About This Book
Alice Dalgliesh's Caldecott Honor-winning picture book, 'The Thanksgiving Story,' vividly recounts the origin of the Thanksgiving holiday through the eyes of the Hopkins children, passengers on the Mayflower. It details their arduous journey, the birth of their baby brother Oceanus at sea, and the severe hardships of hunger, cold, and sickness they face upon arriving in the New World. The narrative highlights the crucial assistance provided by Native Americans, Samoset and Squanto, enabling the Pilgrims to survive their first year and celebrate a bountiful harvest. While celebrated for its engaging storytelling and historical introduction, some critics note its traditional portrayal of Pilgrim-Native American interactions as outdated, suggesting parents may wish to supplement with more contemporary historical perspectives.
A Pilgrim family's struggle to survive in their harsh new homeland culminates in a thanksgiving feast.
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Discussion Prompts
1
What challenges did the Hopkins family face on their journey and in the New World? How did they show bravery?
2
How did the Native Americans help the Pilgrims? Why is it important to help others?
3
What are some things you are grateful for, just like the Pilgrims were grateful for their harvest?
4
This story was written a long time ago. What else might we want to learn about the Pilgrims and Native Americans to understand their full story?
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