Happy Thanksgiving

Gr 2-4-These titles provide brief histories and discuss modern-day activities common to the particular event. Halloween is explained as deriving from the ancient Celts' Samhain celebration and Christian All Souls' Day traditions. Costumes, decorating, parties, parades, and trick-or-treating are mentioned. The second title describes the day as a time for Irish people to celebrate their country and to honor Saint Patrick. Symbols such as the shamrock, leprechauns, and banshees are explained, as well as parades with bagpipes and Irish dancing. Thanksgiving is described as a harvest celebration. The book tells how the English settlers and Wampanoags feasted together in 1621. Family gatherings, turkey, football games, parades, and working in a soup kitchen are discussed. Each title includes a recipe and a craft, such as making pumpkin pie or growing shamrocks. Each spread features a high-quality color photograph with a caption that provides additional information. Pick these books up if you need to freshen up holiday collections.-Sandra Welzenbach, Villarreal Elementary School, San Antonio, TX (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.