and historically accurate depiction of the event that came to be known as the "First Thanksgiving."

[Michael Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like that this gets behind the myths of Thanksgiving, but I was disappointed that it seems to avoid mention of God. It's told from two perspectives, an Indian teenager and a young English boy. On page 6, the Indian says, "I thank Kietan, our Creator, for the plentiful harvest and good hunting." On the following page, the English boy says only, "We will rejoice that the hard work of bringing in the harvest is finished and give thanks that the harvest was plentiful." On p.23 it states, "Both the governor and the king give thanks for the food." On p.34, "I thank Kietan for showing me the deer tracks and for my part in the successful hunt." The following page has, "I say my prayers and give special thanks for these days of celebration. [...] Good night. God keep you."

Considering that some labor under the misapprehension that the first Thanksgiving was the Pilgrims thanking the Indians (for saving them from starvation by teaching them how to grow crops - N.C. Wyeth's Pilgrims by Robert San Souci is one book that contains this), I think that this book missed a prime opportunity to dispel yet another myth. I find it particularly strange that twice we are told about the Indian creator with a specific name and that both times the corresponding English passage is vague. The Pilgrims thanked God. Can't we just say it? No, we don't want to come away with the idea that these Pilgrims were part of an organized religion (they were - gasp! - Christians!) or anything, do we? I mean, that would be dreadful! There's a bit in the back matter, but why not front and center?

One could say this is nitpicking, but it's the title of the book (giving thanks to whom?) and the name of the holiday, and for heaven's sake, religion is why these people made the journey to begin with!

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is good for a more "informational" Thanksgiving story. I wasn't really a fan of the photographs to tell the story, but I appreciate that they were taken at Plimoth Plantation and seeing a "real" glimpse at the clothing and settlement is certainly interesting. It does a nice job of comparing a Wampanoag boy and Pilgrim boy's preparations for the Thanksgiving feast. Copious historical notes in the back, including a recipe for "Samp" (corn with spring herbs) make for an educating, if not entirely captivating, read.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just wanted to see what this said. Told from the POV of a 14 year old Native boy and a 6 year old English (Pilgrim) boy, it tells the story of their feast through their young eyes. Photographs of the recreated scenes make it more realistic for its intended audience. Genocide isn't mentioned.

[Doris Raines · Rating 4 out of 5]

GIVING THANKS FOR HARVEST FEAST GREAT BOOK LOVE TO HAVE IT IN MY LIBARY SOON.

[Stephanie Croaning · Rating 3 out of 5]

by Kate Waters; photographs by Russ Kendall
Scholastic Press, New York, 2001
ISBN: 978-0-439-24395-7
Description: 40 p. : col. ill. ; 24 x 29 cm.
Dewey: 394.2649
Subject: Narrative nonfiction; Thanksgiving traditions
Interest Level: 2-4; Reading Level: 3.5
Lexile measure: 460
3 out of 5 stars

Summary from jacket flap: “Sometime between September 21 and November 9, 1621, the English colonists, whom we call Pilgrims, and the Wampanoag people shared a harvest celebration. That meal has become known as the First Thanksgiving. This is the story of what may have actually happened during those days, as told by Dancing Moccasins, a fourteen-year-old Wampanoag boy, and Resolved White, a six-year-old English boy. Photographed in full color at the Plimoth Plantation, this fascinating reenactment will let readers experience the time when English colonists settled on the rich and fertile land of the Wampanoag people.”

Evaluation: What makes this story unique is that events surrounding the 1621 harvest feast are told from two different points of view – a Wampanoag boy and an English boy. The narrative moves forward by flowing through the alternate viewpoints.

Photographs accompany the story and show recreations featuring actors in period costume. The author and photographer appear to have worked with the staff of Plimoth Plantation to gather information and recreate the photographic scenes.

While the two narrators in the story are based on historical people, the narrative thread of the story is fabricated on the supposition of the author. The author indicates this in the opening which states, “this is the story of what may have happened during those days.”

The back of the book includes a great deal of additional information about the 1621 harvest feast, as well as information about the reenactment. There is also a glossary and a list of further readings on the subject.

This is an interesting look at the story behind the “first Thanksgiving” that attempts to show both the Native Americans and English in a positive light. It would make for an interesting classroom read-aloud for grades 3 and above. To bring more factual information into the read-aloud, the additional information at the back of the book should also be shared and discussed.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Giving Thanks: The 1621 Harvest Feast by Kate Waters, photographs by Russ Kendall, is the story of the harvest celebrations shared by the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag people.

The story of this harvest celebration is told by Dancing Moccasins, a fourteen-year-old Wampanoag boy, and Resolved White, a six-year-old English boy. This reenactment, based on factual historical accounts, is illustrated by full color photographs taken at Plimoth Plantation.

The text features thoughts of the featured reenactors and describes the activities during the celebration. Detailed back matter discusses Thanksgiving traditions, information about the two featured reeneactors, how the clothing worn by the reenactors was constructed, information about Plimoth Plantation, a brief bibliography and a glossary of terms.

The photographs illustrate the highlights of the story.

I enjoyed the story, although I found the historical notes to be more interesting, with details such as the fact that the messenger of Massasoit carried a cooper chain signifying his identity. I found the details about the clothing worn particularly fascinating. The visual presentation of the story may appeal strongly to more visual learners.

For ages 7 to 10 (younger if read aloud), Thanksgiving, Wampanoag, Pilgrims, harvest feasts, reenactments, Plimoth Plantation, and fans of Plimoth Plantation, Kate Waters and Russ Kendall.

[Mary Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

or younger readers interested in the story of Thanksgiving, I like the books by Kate Waters which look at children who might have lived during this time period. These are reenactments of what the lives of individual children might have been like, based on factual historical accounts. Giving Thanks tells the story of Resolved White, a 6-year-old English boy, and Dancing Moccasins, a 14-year-old Wampanoag youth. It is accessible to younger children, although I talked with my children about how these are photographs of actors reenacting what the lives of these children would have been like. My children were interested in how this showed two different perspectives, two different cultures coming together.

[Ebookwormy1]

This is the last of the Kate Waters series to elude me! We own and enjooy all the other books. I have been unable to locate a copy of this book. Maybe we shall have to go to Plimouth Plantation and pick one up!? Based on the excellent work of the other editions:
Sarah Morton's Day,
Samuel Eaton's Day,
Tapenum's Day, and
On the Mayflower,
I would be willing to buy it without even reading it ahead of time.

[Emma Hofer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the format of this book. It contained photographs and was written from two different perspectives: the perspective of a pilgrim boy and the perspective of a Wampanoag Indian boy. Such a cool book for Thanksgiving time!

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kate Waters' book tells about a pilgrim boy and a Wampanoag Indian boy learning about each others culture. The book is a good way for students to learn the history of our contry.

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun. Pictures of the reenactment at the Plymouth plantation.

[Little Miss and the Legomeister · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice update to the Thanksgiving story, told alternately by a Wampanoag boy and an English boy.

[Mainchild]

NF 394.2649 Wate

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book because it is told from the perspective of 2 kids (Native American and colonist). It also has good info in the back of the book about the way of life at this time.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

big fave of Henry's for Thanksgiving 2014 :-)

[Danette · Rating 3 out of 5]

The photographs are great!