National Holidays

Giving Thanks: Thanksgiving Recipes and History, from Pilgrims to Pumpkin Pie

Curtin and Oliver trace the history of America’s favorite day of food and football, from the earliest Puritan celebrations of thanksgiving to Lincoln’s declaration of a national holiday in 1863 to the Macy’s parade.

Alas, the book fails to shake the cold whiff of a museum brochure; the narrative section’s tone is about as energetic as an encyclopedia entry.

Happily, more than half the book is devoted to recipes, and Curtin (Plimoth Plantation’s food historian) and Oliver (publisher of Food History News) come to life as they explore the social history of food, past and present. More than 80 recipes are drawn from different eras, regions and traditions—from Indian pudding to flan, from traditional roast turkey to Cuban turkey “rellenos con moros,” with a couple of gelatin salads—”Golden Glow” and “Cranberry”—certain to evoke baby-boomer nostalgia.

Instructions are family-friendly and accessible, augmented by history and anecdote. The genuine historical engravings and illustrations are a treat, but the photographs of contemporary re-enactors of Native Americans and colonists strike a false note. Ultimately, the book works better as a souvenir of a visit to the Plimoth Plantation than it does as a stand-alone volume. (Oct. 11)

Review

“… after years of research, culinary historian Kathleen Curtin … sets the record straight about what was really eaten on the shores of Plymouth, Mass., in 1621. This engrossing new cookbook traces the history and evolution of Thanksgiving across four centuries and includes more than 80 recipes, each of which tells a story.” —Christian Science Monitor

“… a charming and informative book …” —Newsday

“Giving Thanks …is a treasure trove of holiday lore, images and recipes that will be cherished year after year when Thanksgiving rolls around … this book by Plimoth Plantation food historian Kathleen Curtin and Food History News publisher Sandra L. Oliver is not only the definitive Thanksgiving cookbook, it is a detailed and fascinating account of the origins and meaning of the quintessential American holiday.”—About.com

My First Thanksgiving is a board book about Thanksgiving. PreSchool– In just six double-page spreads and fewer than ten sentences, dePaola tries to capture some of the historical significance and manifestations of the holiday and to relate them to contemporary celebrations.

Pilgrims are depicted on the first spread (dressed in a variety of pastel tones?), but there is no attempt to define who they are, where they came from, or why they are grateful to be in “their new home.” de Paola states, “Their friends came with food for the feast,” but there’s no indication that they joined in.

The book then jumps to the ways in which a modern family prepares for and enjoys the annual feast–with lots of company and food aplenty. Only total strangers to children’s books will fail to recognize the author’s familiar illustrative style executed here in watercolor and colored pencil. A harmless, but lackluster holiday offering that should set preschoolers well on the road to asking questions–just don’t expect to find any answers here.
- Luann Toth, School Library Journal

Description

The traditional celebration is clearly and simply explained in My First Thanksgiving with spare text and Tomie dePaola’s bright illustrations. A 3-D effect brings the cover artwork to life!

Everyone knows that Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks, —the question is, where to begin? From the turkey on the table to warm, cozy cuddles, life is full of small things and bigger pleasures. But what is most important is being able to share them with family!

Julie Markes reminds kids and adults alike about the little details that make each day enjoyable, while Doris Barrette’s beautiful and striking illustrations bring her thoughtful words to life.

About the Author

Julie Markes lives with her husband, Eric Schine, and their two sons, Charlie and Nicholas, in Brooklyn, New York. Her books include Thanks For Thanksgiving; I Can’t Talk Yet, But When I Do …; Good Thing You’re Not An Octopus!; Sidewalk 123; and Sidewalk.

The Pilgrims’ first Thanksgiving lasted three whole days. Ann McGovern’s simple text introduces children to the struggles of the Pilgrims during their first year at Plymouth Colony and the events leading to the historic occasion we celebrate today.

About the Author

Ann McGovern, the author of more than 55 highly regarded books for children, is excited about the world: the world of history, nature, imagination, and the world of people. Her enthusiasm is the foundation for each word she writes. Her books, which range from fast-paced biographies and fact-filled fun histories to voyages in faraway lands, from playful picture books to retellings of well-known legends and fables, reflect her diverse and many interests.

A tireless traveler who has visited every continent, McGovern frequently incorporates her adventures into her books. Playing with Penguins and Swimming with Sea Lions were inspired by expeditions to Antarctica and the Galapagos Islands, respectively. Desert Beneath the Sea resulted from a scientific scuba expedition to the Red Sea, the Caribbean, and the China Sea with Shark Lady Eugenie Clark. And, for Questions and Answers About Sharks, McGovern took notes on her underwater slate with twelve sharks just inches away, after she took part in an underwater shark feeding in Papua New Guinea, where she was scuba diving.

But when McGovern visits schools to show slides of her travels and discuss how they provide ideas for her books, she emphasizes that inspiration can come from feelings and close-to-home experiences as well as far-off adventures.

McGovern grew up in New York City where she lives today. Her interest in books and writing began at an early age. “As a child, I developed a terrible stutter and never raised my hand in class,” she says, “I became a writer to express the feelings that I couldn’t speak about and an avid reader as way to escape a sad life.”

Her formal education ended after her first year at the University of New Mexico, where the only “A” she received was in horseback riding. But McGovern believes her most valuable education has come form her travel experiences and scuba diving expeditions, along with the intensive research she does for her books.

McGovern credits her late husband, Martin Scheiner, with introducing her to many of the experiences that have come to influence her writing. “With Marty, I stopped stuttering, I learned to drive, scuba dive, sail, take risks – maybe too many – when lions growled outside our tent in East Africa and the time a shark got too cozy with me in the Great Barrier Reef ,” she says. “I plan to write about my journey to the North Pole, when the walrus poked its tusks into our rubber boat. I’ll never run out of ideas – or memories!”

McGovern makes certain she visits schools and speaks to student as often as she can. “School children give me feedback that’s wonderful for my work. Sometimes when I look at a sad, shy face in the audience, I see the lonely child I once was, and I hope that maybe my words can have some influence on a life. Making a difference in children’s lives in why I plan to write until I am ninety.”