Its Not About You Mrs. Turkey

“It’s Not About You, Mrs. Turkey” is a unique tool for parents, grandparents and teachers to share both the historical and religious background of the holiday with young readers. The fun and colorful illustrations give children the opportunity to see clothing styles of the past as they learn the importance of courage, sharing, friendship and giving thanks.

What I Like: I am always in favor of literature that points children away from commercialized holidays and teaches the true meaning of why we celebrate a holiday.  Author Soraya Coffelt has done exactly that in It's Not About You, Mrs. Turkey. In a loving and factual way, she lays out the true meaning of Thanksgiving and Christianity's significance.

Illustrator Tea Soroya did a great job showing the emotions of human characters and foul.

What I Dislike: The vocabulary may be too advanced for 5 and 6-year-olds to comprehend. The story is about the true meaning of Thanksgiving so I think a cover depicting solely a confused turkey detracts from the actual message of the book.

Overall Rating: Good.

Age Appeal: 5-10 Years.

Publisher Info: Morgan James Publishing, 2015; ISBN: 978-1630476366; Paperback, 32 pgs., $8.99

Buy it at Amazon.com for $8.99

Cynthia Gives Thanks for Its Great To Be A Girl

Another Thanksgiving is upon us and I am always in awe of how God blesses my family and I every year. Every year brings new challenges and experiences and God is always right there blessing me with opportunities to live and learn. I am thankful for my position here at CCBR and being a part of a group of women who care about feeding our children's spirits through literature. I am especially grateful for It's Great To Be A Girl by Dannah Gresh. My 11-year-old daughter and I love this book. It's a resource that continues to help my daughter through the challenges of adolescence in a practical and spiritual way. It also encourages her to share her journey with me as an ally.

Everywhere your daughter goes--online or in real life--our culture tells her lies about her body. That's why bestselling author Dannah Gresh, creator of the Secret Keeper Girl events has developed this resource that points tween girls like yours to the truth about God's design.

With stories and examples your daughter can relate to, this Girl's Guide takes her to the Bible as her resource, helping her meditate on its message and have fun while she does it. She'll explore questions such as What if my body is different from everyone else's? What does the Bible mean by "Honor God with your body"? What about makeup--should I wear it? If so, how much? Should I be afraid to grow up? What's the big deal with nutrition and exercise?

Here's solid guidance with biblical grounding that will help your daughter grow spiritually as she's maturing physically.

About this series: The Girl's Guide books in the Secret Keeper Girl Series have been created for tween girls to help them explore topics important to them and give them the opportunity to travel deeper into "God's diary"--the Bible--for truth and instruction. 

What I Like: This in-depth book for young girls about to or who are already experiencing puberty goes into what is happening to their bodies, the importance of the changes and why God is the author of the changes. From the very beginning, authors Dannah Gresh and Suzy Weibel offer opportunities for the young readers to take this journey with their parents and friends as a bible study and learning experience. They are teaching the readers prayers, the importance of meditating on God's word and confidence that puberty is positive and necessary. I found it refreshing that Dannah & Suzy made puberty a journey of growth to be proud of, not scary or disgusting. I love that they encourage bonding with moms and friends during the journey.

It is an interactive book where girls can do crossword puzzles, fill-in-the-blanks, doodling, prayers, word search and journaling. The book is meant to be a resource, not just a one time read. The book includes sections of bible study.

The book also includes practical information like photos of the female womb and its purpose, menstrual cycle info, along with hair style ideas, hygiene practices, staying active while having fun, the importance of healthy eating and even bra shopping.


What I Dislike: Nothing

Overall Rating: Excellent

Age Appeal: 8-12 Years but I would say 10-14 due to reproduction discussion.

Publisher Info: Harvest House Publisher, 2015; ISBN: 978-0736960076; Paperback, 128 pgs., $11.99

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The Berenstain Bears Thanksgiving Blessings

Although you may already be familiar with Jan and Mike Berenstain's 2009 book The Berenstain Bears Give Thanks, the ever-popular Berenstain Bears now have a new Thanksgiving book to offer: The Berenstain Bears: Thanksgiving Blessings. Written and illustrated by Stan and Jan Berenstain's son, Mike Berenstain, this is one of the better Berenstain Bear books I've seen in quite a few years.

