I’d hoped that the books I picked for American history between 1492 and 1620 would get six-year-old S fired up over more than just the seasonally appropriate topic of the big feast at Plymouth. Ah, well.
Storm Boy was strikingly illustrated and brief enough that squirmy 22-month-old F could sit through it, but S paid it no mind. I liked it, though, and I’ll be bringing it back again.
The First Texans and We Asked for Nothing are just flat-out beyond what S is ready for. My mistake. These also will return. Eventually.
S gave a listen to both The Discovery of the Americas and The Lucky Sovereign. Neither one floated his boat. The former could provide some useful context for a reader interested in books focusing on individual explorers or voyages, but that interest needs to be there — and in S’s case, it wasn’t. The latter was only marginally tied to Jamestown, with John Rolfe and Pocahontas tossed into the story at the end.
So, yes, it came down to Diane Stanley’s Thanksgiving on Plymouth Plantation, which S read (and asked me to read) repeatedly. You can’t beat time travel, fascinating facts (kids in England drank beer for breakfast!), charming illustrations, and good humor. S did read Mary Pope Osborne’s Thanksgiving on Thursday, but only once, I think. The Magic Tree House formula may be wearing thin for him.
The Stanley book might be a useful springboard for other books on the topic and perhaps also for her wonderful biographies. But I’m certain that we’ll be seeing more of her Time-Traveling Twins (Joining the Boston Tea Party, Roughing It on the Oregon Trail) in the months ahead.
I have to check out the Diane Stanley book. Thanks for letting us know about it. Does she still live in Houston I wonder?
I have to check out the Diane Stanley book. Thanks for letting us know about it. Does she still live in Houston I wonder?
I have to check out the Diane Stanley book. Thanks for letting us know about it. Does she still live in Houston I wonder?
Chris, thanks for the Diane Stanley recommendation. I found “T’gving at Plymouth Plantation” at a neighboring town’s library, and my son & I enjoyed it. (I especially liked the myth-busting aspect.) Cute illustrations, too. Do you know the Native American organization/publisher Oyate? Stanley’s book turns up on its “books to avoid” list and I can’t figure out why; Stanley handles issues with sensitivity, I thought.
Chris, thanks for the Diane Stanley recommendation. I found “T’gving at Plymouth Plantation” at a neighboring town’s library, and my son & I enjoyed it. (I especially liked the myth-busting aspect.) Cute illustrations, too. Do you know the Native American organization/publisher Oyate? Stanley’s book turns up on its “books to avoid” list and I can’t figure out why; Stanley handles issues with sensitivity, I thought.
Chris, thanks for the Diane Stanley recommendation. I found “T’gving at Plymouth Plantation” at a neighboring town’s library, and my son & I enjoyed it. (I especially liked the myth-busting aspect.) Cute illustrations, too. Do you know the Native American organization/publisher Oyate? Stanley’s book turns up on its “books to avoid” list and I can’t figure out why; Stanley handles issues with sensitivity, I thought.
Susan, I saw your blog’s link to that interesting post about Oyate from Your Fairy Bookmother. For those who haven’t seen it, YFB writes:
“‘For many Indian people,’ they caution, “Thanksgiving” is a time of mourning.’ Well, what if it’s still a happy time for me – does that make me a heel?”
Just a glance at Oyate’s list shows that they have an extremely narrow range of what’s acceptable and an amazingly broad range of what’s not. I’m interested in having a look at what makes the cut.
Susan, I saw your blog’s link to that interesting post about Oyate from Your Fairy Bookmother. For those who haven’t seen it, YFB writes:
“‘For many Indian people,’ they caution, “Thanksgiving” is a time of mourning.’ Well, what if it’s still a happy time for me – does that make me a heel?”
Just a glance at Oyate’s list shows that they have an extremely narrow range of what’s acceptable and an amazingly broad range of what’s not. I’m interested in having a look at what makes the cut.
Susan, I saw your blog’s link to that interesting post about Oyate from Your Fairy Bookmother. For those who haven’t seen it, YFB writes:
“‘For many Indian people,’ they caution, “Thanksgiving” is a time of mourning.’ Well, what if it’s still a happy time for me – does that make me a heel?”
Just a glance at Oyate’s list shows that they have an extremely narrow range of what’s acceptable and an amazingly broad range of what’s not. I’m interested in having a look at what makes the cut.