Tuesday, March 24, 2009

The First Thanksgiving: Historical Fiction, Picture Book


The First Thanksgiving, written by Jean Craighead George and illustrated by Thomas Locker
Publisher: Puffin Books
Pages: 32
Genre: Historical Fiction, Picture Book
Rating: Thumbs Up and Thumbs Down
Through the pictures and text within this book, the reader goes on a journey to Plymouth Rock. We then are taken through the hard times of the early settlers and natives. We gain a glimps of the climate, Indians (Native Americans), Pilgrims, forced slavery, disease and death. We are also told how Squanto shared ancient planting methods to help feed the failing population. Eventually, there is a Harvest Celebration - or The First Thanksgiving.
I really enjoyed the artistry of the illustrator and felt that the pictures would make children curious and want to know more. In this way, the book was a "Thumbs Up." However, I did not feel the writer did a very good job in connecting the various topics, until the end of the book. This would lose the readers interest, in my opinion, and resulted in me rating it a "Thumbs Down."

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