About This First Thanksgiving Day: A Counting Story

From School Library Journal

Five Silly Turkeys is a cute board book for toddlers. Toddlers will love the silly Thanksgiving turkeys in this fun counting book full of silly turkeys doing very silly things! From twirling on a dance floor to being chased by a bee to tanning in the sun, these are no ordinary Thanksgiving turkeys. And at just $5.99, this shiny fabric–tabbed book is a holiday treat that is sure to be gobbled up quickly.

The Night Before Thanksgiving (Reading Railroad Books)

Natasha Wing takes a flight of fancy in The Night Before Thanksgiving, illustrated by Tammie Lyon. Based on Moore’s poem, the tale begins: ” ‘Twas the night before Thanksgiving,/ and all through the nation/ families got ready/ for the big celebration.”

Book Description

A creative spin on the Clement C. Moore classic, The Night Before Thanksgiving is a warm, whimsical celebration of everyone’s favorite fun-filled, family-filled, food-filled holiday! Follow along as the feast is prepared, cousins are greeted, and thanks are given, all with an extra helping of holiday fun.

Patterned as a parody of the celebrated Clement Moore poem, this story of eight baby turkeys unfolds with joyous abandon and crackling vitality, as eight children embark on a Thanksgiving field trip that will change their lives forever. They are breathless as they catch sight of Farmer Mack Nuggett for the first time: “He was dressed all in denim, / From his head to his toe, / With a pinch of polyester / And a dash of Velcro.” The exuberant turkeys–Ollie, Stanley, Larry, Moe, Wally, Beaver and Groucho–catch the children up in raucous barnyard antics until the merriment is quelled by the sight of the ax. Deeply touched by the turkeys’ plight, the children–who have grown mysteriously fatter and have feathers sticking out from under their clothes–board the bus to go back to the city. The next night, family silhouettes can be seen–each with a grateful turkey guest–as “They feasted on veggies / With jelly and toast.” This humorous, lighthearted story is adorned with bold, bright illustrations that convey a sense of wacky high-spiritedness sometimes lacking in traditional holiday fare. Ages 4-7.

From School Library Journal

Pilkey has adapted Clement Moore’s classic poem for another holiday. The day before Thanksgiving finds eight boys and girls of various races taking a field trip to a turkey farm. Although Farmer Mack Nuggett seems kind at first, the children eventually discover his horrible plan to kill the turkeys for Thanksgiving dinners. Smuggling the turkeys home with them, the children save the birds, who join eight families for vegetarian dinners. The weakest part of this slapstick offering is the verse, in part because the story isn’t at all parallel to Moore’s and in part because of the stretches in rhyme to accommodate a pre-existing pattern. Some of the word play will escape children. Similarly, visual humor such as the placement of Farmer Nuggett and the teacher in an “American Gothic” pose will remain unappreciated by those too young for Grant Wood. The cartoon illustrations reinforce the story’s general silliness but are unremarkable in themselves. Those seeking Thanksgiving humor will better served by Marc Brown’s Arthur’s Thanksgiving (Little, 1983), while those looking for a human-turkey relationship should dust off Lorna Balian’s Sometimes It’s Turkey, Sometimes It’s Feathers (Abingdon, 1986). –Kathy Piehl, Mankato State University, MN

With the infectious enthusiasm of a kid on Christmas morning, Mario Batali–who presides over a culinary empire that includes the popular Food Network television show Molto Mario, four acclaimed New York restaurants, and a wine store–presents four complete menus for the holidays and captures all the fun and festivity that epitomize Italian celebrations. True to the commitment to simple cooking evident in his first book, Simple Italian Food, the dishes here deliver maximum flavor and enjoyment without being overly complicated.

Batali’s version of the famous Italian seafood extravaganza traditionally served on Christmas Eve–known as the Feast of Seven Fishes–includes no fewer than 15 enticing dishes. Marinated Fresh Anchovies are both surprisingly delectable and delightful in their simplicity. Salt Cod with Capers and Mint, Grilled Lobster with Herbs and Arugula, and Sea Bass Ravioli with Marjoram and Potatoes would each be showstoppers as the centerpiece of any meal. Served together, they comprise a truly unforgettable feast.

The Christmas Day menu is equally lavish, centering on a succulent boned turkey breast stuffed with chestnuts and prunes, while the New Year’s Day spread is pure decadence. The latter begins innocently enough, with a refreshing aperitivo of tangerine juice, Compari, and soda, then proceeds through a parade of richly flavored dishes, from the hot-pepper-spiked Octopus in the Style of the Prostitutes of Napoli, to the meatball-filled “mythic pasta dome” known as Timpano di Maccheroni, to the prosciutto-wrapped Braised Pork Roll. An irresistible selection of dolci (sweets), including Cinnamon Chocolate Pudding with Pine Nuts and Waffle Cookies, rounds out the meal. New Year’s Day welcomes a relaxed daylong open house replete with an ever-changing spread of antipasti, pasta, and dolci, most of which can be prepared at leisure and served at room temperature, enabling the hosts to enjoy the party as much as the guests.

