The Thanksgiving Door

by Debby Atwell

Overview

When Ed and Ann's turkey dinner burns, they think their Thanksgiving is ruined. But what appears to be a disaster becomes a blessing in disguise when Ed and Ann unknowingly intrude on an immigrant family's own Thanksgiving celebration at their new restaurant, The New World Café. Once Grandmother silences her despairing family and invites the unexpected customers to join them, they all share an evening of friendship, good food, and lots of dancing-reminding everyone that Thanksgiving is about opening one's heart in welcome to the strangers who become friends and the disappointments that bring unexpected joys.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9798888180952
Publisher:	Purple House Press
Publication date:	10/08/2024
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	286,899
Product dimensions:	11.00(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.25(d)
Age Range:	3 - 8 Years

About the Author

Debby Atwell is a well-known landscape painter and the author and illustrator of River, Barn, and Pearl. Barn earned a starred review from School Library Journal and was named a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year in 1996. Pearl also received a starred review in Publishers Weekly. Ms. Atwell lives in Maine.

Editorial Reviews

After Ann and Ed, an elderly couple, overcook their dinner, they venture out to the nearby New World Cafe and find the door open. Readers are privy to the restaurateur's preparations for a family-only dinner and the children's plot to scare off the uninvited guests-but Grandmother reminds them it's a day of sharing, and the family shows Ann and Ed to seats of honor. Unusual centerpieces, Russian-looking fur hats on the men and white linen scarves to cover the women's hair, suggest the family's ethnic origins, but the focus here is not so much on the menu as on the spirit of generosity intrinsic to the holiday. The hosts show Ann and Ed upstairs for dancing after dinner; Ann teaches them to conga, Ed and Papa swap hats, and a friendship blooms. Adults may best appreciate the staid but accomplished artwork, but all will likely tap into the acts of kindness that contribute to Atwell's (River; Barn) economically told tale. Ages 4-8. (Sept.) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Publishers Weekly

K-Gr 3-After burning the Thanksgiving dinner, an elderly couple goes down the street to a restaurant. They wander in through the open door of the New World Caf , but the proprietor's family thinks that having customers will ruin their private party. Grandmother chastises them and so the "guests" are given the seats of honor. Soon, Ed and Ann join Papa, Grandmother, and the others in sharing their songs, dancing, and holiday warmth. As the family bids their new friends good evening, Papa wonders at the raw potato jammed under the door. Grandmother says, "In old country Thanksgiving door is like happy heart, opened up big and wide. Potato good for that." Atwell's luminous folk-art illustrations expand the story through details such as Russian onion domes in a picture on the wall, fur hats on the men, scarves on the women, and the cover illustration of Grandmother jamming that potato under the door. A particularly nice feature of this story is its focus on the elderly couple. A fine addition to holiday collections and for those looking for immigrant stories.-Bina Williams, Bridgeport Public Library, CT Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

School Library Journal

In this sweet but slight story that conveys the true meaning of Thanksgiving, Atwell brings together two disparate families-pilgrims in their own way-for a celebratory feast. Ed and Ann have no choice but to try the new local restaurant when Ann burns their Thanksgiving dinner. To the distress of the children in the Eastern European immigrant family who own the place, the elderly couple saunter in the open door unannounced and uninvited to what the kids hoped would be a private family party. Grandma won't hear of anyone being turned away, however, and soon Ed and Ann are shown to the best seats at the table, embraced by the whole family, and dance the night away. "Thanksgiving door," says Grandma, "is like happy heart, opened up big and wide." Atwell's folkloric illustrations are colorful and energetic. A somewhat different dish for the Thanksgiving table. (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews

"Atwell's folkloric illustrations are colorful and energetic." Kirkus Reviews

"A fine addition to holiday collections and for those looking for immigrant stories."—School Library Journal

School Library Journal

From the Publisher