Themed Reviews: Thanksgiving

What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving? Giving thanks is the heart and soul of this American holiday. Every year, on the fourth Thursday in November, we spend time with loved ones-cooking a big Thanksgiving dinner, making holiday crafts and decorations, and volunteering in the community. We express our gratitude-just like Junie B. in Junie B., First Grader: Turkeys We Have Loved and Eaten (and Other Thankful Stuff), which has this popular character working with her first grade classmates to win a school competition for the best list of things they are grateful for. The other recent children's titles featured here focus on the rich history and traditions of Thanksgiving with heart and humor. To search for more "Turkey Day" titles, learn about awards, and find curriculum tools search the CLCD database.

http://www.clcd.com/features/th_thanksgiving.php

For further information and activities please visit:
http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/stories/history/first-thanksgiving
http://www.pbs.org/parents/thanksgiving
http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/collection/teaching-about-first-thanksgiving http://www.history.com/topics/thanksgiving

Sarah Gives Thanks
Mike Allegra
Illustrated by David Gardner
   Today, Thanksgiving in the United States is an official holiday that occurs on the fourth Thursday in the month of November. However, this was not always the case; until the mid-1800s when a woman named Sarah Hale campaigned for several years to recognize Thanksgiving as a national holiday. Read the introductory information about Sarah Hale's life and background. She was a single mother with several children to support. In order to provide for her family, Sarah Hale worked as a writer and editor for a women's magazine; her articles influenced many subscribers. During her life, Sarah felt that it was important for Americans to give thanks for the many blessing that they received. She wrote to several presidents asking that they make Thanksgiving a national holiday but there was no action taken. She continued to write letters and was determined to make it happen. Abraham Lincoln received one of Sarah's letters. During his presidential term, Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving a national holiday. In 1863, Hale's dream to make Thanksgiving an official holiday became a reality. In the book, readers will find illustrations depicting some of the different periods of Sarah's life. At the back of the book, the author's notes provide additional information about Sarah Hale. There is a list of sources about her life and publications. 2012, Albert Whitman & Company, Ages 6 to 10, $16.99. Carrie Hane Hung (Children's Literature). 
ISBN: 9780807572399