The story begins with the Bear family taking a sleigh ride through an early snow in order to have Thanksgiving dinner and Grizzly Gramps' and Gran's house. They sing "Over the River and Through the Woods (to Grandmother's house we go)" and talk about just how thankful they are for Gran's Thanksgiving cooking. But Mama reminds everyone "there's more to Thanksgiving than just eating lots of yummy food." This leads to a conversation about some of the more important things we can all be thankful for, including "faith and freedom" (Papa gives a very brief accounting of the Pilgrims), "peace and plenty" (Papa talks about the farmers that grew this country, and about times of war and peace), "work and play" (both are important, Papa reminds), and "family and friends" ("these are the most wonderful blessings of all").

At last, they arrive at Gramp's and Gran's, where they eagerly get the food on the table and say a prayer of thanks.

The last page of the book offers three questions to discuss and two actions to go out and do. Also included is a sheet of stickers (small versions of illustrations in the book, not designed to stick in the book itself).
 
What I Like: While my children always love Berenstain Bear books, sometimes I find the writing in them clumsy or just plain annoying. However, this book is well written while still offering up the familiar Berenstain Bear characters. Both my children (ages 8 and 5) enjoyed this book, and it lead to an interesting conversation about blessings both "big" and "small." And for the price of just $4.99, I think this is a great addition to our holiday bookshelf!

What I Dislike: Nothing

Overall Rating: Very Good.

Age Appeal: 4 - 8

Publishing Info: Zonderkidz; 2013; ISBN: 978-0310734871; softback, 24 pgs., $4.49

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Special Info: Check out our reviews of other Christian Berenstain Bear books.

Samuel Eaton's Day

To give your child a good idea of what it was like to be a young Pilgrim, Kate Waters Samuel Eaton's Day is a must have. A companion book to Sarah Morton's Day (which we reviewed here), Samuel Eaton features full color photographs by Russ Kendall of Plymouth Plantation  re-enactors, as well as first-person text, illustrating a typical Pilgrim boy's day.

Samuel Eaten is eager to begin the day; for the first time, he'll be allowed to help harvest the rye. "It is my beginning to be a man," he says. As he dresses as quickly as possible, we can see just how complicated this clothing is and why his stepmother must help him dress. Next, Samuel fetches some water and chats for a moment with his friend Sarah Morton, then he hurries off to check his snares. "Now that I am almost grown, I can help catch game for the table," he says. His snare hold no game today. Samuel then gathers firewood for his stepmother and washes up before breakfast. At the meal, his father says a long prayer, noting God's "unspeakable mercy" toward the family and asking that "our soules [sic] may earnestly long after the food of eternall [sic] life, through Jesus Christ out Lord and Savior."

Finally, Samuel, his father, and a neighbor head for the fields and the boy learns to gather and bind the rye while the men reap it. He soon finds it difficult work. He has blisters, his back aches, the straw makes him itchy, and he has a sunburn. But "tis but folly to spend time in bootless complaints," so he keeps quiet. Soon his stepmother comes with food. "Of a sudden I feel small and tis a struggle not to weep. But I mustn't let Father see." After eating, his stepmother soothes his blistered hands and asks if he really has strength to continue, or would he like to come home? Samuel, wanting to please his father and show how big he is, stays on. By evening, he can hardly move, but he stops by the beach with the men to gather mussels for the evening meal.

Samuel would normally then do school work, but his father is on watch that evening, so Samuel takes the evening off. He wonders how his father can do the watch when Samuel himself can barely stand from fatigue. Yet when his father asks if he feels he can continue to harvest, Samuel quickly answers, "Oh, surely!" Just before drifting off to sleep, Samuel prays that he will be able to keep up with the men, that his snare will catch food, and that God will protect them all.

