A historical fiction book about the first thanksgiving with a twist of modern thanksgiving. David, a young boy, learns about the first thanksgiving and imagines the world around him as Plymouth with the wish that thanksgiving could be that way now. It compares how the first thanksgiving was, to how Davids thanksgiving is now. He is unpleased with how they celebrate thanksgiving now with such things as cans of cranberry sauce and going to he store to buy the turnkey. In the end he sees that his thanksgiving is special to just like the first thanksgiving.

This book offers and imaginative way of comparing the first thanksgiving to the thanksgiving we celebrate now. It is a good way to open up a unit on thanksgiving to ask children what their traditions are and find out what background knowledge the children have about thanksgiving. The book also introduces vocabulary of thanksgiving (Ex: Plymouth, Conolony, Fort Hill) to the students before going into the unit. ( )

This is one of the most enjoyable Thanksgiving books we've ever read. VERY well-done. A school-age boy, David, has been learning about the history of Thanksgiving, and having a very vivid imagination, creates scenes in him mind starring himself of what it would have been like to live during the time of the Pilgrims, as he goes through the motions of his modern-day Thanksgiving.

The only thing that takes points away from this book is David's attitude. But it is minor. He talks about he "hates his stupid sweater." I believe there are plenty of other ways to articulate that David was frustrated, but that's my preference and it is minor.

There is a lovely message at the end from David's teacher that speaks volumes. ( )