Photos, along with helpful wine suggestions and practical advice on technique, accompany each menu. Throughout, Batali paints a portrait of his Italian-American family that reminds readers that the simple joy of being together is what the holidays are really about. The 60 simple yet elegant recipes can be mixed, matched, and adapted for any occasion. Served together or separately, each is cause for celebration. –Robin Donovan

From Publishers Weekly

Americans tend to think of Italian cooking as easy: we have come to rely on 15-minute pastas and hearty, seasonal dishes like minestrone. But here, Batali of Food Network’s Molto Mario presents the most cherished Italian dishesAthose served, often after days of preparation and with fanfare, during the holidays. Batali focuses on the seafood-rich Amalfi coast, beginning with a Christmas Eve menu that includes Vongole Origanate (clams oreganato), Baccal? Vesuviana, Ravioli alla Spigola (Sea Bass Ravioli with Marjoram and Potatoes), and in case you still have any room for dessert, Classic Cannoli. The book consists of traditional Italian menus that take you through the four holidaysAChristmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s DayAbut the recipes can be used for an impressive meal or snack any time. (There is also a separate section on the wines of Campania.) Cooking from scratch is the name of the game, so don’t expect shortcuts; however, instructions are generally to the point and the results are well worthwhile. Recipes like Mythic Pasta Dome (a sort of pasta torte) capture the elaborate and festive nature of holiday Italian cooking. Beginners might be intimidated: Baba (lemon cake) requires a yeast rising and the insertion of fine holes in the cake into which a lemon mixture is “infused.” But once practiced, recipes become easy, and there are some simple yet gratifying recipes, such as No-Bake Chocolate Cookies. If you want to enliven your Italian repertoire with authentic, celebratory dishes, this book is invaluable. Photographs by Quentin Bacon. (Oct.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review of Halloween: An American Holiday, an American History

“An excellent resource for research into the history of holidays . . . in the United States . . . Highly Recommended.” — The Book Report

Product Description

Halloween has evolved from the Celtic celebrations of 2,000 years ago to become today the fastest-growing holiday in the country. This, the only book to completely cover All Hallow’s Eve, from its beginnings to the present, examines the ancient origins as well as its traditions and celebrations, from costuming to bobbing for apples. Jack-o-lanterns, black cats, and witches are explained. Ghosts, ghouls, and goblins lurk behind every page.

The book traces the contributions of America’s immigrants to the holiday, documenting the beliefs each ethnic group has added to the mix. Related recipes, poems, songs, and photos perfectly complement the meticulously documented text. The result is the most educational and entertaining examination of Halloween, its myths, and its truths.

Thanksgiving & Christmas: Top 200 Recipes (All Recipes Tried & True)

In TRIED & TRUE – THANKSGIVING & CHRISTMAS, all of your favorite holiday recipes are collected in one comprehensive cookbook, along with essential preparation, meal planning, and cooking tips.

Featuring:

• Homestyle Turkey —the Michigander Way,
• Hot Buttered Rum Batter,
• Rockin’ Oysters Rockefeller, and
• Santa’s Favorite Cake,

this festive TRIED & TRUE volume includes those treasured dishes that families have shared for generations.

Betty Crocker Complete Thanksgiving Cookbook is the complete hands-on guide to cooking a great Thanksgiving dinner–from Americas most trusted friend in the kitche.

Thanksgiving showcases cooking like no other holiday, as family and friends from near and far gather to share this special harvest-time meal. But while it sparks joyous feelings of celebration, this focus on food can also mean major stress for those in charge of preparing the feast and getting it on the table.

At last! Betty Crocker comes to the rescue with this complete do-it-yourself guide to making a delicious Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings–and none of the headaches. Perfect for beginners and Thanksgiving “first-timers” as well as more experienced cooks, it includes 130 of Betty Crockers most popular and time-tested Thanksgiving recipes. The book covers a range of recipes, from traditional roasting to new and interesting cooking variations like brining, grilling, and even deep-frying turkeys, plus lots of great ideas for sides, desserts, and more. Twelve count-down menus cover every aspect of the meal–such as when to set the table and how to time the gravy so its ready to serve at just the right time. The menus suit a whole range of lifestyles and situations, from dinner for two to dinner for twenty, from vegetarian and low-fat menus to a super-simple, low-stress menu for first-time cooks.

Complete with eight pages of mouthwatering photographs, detailed line drawings, and easy how-tos for turkey stuffing, roasting, carving, and more, Betty Crockers Complete Thanksgiving Cookbook is one guest everyone will want to have in the kitchen this fall and in the years to come.

From the Back Cover

The Complete Hands-On Guide to Cooking a Great Thanksgiving Meal

Whether you’re cooking Thanksgiving dinner for the first time or have hosted this celebration for years, here’s all you need to know to make your holiday special. Thanksgiving can be the most challenging meal to prepare–even for the most experienced cooks. Betty Crocker comes to the rescue with this complete do-it-yourself guide to making Thanksgiving delicious. Here are the treasured recipes with all the trimmings that you grew up with, plus plenty of great new twists on the traditional.

You’ll find:

• The most popular and time-tested recipes for the classics, from roast turkey with pan gravy and bread stuffing to pumpkin, apple and pecan pies and much more
• New and innovative ways with the bird include brining, grilling, smoking and even deep-frying, plus plenty of inventive ideas for turkey alternatives
• Easy how-to’s for tricky techniques cover carving the turkey, making lump-free gravy and rolling out pie dough, plus how to safely take food on the road
• Menu ideas to suit everyone, whether vegetarian, diabetic, on a low-fat diet, or a first-time cook, plus easy ways to cook for a crowd of 20 or more
• Countdown menus to time every step, from starting some recipes days (or weeks) ahead, to setting the table, to making gravy so it’s piping hot when dinner’s served
• Mouthwatering color photos of your favorite Thanksgiving foods for ideas and inspiration
• 130 tested and trusted recipes in all, to make this year’s Thanksgiving your most memorable–and delicious–feast ever!

Wild About Turkey: Tantalizing Tastes of Turkey and All the Trimmings, With Recipes for Thanks-Giving……and Beyond

The lay-flat binding and hard cover of this turkey cookbook lend to its easy use, while members of the National Wild Turkey Federation provide the 300+ recipes herein.

Wild and domestic turkey alike are included in a cookbook which provides everything from creamed dishes to stir fries and variations on casseroles. No color photos, but dishes are quick and easy to put together. — Midwest Book Review