The last few pages of the book include the lyrics and vocal line of a period song the men sing in the field, in addition to a few words about Plymouth; who Samuel Eaten really was; harvesting rye; how boys changed from "long clothes" to breeches at a certain age; and about the Wampanoag tribe that's mentioned briefly in this book. There is also a glossary.

What I Like: I love everything about this book. The photographs of real people truly bring the history to life, and the text, all written as if Samuel were speaking, is true to history without being difficult to read. We really feel for Samuel and his struggles, and have a deeper appreciation of how easy modern life is. I also love all the educational material in the back of the book - and the fact that God is portrayed as a matter of everyday life for the pilgrims.

What I Dislike: Nothing.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: 4 to 12.

Publishing Info: Scholastic; 1996; ISBN: 978-0590480536; paperback, 40 pgs., $6.99.

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Three Young Pilgrims

Every family with young children ought to have a copy of Cheryl Harness' Three Young Pilgrims.

The first thing you'll probably notice when you open up this book is the detailed illustrations. For example, the first two page spread looks like an old world map, complete with the human-like faces of the four winds, mermaids, sea monsters - and, naturally, the Mayflower moving toward the New World. On another page, there's a cross cut of the Mayflower, showing all the rooms below deck and how people moved about in them. And throughout, Harness does a superb job of relating details about Pilgrim and Indian life through complex illustrations your kids will study over and over again.

The text is strong, too. It tells the novelized story of three real-life Pilgrim children: Mary, Remember, and Bartholomew Allerton. We see them on the Mayflower and witness the general excitement when the sailors call "Land ho!" We learn about the special agreement the Pilgrims wrote out (the Mayflower Compact, although the book does not tell us this is the document's name):

"They were there to build a colony 'for the glory of God' and in 'honor of our King and country.' Together they would be a 'civil body politic' making and obeying laws for the common good."

We learn the Pilgrims lived aboard the Mayflower while they built their homes, and that many on board the ship were ill and died - including Mrs. Allerton and her new baby. In the spring, when they finally move into their new homes, Mary witnesses her first Indian: a man named Samoset, who speaks broken English. He soon brings his friend Squanto, who speaks perfect English and helps the Pilgrims plant New World crops.

That summer, the harvest is bountiful and in the fall the Pilgrims decide to have a celebration to give thanks to God. "We will invite our Indian brothers to feast with us and offer prayers of thanksgiving to the Maker for a bountiful harvest," says governor William Bradford. During one evening of the celebration, while sitting around a large fire, Bartholomew asks, "Papa, are you happy we came to America?" After a moment, Mr. Allerton answers, "Your mother and I wanted to bring up our children where no king could tell us how to live and pray....We didn't know it would be so hard, but yes, I am happy." And although the children miss their mother, they acknowledge they will be fine, too.

The last few pages of the book help kids put this story into context. There's an illustration of the entire Plymouth village, a timeline of events surrounding the New World, a list of interesting things going on in the world at the same time the Pilgrims moved to North America, a two page spread about the "Saints" (Puritans), with a complete illustrated list of each one, an explanation of who the "Strangers" were, with a complete illustrated list of each one that crossed on the Mayflower, and an illustrated guide to notable Indians who worked with the Pilgrims.

What I Like: When my 5 year old opened this book, she gasped and was instantly drawn into the images (done in watercolor, gouache, and colored pencil). She's spent hours studying the pictures and asking me about the details in them. This book is just loaded with historical information! I also think it's the most thorough, interesting, and detailed book about Pilgrims for this age group.
What I Dislike: Nothing.
Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: 4 - 8, although even as an adult I get engrossed in the illustrations in this book.

Publishing Info: Simon and Schuster, 1995; ISBN: 978-0689802089; paperback, 40 pages, $7.99

Buy now at Amazon.com for $7.99

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Special Info: Visit the author's website for information about author visits and more.

Thanksgiving: A Harvest Celebration

Offering the basic history behind Thanksgiving, then explaining how the holiday still has meaning for us today, Julie Stiegemeyer's Thanksgiving: A Harvest Celebration is a good teaching tool.

