While the Abraham family struggles through infertility, sibling rivalry, old age and other manifestations of human frailty, we are gathered ‘round our festive tables basking in – or pretending to – familial closeness.
Our American Thanksgiving has Biblical origins in the holiday of Sukkot, a harvest holiday and season of rejoicing and thanksgiving. The Pilgrims adapted the holiday to suit their religious and cultural needs. And here we are centuries later having traveled over hills and through vales to grandmother’s house to stuff ourselves and watch football.
Sometimes we forget the real purpose of Thanksgiving. These children’s books on Thanksgiving and its themes will help us remember. The Lampert Library suggests the following child friendly books.
Cohen, Molly’s Pilgrim, the story of immigrant Molly whose school Pilgrim project helps her classmates understand the foundations of Thanksgiving, has become a modern classic.
Delval, Psalms for Young Children has several Psalms of thanksgiving written in simple language.
Groner, Thank You, God! Is a book of simple thank you prayers.
Parr, The Thankful Book’s bright illustrations and simple text will help young children understand the concept of thankfulness.
Polacco, The Blessing Cup is a prequel to Polacco’s stories featuring her family.
Rael, Rivka’s First Thanksgiving comes about when she helps convinces her immigrant parents that there is nothing wrong with Jews celebrating Thanksgiving.
Rocklin, I say Shehechiyanu helps children understand all the times that it’s appropriate to show awe, wonder and gratitude.
Rosen, Thanksgiving Wish is a story about a family discovering what is really important about the holiday.
Wigger, Thank You, God is an appreciation of the world and people around us.
Willems, The Thank You Book, the final in the series featuring Gerald and Piggie, features Piggie thanking everyone she can think of and Gerald sure that she will forget someone. But it’s not who you think it is.
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