National Holidays

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.

The Thanksgiving Story

Dagliesh and Sewell received praise for the clarity and immediacy of their picture book, a hit of the season in 1954. Today’s children, beginners and advanced readers, will value the story about one family’s first Thanksgiving in the Plymouth Colony, strikingly present in stylized, naive pictures like colored etchings.

Giles, Constance and Damaris Hopkins are aboard the Mayflower, overcrowded when the Speedwell turns back to England. On the journey, the children’s baby brother is born and named Oceanus; he will be one of the smallest in the company of settlers who endure the terrible first year in the New World and gather to celebrate the harvest the next November.

The story ends with the great feast to which the colonists invited the Indian chief Massasoit, Squanto and their people who had helped the strangers survive hunger, cold and sickness.
Product Description

The Thanksgiving Story “is the only really distinguished book we have on that holiday. Miss Dalgliesh has told the Pilgrim story simply from the point of view of the Hopkins family whose little Oceanus was born on the Mayflower; and Miss Sewell has made wonderful full-color pictures. A beautiful book.”–The Horn Book. Caldecott Honor Book.

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.