When the book opens, Ellen Chilton, a Pilgrim girl, is complaining about having salted beef for dinner - again. That's all she's eaten for weeks on board the Mayflower, and she's sick of it. Even so, her father thanks God for the food and her mother says they should be thankful they aren't starving.

Soon the Mayflower finds land and the Pilgrim's life in the New World begins. The winter is hard, however, and many Pilgrims grow ill. Ellen's mother is sick in bed, but God answers Ellen's prayers and her mother survives - unlike many of Ellen's friends.

When spring comes, Ellen nearly bumps into an Indian. He tells Ellen and her father his name is Samoset and he and his friends help the colony plant corn, grow squash and beans, learn to catch fish and eel, and more. In the fall, the harvest is bountiful, so a "celebration to thank God for the harvest" is prepared. During the three day celebration, Ellen works hard to feed everyone, but she says "a little prayer thanking God for helping her mother to get well and for all good things He gives - even salted beef."

The next page shows a modern day family celebrating Thanksgiving, and the author tells us we still use this holiday to

"thank God for the many blessings He gives...we thank God for food and drink, shelter and clothing, our minds, our bodies, our health. All that we have comes from our heavenly Father's bountiful hand. Even better than all these blessings is the gift of Jesus, whose love and promise of salvation fill every day of our lives. And that is the best reason for giving thanks on Thanksgiving Day and every day!"

What I Like: I really like how this book ties together the historical Thanksgiving Day with the modern celebration. I think it gives children a foundational understanding of why the holiday is important, both in the 17th century and now. The illustrations by Renne Benoit are also attractive, with a slightly old fashioned, wood cut feel.

What I Dislike: It seems strange not to mention why the Pilgrims came to the New World, but this book doesn't. Readers should also not expect a thorough overview of the Mayflower trip or the Pilgrim's first year in North America from this title. However, the book does a nice job, overall, of giving the basics.

Overall Rating: Very good.

Age Appeal: 4 - 8.

Publishing Info: Concordia, 2006; ISBN: 978-0758609168; hardback, 25 pgs., $7.49

Buy now at Amazon.com for $7.49

Special Info: Visit the author's website for information about author visits and more. Read our reviews of other books by this author.

Almost Home

Adventure. Persecution. Danger. Death. Victory. The true story of the Pilgrims, as fictionalized in Wendy Lawton's Almost Home, was all this and more. Mary Chilton (who was a really Puritan who came over on the Mayflower) takes the long journey to the New World with her parents, leaving behind several of her siblings and friends. She's not pleased to leave Holland, despite the fact that her father is stoned and injured by young Dutch boys. She hates being ripped away from home, yet she follows her parents obediently.

Lawton's novel covers all the important aspects of the Mayflower's crossing, from the leaky Speedwell, to a desperate attempt to keep the Mayflower afloat, to the rife, illness, and death that accompanied the Puritans on their Mayflower voyage. Mary Chilton witnesses all these things, and her parents are among the losses on board the ship.

Mary's journey continues to parallel the familiar Pilgrim tale. She eventually moves off the Mayflower and into a widow's home. She experiences both the cold, hungry winter and the prosperous summer. She witnesses her first Indians: Samoset and Squanto. She recognizes Squanto as an instrument of God - an Indian who experienced slavery only to learn about God in Spain - and learn English in England.

But what makes Almost Home better than a history book is the personal history Lawton imagines for her. Mary learns that home is not a place. Home is resting quietly in the hand of God. Through Mary's trials and triumphs she learns God is the "great weaver" of life, and there is nothing so wonderful as trusting in him.

What I Like: This book is an excellent way to teach children the basics of the Pilgrims, their perilous journey on the Mayflower, and their difficult life in the New World. I also appreciate that Lawton covers some of the newly-controversial topics regarding the Pilgrims. For example, she shows Mary and her friends fearful of the Indians, thinking they must be violent barbarians - but at the same time wondering if the could be "simple and pure." One friend concludes the truth about the Indians must be somewhere in the middle. Later, when a group of exploring Pilgrims take corn seeds from a vacant Indian camp, the author shows how some of the Puritans were troubled by the stealing and how some rationalized the theft as a provision from God. Most of all, I enjoyed Mary's journey from an infant-like Christian to a more mature Christian.

