The Thanksgiving Story by Alice Dalgliesh Book Review (with Video!)
As we approach the holiday season, many of us are looking for ways to teach our children about the history and traditions of Thanksgiving. That’s why we decided to check out The Thanksgiving Story by Alice Dalgliesh.
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This book, first published in 1954, tells the story of the Pilgrims and their journey to America, as well as their first harvest celebration with the Wampanoag people. The illustrations by Helen Sewell are beautiful and engaging, making it easy for children to follow along and understand the story.
One thing we appreciated about this book is that it doesn’t shy away from the difficult aspects of history, such as the Pilgrims’ hardships and the impact of colonization on the Wampanoag people. However, it presents these topics in an age-appropriate way, without sugarcoating or glossing over them.
Overall, we highly recommend The Thanksgiving Story as a valuable addition to any family’s holiday book collection. It offers a thoughtful and engaging way to teach children about the history and traditions of Thanksgiving, while also promoting empathy and understanding.
The Thanksgiving Story: An Overview
As we delved into The Thanksgiving Story, we were struck by the rich history and engaging narrative that Alice Dalgliesh so masterfully weaves together. The book tells the story of the Pilgrims’ journey to the New World and their struggles to establish a new home in a foreign land. We appreciated how the author brings the characters to life, and we found ourselves invested in their journey.
While some may find the language a bit outdated, we found it added to the charm and authenticity of the book. Overall, we highly recommend The Thanksgiving Story to anyone interested in learning more about the history of Thanksgiving and the Pilgrims’ journey to the New World. It’s a captivating read that both children and adults will enjoy.
Key Features: Publication Date
We were impressed with the publication date of The Thanksgiving Story. It was first released on September 1, 1985, and has since become a classic Thanksgiving read for children. The 32-page book is suitable for children in Kindergarten through 3rd grade, with a Lexile measure of 610L. The book is written in English and published by Aladdin, with a new edition released on the same date as the original.
While the publication date may seem dated to some, we found that it added to the charm of the book. The illustrations and storytelling are timeless, and the historical significance of the Thanksgiving story is still relevant today. Overall, we believe that the publication date of The Thanksgiving Story only adds to the book’s appeal and makes it a must-have for any family’s Thanksgiving collection.
Key Features: Print Length
When it comes to children’s books, print length is an important factor to consider. The Thanksgiving Story by Alice Dalgliesh has a print length of 32 pages, making it a perfect length for young readers.
The story is not too long to lose their attention, but not too short to leave them wanting more. The book has a grade level of Kindergarten to 3rd grade and a Lexile measure of 610L.
Based on customer reviews, the book is recommended for children between the ages of 4 to 7 years old. The paperback edition is easy to read and has clear illustrations that help bring the story to life.
Overall, the print length of The Thanksgiving Story is just right for young readers and provides an engaging reading experience.
Key Features: Reading Age
When it comes to children’s books, one of the most important factors to consider is the reading age. We found that The Thanksgiving Story is a great choice for young readers, with a recommended reading age of 4-7 years. The book has a Lexile measure of 610L, which indicates that it is suitable for children in Kindergarten through 3rd grade.
Based on customer reviews, we can confirm that the reading level of the book is appropriate for young children. The story is engaging and easy to follow, with simple language and beautiful illustrations that capture the spirit of Thanksgiving. We also appreciate that the book is only 32 pages long, making it a great choice for bedtime reading or for children with shorter attention spans.
Overall, we think that The Thanksgiving Story is a great choice for parents looking for a holiday-themed book for their young children. The reading level is appropriate, the story is engaging, and the illustrations are beautiful. We highly recommend it!
Watch The Thanksgiving Story Read Aloud
Watch as Suzanna Schultz reads The Thanksgiving Story by Alice Dalgliesh aloud!
Pros and Cons of The Thanksgiving Story
After spending some time with The Thanksgiving Story, we have identified some pros and cons that we would like to share with you.
Pros
- Informative: The Thanksgiving Story provides a great overview of the history of Thanksgiving, making it a great resource for kids who are learning about this holiday for the first time.
- Engaging Illustrations: The illustrations in this book are beautiful and engaging. They help to bring the story to life and keep young readers interested.
- Good for Read-Alouds: This book is great for reading aloud to kids. The text is easy to follow and the story flows well.
- Provides a Historical Context: The book does a good job of providing a historical context for Thanksgiving, which is important for kids to understand.
Cons
- Too Wordy: While the text is easy to follow, it can be a bit too wordy at times. This can make it difficult for younger readers to stay engaged.
- Not for Younger Kids: The book is recommended for children aged 4-8, but we feel that it is better suited for older kids. The text is too advanced for younger children, and there are not enough pictures to keep them engaged.
- Outdated Terminology: The book refers to Native Americans as “Indians,” which is outdated and inaccurate. This could be confusing for children who are learning about the history of Thanksgiving.
Overall, we think that The Thanksgiving Story is a great resource for kids who are learning about the history of Thanksgiving. While it has some drawbacks, the pros outweigh the cons, and we would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a good introduction to this holiday.
Customer Reviews
We found that many customers who purchased The Thanksgiving Story were pleased with the book’s illustrations and informative content. The book is written for young children, so some customers felt that it could have gone into more detail, but overall it provided a good fundamental understanding of Thanksgiving. Some customers also appreciated that the story was told from the point of view of children, which made the subject approachable. However, a few customers felt that the book was too long for their children’s attention span. One customer received a copy that had pen marks and appeared old, which was disappointing. Additionally, one customer found the use of the term “Indians” to refer to all indigenous Native Americans to be outdated and inaccurate. Overall, most customers enjoyed The Thanksgiving Story and found it to be a valuable addition to their children’s book collection.
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Conclusion
After using The Thanksgiving Story, we can confidently say that it is a great book for children to learn about the history and traditions of Thanksgiving. The illustrations are beautiful and the story is engaging, making it a great read-aloud book for parents or teachers.
While some reviewers found the book to be a bit too wordy, we think that it provides a good level of detail for children to understand the significance of Thanksgiving. The book is also told from the point of view of children, which helps make the subject matter more approachable.
However, we do agree with some reviewers that the book may not be suitable for very young children, as there are only a few pictures and the text may be too long for their attention span. Additionally, some reviewers noted that the book uses outdated and inaccurate terminology to refer to Native Americans, which may be a concern for some readers.
Overall, we would recommend The Thanksgiving Story as a great addition to any family or classroom library.
