Giving Thanks: The 1621 Harvest Feast
Ever wonder what therealfirst Thanksgiving was like? In  Plimoth, Massachusetts, sometime in the autumn of 1621, English settlers--known  as Pilgrims--and the Wampanoag people shared a harvest celebration that  eventually became swallowed up in myth and legend.Giving Thanksis a  photographic reenactment of what might have taken place, based on true  historical accounts. Starring Resolved White, a 6-year-old English boy, and  Dancing Moccasins, a 14-year-old Wampanoag youth, this fascinating story  alternates between their points of view to paint a picture of life in America  during the 17th century. The two boys are cautiously intrigued by each other's  cultures as their respective communities come together in peace to celebrate the  gifts of the earth. Compelling photographs by Russ Kendall bring the time alive,  while brief text by Kate Waters sets the tone and fills in details. Children who  have only read about the first Thanksgiving in textbooks will glean a much more  authentic understanding of this powerful historical event. (Ages 5 to 8)--Emilie Coulter