What I Dislike: My only complaint is that throughout the book some words are placed in italics. This makes me want to emphasize them as I read, but really the italics are only an indication the word is in a glossary in the back of the book. The glossary is a great idea, but I find the italics annoying.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: 8 - 12.

Publishing Info: Moody, 2003; ISBN: 9978-0802436375; paperback, 160 pgs., $6.99

Buy now as a paperback at Amazon.com for $6.99, or purchase in Kindle format for $4.19.

OR purchase the paperback at ChristianBook.com for $5.49, or the ebook for $4.19.

Special Info: Read our reviews of other books by this author. Also, you might like to visit the author's website for free bookmarks and for information about dolls that go along with the author's books.

My Basket of Blessings

Counting our blessings is what Dr. Mary Manz Simon's My Basket of Blessings (and many reasons to thank God) is all about. This book is die cut to look like a basket, and each page has die cut images of items in the basket, giving a fun layered look. Adding to the attractive appearance are many sparkly images.

The text is well written rhyme and explains how the items in the basket remind us of God. For example, the juicy apples "will never match the sweetness of God's love for me" and the kitten "reminds me of God's caring and of his gentle touch." There's also a scarecrow to remind that God made us, a pumpkin pie, with it's wafting scent, to remind us God's gifts are everywhere, a squirrel whose "chatter now reminds me to share God's love with you," and a teddy bear, who reminds us bears sleep in deep caves and that God is with us day and night. The book ends:

"My basket overflows now the blessings from above.
These precious gifts around me remind me of God's love!"

What I Like: My 2 year old adores this book. He was instantly attracted to the sparkles and the die cast images in this book. The message is simple and the book keeps his attention over and over again.

What I Dislike: Nothing.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: According to the publisher, 4 - 8, but I'd say infant to preschool.

Publishing Info: Standard Publishing, 2010; ISBN: 0784728796; board book, 14 pgs., $12.99

Buy now at Amazon.com for $11.69

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Special Info: Read our reviews of other books by this author.

Saying Grace

In a world where illness and financial difficulties are mentioned daily in the news, it's easy to forget to give thanks. That's why Saying Grace: A Prayer of Thanksgiving by Virginia Kroll is an especially welcomed new book. Although Kroll admits in a forward that prayers of thanksgiving go back to biblical times, in this book she imagines how "saying grace" might have become an American tradition.

The book opens in a Pilgrim village in the 17th century. A young girl named Grace is worried about the coming winter, which neighbors seem to think will be a harsh one. Grace remembers that during another harsh winter, her sister was born premature and nearly didn't survive - and her father barely made it home in a blizzard. The village also lost many to pnuemonia. Grace doesn't think she go through such harships again.

Her friend Hannah says, ""You're a fretter, Grace," and her mother tells her, "Stop fretting and say a prayer instead."

When winter snows come, Grace goes to her room and reads the Psalms. "Please send us a gentle winter," she prays. Her prayer is answered; the winter isn't harsh, and soon spring comes and Grace is working in the family garden. When harvest time arrives, one young man in the village marries a woman from another village. She tells them her people have a tradition of a harvest feast. Grace's village decides to adopt this idea.

As Grace works hard to prepare for the feast, she notices how squirrels with nuts in their hands look like they are praying and how gulls seem to be praising God in song. When her village gathers for the feast, she stops them: "Shouldn't we first say thank you to God and ask a blessing?" Everyone thinks this is a great idea and they ask Grace to do the honors.

"From that day forward, at every meal the family took turns 'saying grace.' Mama often quoted verses from the Bible. Papa talked to God as if he were an old friend, seated right there with them...Grace wrote several new prayer-poems of her own. Sometimes she used words like bounty and giving. But she never, ever forgot the thanks."

