https://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/2019/11/not-recommende... ( )

This poetic narrative is told from Squanto's perspective. One of the Patuxet (Wampanoag) people, Squanto was born in 1590, and in 1614 was kidnapped and taken to Spain. He returned on an English ship, only to learn that few people from his village had survived a sickness brought by white traders. ("My wife, my children, my parents, and all those closest to me were gone. I will not say their names now. I will speak them again when my own feet climb the highest mountain and I walk the Road of Stars to greet them"). Squanto then worked with both English settlers and Native peoples (Nemasket, Pokanoket, Narragansett) as a translator and sometimes a peacemaker. Ultimately, he does describe "the first Thanksgiving," the Mayflower pilgrims' first successful harvest in 1621. Shed's full-bleed illustrations are soft and luminous. ( )

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This is a great book to read during the month of November before students have Thanksgiving break. It's informative, historical, and the illustrations capture the book very well. I really like how its told from the Native American's point of view; it's not often you see that side. I can really connect with the characters and so will students. The book is very well written and I can feel like these are things the Native Americans would say. I get a clear visualization of the characters and setting. I'd read this to a second grade class, most likely. ( )

This book does a great job of battling the opposing long perception of Native Americans as savages during this time. Even when displaying anger it was done and explained with reason. For example, Epanow was captured by Europeans and enslaved, as a result, he despised the English language. The illustration is done so in such a way that you see Native Americans appearing very peaceful and insightful guiding the Europeans through foreign lands. ( )