In this bountiful Thanksgiving offering, Gail Gibbons walks young readers through the entire history of harvest celebrations, from ancient Egyptian times to the Pilgrim and Indian Thanksgiving of 1621 (which lasted three days!) A cornucopia of fun.
School Library Journal
PreS-Gr 2-This cornucopia of all things Thanksgiving has abundant enough information for young readers without overwhelming them. Placing the holiday in the context of harvest festivals throughout time, Gibbons tells the story of the Pilgrims, their Native American friends, and the first Thanksgiving with minimal text and colorful illustrations that supply further details. Much of the book is devoted to contemporary celebrations with scenes showing activities that will be familiar to many children. Each of these snapshots begins "Thanksgiving is-" and lap readers and storytime participants will quickly supply the simple responses.-Gloria Koster, West School, New Canaan, CT Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
School Library Journal - Audio
12/01/2014
PreS-Gr 3—What is Thanksgiving? Gail Gibbons provides simple and interesting answers in this video presentation of her book (Holiday House, 2004). Qarie Marshall narrates in a calm, steady voice, with clear enunciation and nice pacing. Gibbons presents facts about other harvest festivals in different cultures and times, as well as the first Thanksgiving, holiday symbols, and other activities associated with the day. Canada's Thanksgiving is also briefly mentioned. The author/illustrator's watercolor illustrations are scanned, allowing readers to see a close view of her artwork, and there is some minor animation added. This effectively done presentation provides a clear and interesting overview, and would be a useful addition to school library collections.—Teresa Bateman, Brigadoon Elementary, Federal Way, WA