What I Like: Grace is a true-to-life character, complete with flaws. I love how she learns to trust God by reading his word and giving up her concerns in prayer. This story is also a fun way to imagine how the phrase "saying grace" might have come about. The illustrations by Timothy Ladwig are full of rich autumn scenes.
What I Dislike: Nothing, really, although I think the book would be stronger if we learned that God doesn't always say "yes" to our prayers.

Overall Rating: Very Good.
Age Appeal: 4 to 8.
Publishing Info: Zonderkidz, 2009; ISBN: 978-0310712107; hardback, $15.99
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Special Info: Read our other reviews of Virginia Kroll and Timothy Ladwig books.

Our Favorite Mainstream Holiday Books

Here at Christian Children's Book Review, we've posted about many Christian Thanksgiving and Christmas books for kids, but today we wanted to share a few of our mainstream or secular holiday favorites.

Christine tells me her favorite mainstream Thanksgiving book is The Thanksgiving Bowl, by Virginia Kroll. She describes the book this way:

"Grandma Grace had a Thanksgiving tradition. When you arrived at her house, you used the pad of paper and pencil on the hallway table to write down what you were thankful for and placed your paper in the 'Thanksgiving Bowl.' After all the food had been eaten, while everyone still sat at the table, Grandma read each note in turn and all in attendance at the meal tried to guess who might have written each note."

Sounds like this book could be the start of a new Thanksgiving tradition in your house, too.

Robin says her favorite mainstream Christmas book is out of print, but still available through many online sources. She writes:

"Norman Rockwell’s Christmas Book has something for all ages, and there’s much more than the beautiful, nostalgic paintings. My children love the poetry and traditional hymns. I love the short fiction section and the Bible stories of the first Christmas. There is even a Christmas Dinner menu from Fannie Farmer’s 1896 cookbook, featuring Roast Goose with Potato Stuffing."

Happily, this book will be re-released this year.

Personally, I can't imagine Christmas without reading classics like A Christmas Carol, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and The Night Before Christmas.

My favorite edition of the latter has illustrations by Mary Engelbreit, whose work is vivid, colorful, detailed, and always lots of fun. Her edition of The Night Before Christmas is outstanding.

My daughter also really loves Engelbreit's Merry Little Christmas, which is an A to Z guide to Christmas through the eyes of a mouse family. Although it mentions Santa and elves, there is one mention of the true meaning of Christmas: "A is for angel/Atop a tall tree/Aglow with the light of/What Christmas should be."

In our families, we keep the focus of Thanksgiving and Christmas on God, but sometimes its fun and useful to delve into classics (or the future's classics) for a glimpse at what we can be thankful for, how Christmas was celebrated in the past, and how we should treat others. Consider adding a few mainstream classics to your family bookshelf this holiday season!

Sarah Morton's Day

Until time travel machines are invented, Kate Waters' Sarah Morton's Day is probably the best way for you and your kids to get a good peek at what the life of a Pilgrim girl was like.

Filled with color photographs of re-enacters at the Plymouth Plantation museum (a reproduction of the original village), this book is written as though narrated by a real Pilgrim girl, aged 9. She begins by explaining why her family left England, then Holland, to come to the New World: to "seek freedom from the Church of England." Her father died their first winter in America, and now she has a new father. "I am learning to call him father," she says, "and am trying hard to earn his love."

Sarah shows us, step by step, how she dresses each morning and folds up her bedding. She walks us through her daily chores, including keeping the fire going, feeding the chickens, mucking the garden, milking the goats, pounding spices, preparing meals, fetching water, and cleaning the pots. Sarah also has moments of play, talking with and playing marbles with her friend Elizabeth. She is also fortunate to have the opportunity to do school work because her stepfather believes she has a talent for learning. Sarah shares her difficulty in memorizing Psalm 100.

We also glimpse her excitement that a friendly vessel is coming to shore; we see her eat with her hands, standing at the table; we see her crude little home-made doll; and in end notes, we learn more about Plymouth Plantation, the real Sarah Morton, and the little girl who portrays her in the book's photographs.

