A PIONEER THANKSGIVING

In an appealing amalgam of history, fiction, and crafts, Greenwood (The Last Safe House, 1998, etc.) mixes together a story about a family preparing for and celebrating Thanksgiving in 1841; recipes and graces; instructions for making a basket, corn doll, and weathervane; information about nuts and cranberries; games; and a history of the holiday, with the reasons for the celebration. Collins’s drawings perfectly complement this invigorating treatment of history; children are likely to pore over this book for hours, and will want to try out the very accessible activities. This would be the perfect book to have on hand, along with materials for the crafts, for group or family use, to help while away the hours before dinner is ready. (index) (Anthology. 7-12)