Thank You, Sarah
By: Laurie Halse Anderson
As described in this book, Molly is a "modern day pilgrim" (an immigrant for religious purposes). Molly's and her family are Jewish Russian immigrants and Molly has a hard time fitting in. She faces discrimination at school, language barriers, and cultural differences. But she learns that she is not so different from the pilgrims! This Thanksgiving story provides a HUGE variety of discussion opportunities (immigration, religious persecution, bullying, cultural differences, and the true meaning of Thanksgiving, just to name a few). It is the perfect modern Thanksgiving read!
'Sarah Gives Thanks' tells the same story of Sarah Hale but in a very different way. This book reads more like traditional story-telling and is less interactive. (Compare contrast lesson with these two choices, maybe??). It provides many details and facts about Sarah's life and the origin of our holiday--a great addition to your library!
This book also recognizes the diverse ways Americans celebrate Thanksgiving. It can also remind teachers the importance of WORD CHOICE and making assumptions about their students. Tuyet is worried about her Thanksgiving when her teacher calls it "Turkey Day." Tuyet's Vietnamese family eats duck for Thanksgiving and she worries she won't experience a "real" Thanksgiving. But Tuyet (and her whole class) learns that it doesn't matter what you eat for Thanksgiving as long as you celebrate with loved ones.
Published by National Geographic, you can bet this book has AMAZING pictures and information. This book is considered a "photo essay" and breaks from the traditional "Pilgrim and Indian" storyline. It presents a more balanced, historical version of the 1621 event.
The Thank You BookBy: Mo Willems
If you need lesson plans to go with these books, I would love for you to check my resources! These are the perfect seasonal activities for you to host a literacy day, plan for a sub, and more!
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