What I Like: The photographs by Russ Kendall make this book unique and more educational that what you might find elsewhere. Seeing "Pilgrims" in full color photos is a rare treat, and helps make them seem more real. I also appreciate that the author tried to keep the flavor of Pilgrim speech without bombarding us with too many "thees" and "perchances." Because she tells the story through Sarah - who wouldn't think to explain such terms as "muck" and "hasty pudding," I'm also thankful there is a glossary at the back of the book.

In fact, while some might wish there were more explanations within the main body of the book, I actually found this gave my preschooler and I lots of opportunity to discuss the things in the book long after we set the volume aside. For example, at one point Sarah mentions her mother is churning, and we see a photo of her in the midst of this task. However, since no explanation is given, my daughter and I discussed this at length on our own.
What I Dislike: Parents who aren't as interested in history as I am may have a slightly more difficult time explaining details in this book to their child.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: 4 - 12.

Publishing Info: Scholastic, 1993; ISBN: 978-0590474009; paperback, $5.99

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The Berenstain Bears Give Thanks

If you want to give your kids a taste of the basic Thanksgiving history, The Berenstain Bears Give Thanks by Jan and Mike Berenstain is a fun choice.

In this new title, the familiar Berenstain bear family delivers some hand made furniture to some friends on a farm. For payment, the family gives Papa some produce - and a fat turkey called Squanto (named, we learn, after the famous "Native Bear" who helped the Pilgrims plant their corn). Papa's mouth is already watering, imagining the turkey complimenting his Thanksgiving dinner, but Sister is horrified. Squanto is much too handsome to eat. Besides, she's "never met her Thanksgiving dinner before." She wants to keep Squanto as a pet, but Papa isn't convinced.

Trying to distract Sister's mind, Mama suggests Sister and Brother put on a Thanksgiving play for all the relatives. Mama volunteers to sew costumes if Sister will write the script. This does keep Sister's mind off Squanto, and soon Sister, Brother, and their cousins are putting on a fine Thanksgiving show offering the very basics about the Pilgrims and their desire to worship God freely, the Mayflower, and Squanto.

However, when Mama calls "Dinnertime!", Sister suddenly remembers Squanto. But she's relieved when Papa points out the window at the pen he's made for the family's new pet: the turkey Squanto. A fine salmon is the center of the family's Thanksgiving dinner and when prayers of thanksgiving to God go round, Sister adds, "And I am especially thankful for my wonderful new pet, Squanto to the turkey!" "AMEN!" everyone cries.

The last page of the book offers a few conversation-starting questions and project ideas about giving thanks and the Thanksgiving holiday.

What I Like: My four year old loves the Berenstain bear books, and this title is no exception. It's a fun reminder of the basics of why we celebrate Thanksgiving: to remember an important part of history and to thank God for all he gives us. The Christian content in this book is, in my opinion, just right. It is neither an afterthought, nor does it get in the way of the story or become preachy. I'm also pretty picky about books that show kids upset about eating animals; I want my children to have a what I consider a natural attitude about animals being designed for us to eat. However, I do not find this book provokes my preschooler to question eating meat.

What I Dislike: The questions and projects page could be better, but the story itself is a big hit in my household.

Overall Rating: Excellent.

Age Appeal: 4 - 8.

Publishing Info: Zonderkidz, 2009; ISBN: 978-0310712510; paperback, $3.99

Buy Now at ChristianBook.com for $2.99

OR buy at Amazon.com for $3.99

Special Info: Be sure to check out our other reviews of Berenstain bears books.

Voyage to Freedom

Religious persecution. A perilous ship voyage. Illness. Lack of food and water. Cheating. Great faith. The story of the Mayflower crossing is the stuff of riveting novels and David Gay's Voyage to Freedom includes most of the familiar details.

Told through the eyes of Prudence and Justice (two imaginary Pilgrim children), this novel tells the tale of the famous crossing, beginning with the ill-fated Speedwell and ending with the successful landing of the Mayflower in Virginia. Gay does an excellent job of helping us picture and feel what it must have been like for the Pilgrims: How stale the air was beneath decks. How it smelled. How cold or hot it was. How awful the food and shelter were. Just how disgusting the water was. And so on. He also does an excellent job showing the Pilgrims as strong Bible-believers who lived their faith each and every day.

