Holiday books for readers ages 3-8 Thanksgiving stories feature family, history

Editor’s Note: Bangor native Amanda Dumond works as a reporter at the Aroostook Republican and News in Caribou. She reviewed the following new Thanksgiving-related children’s books in light of the coming holiday.

THIS FIRST THANKSGIVING DAY: A COUNTING STORY, by Laura Krauss Melmed, illustrated by Mark Buehner, HarperCollins Publishers, New York, 2003, 32 pages, $6.99.

Soft, appealing color, lively rhymes and pleasant surprises await readers of “This First Thanksgiving: A Counting Story” by Laura Krauss Melmed. And while the main purpose of the colorful book is to help 3- to 8-year-olds with their counting, youngsters also learn about an important American tradition.

In the counting book, Wampanoag Indians and pilgrims gather food for the great feast they will share on the first Thanksgiving Day, and readers are invited to observe their preparations.

Artist Mark Buehner’s vibrant palette of colors brings alive pilgrims pulling up turnips and parsnips for soup, Indians weaving cattails around a campfire and other the scenes.

Buehner took care not to portray these early Americans in stereotypical garb. No Pilgrims clad in black with buckled shoes or Indians festooned with feathered headgear. Each character has a unique costume and personality.

The verse and rhyme of the book flow much like the images of children gathering kindling in the woods or playing tag after they finish their day’s chores.

Young readers can practice counting and expand their vocabulary through the rhymes and clever wordplay.

Given its intended audience’s age level “This First Thanksgiving” does not go into great detail about the first Thanksgiving; instead, the book is a tool for introducing children to early American history.

For readers, the artist also has hidden surprises such as the turkey on each page presiding over preparations for the Thanksgiving meal.

With all its charms, this counting book is one to treasure and share with toddlers.

THANKSGIVING IS HERE! written and illustrated by Diane Goode, HarperCollins Publishers, New York, 2003, $15.99.

For parents looking for a good book to teach their 3- to 8-year-olds the story of Thanksgiving and family, “Thanksgiving Is Here!” by Diane Goode is an excellent choice. The story is simple and complex at the same time, with many mininarratives occurring within a larger story, much like an extended family interacts.

And like any large family, this story is a busy one. It may take several reads before children grasp all the intricacies of the family featured in “Thanksgiving Is Here!”

Goode uses watercolors to illustrate the tale, and focuses on minute details, by giving each family subgroup, such as aunts or cousins, the same color clothing, whether it is green, blue or fuschia. These colors often represent the family members’ temperaments, such as the red-haired sourpuss aunt dressed in pink. Expressions of disdain, joy, disgust and great satisfaction after a large meal are captured well.

Goode says she created the book because she asked herself “What happens at Thanksgiving? Why, everything! Look closely. When family and friends come together to celebrate, they bring with them comedy, drama, budding romance, old grudges, and new mischief. They meet in the spirit of acceptance and part with a sense of renewed strength. A family is something worth celebrating.”

Readers of “Thanksgiving Is Here!” will discover ties between the book’s fictitious and quirky cast of characters and their own extended families. And, perhaps, they will also develop a deep appreciation for family gatherings.

THANKSGIVING AT THE TAPPLETONS’, written by Eileen Spinelli, illustrated by Megan Lloyd, HarperCollins Publishers, New York, 2003, 32 pages, $14.99.

Thanksgiving at the Tappletons’ is a delightful tale that stresses the importance of honesty, time spent with family and contentment, even when special Thanksgiving dinners do not go as planned. Geared toward 4- to 8-year-olds, Spinelli seeks to teach such valuable lessons to young readers.

The story is a modern Thanksgiving story. Pies are bought at the store, the daughter likes to gab on the phone, and a mixer is used to mash the potatoes. The author, however, uses the time-tested tradition of using animals to tell a story. The family also still gathers at home rather than going to a restaurant to celebrate the holiday.

In this tale, the Tappletons are a family of wolves who are trying their best to make a wonderful meal for aunts, uncles and grandparents. No matter what the wolves end up eating for Thanksgiving dinner, whether it is liverwurst or turkey, applesauce or pumpkin pie, they learn that the most important thing about the holiday is family rather than a perfectly prepared meal, even though grandfather Tappleton is so hungry that he is ready to eat four elephants.

If one ignores the paws, tails and whiskers, the colorfully drawn wolves could be mistaken for humans. This is in part due to their facial expressions, which are full of character. The Tappletons and their individual traits draw readers into the story and the dilemma the family of wolves faces on Thanksgiving Day.