For example, one of the Mayflower's sailors likes to taunt and frighten Prudence and Justice, but when their father protects them from a lashing by the man, the sailor not only blasphemes God repeatedly, but abuses and curses the Pilgrims in every way possible. Truly, the children - and probably the adults - fear for their lives. Yet when that same sailor comes down with a fever, the children's father doesn't hesitate to go to him, see to his physical needs, and pray for him.

Repeatedly throughout the book, we read the Pilgrims quoting the Bible, and doing their best to obey God. We also learn a tiny bit about the Mayflower Compact, and about how ships navigated in the 17th century. Periodically, throughout the book, simple black and white drawings by Sandra Evans add a little interest.

What I Like: I'm a history buff, so any novel covering such an important event as the Mayflower crossing intrigues me. I love how the author tells this story through the eyes of children, and there are some nice moments of writing, too. For example, when speaking of the frightening sailor, Gay writes:

"One soft and sunny afternoon, when the children were happily settled in their special haunt, he came upon them. His shadow fell across them. They peered up. He stood, he positively towered above them - and evil, ugly giant - his legs wide apart and his hands upon his hips. His pimpled face was hard. He had a vicious look about his eyes."

What I Dislike: Unfortunately, much of Gay's writing is dull - primarily because his style is a bit verbose and his dialogue repetitive. He also sometimes relies on inaccurate legend, saying, for example, the Pilgrims dressed all in black and white. And, oddly, he doesn't explain some details. For example, he tells the famous story of the Pilgrims and sailors repairing the Mayflower with a jack screw, but doesn't explain what a jack screw is, what it normally would be used for, or why one of the Pilgrims would bring it aboard. Nonetheless, I was pleasantly surprised how willing my 4 year old was to listen to me read this book aloud.

Overall Rating: Good.

Age Appeal: 9 - 12.

Publishing Info: Banner of Truth, 1984; ISBN: 978-0851513843; paperback, $10.00

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Squanto and the Miracle of Thanksgiving

Squanto and the Miracle of Thanksgiving was written by Eric Metaxas. This hardback picture book follows the true story of a Native American whose life somewhat paralleled that of the biblical Joseph. Squanto was kidnapped at the age of twelve to be sold into slavery. Some Spanish monks paid his purchase price then spent years teaching him their language and all that they could about God and their faith. In an attempt to get Squanto back to his family and the New World, the monks sent him to England. There he learned English and worked for a nice family until a trustworthy ship was found that would return him to his home.
Ten years after his kidnapping, Squanto finally returned home to find his family gone. The entire village had died due to illness. He decided to live with a nearby tribe, but was still very lonely. One day he learned new people were living in his old village. Squanto was very happy to see families living were he grew up with his family. These were English people, just like the ones who had been so kind to Squanto in London. They were very surprised when Squanto approached them speaking their language! Soon Squanto learned of the struggles these Pilgrims had suffered since arriving in America. He shared his story with them as well. Their governor, William Bradford, made the connection to Joseph of the Bible. "Like you, Joseph was taken from his home and sold as a slave. But God had a plan for him. Through Joseph, God was able to save many people from starving. What man had intended for evil, God intended for good ... perhaps God has sent you to be our Joseph." Throughout the next year, Squanto taught the Pilgrims the ways of the land, where to find food and what crops would grow there. The following autumn, the Pilgrims set a time to thank God for His merciful blessings and invited Squanto and other braves to join them. This was the first Thanksgiving.
The illustrations by Shannon Stirnweis feature detailed, full color, full page paintings. Many are quite life-like.
What I Like: Everything. It introduces a story very few know. It clearly shows God's providence, the way He orchestrates events perfectly. Even though we may not understand what He is doing, He always has a plan. This book offers accurate history with a practical application.
What I Dislike: Nothing.
Overall Rating: Excellent.
Age Appeal: 5-10
Publisher Info: Thomas Nelson, 1999; 0849958644; Hardback; $9.99
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