A Strawbeater's Thanksgiving

by Irene Smalls, Irene Smalls-Hector, Melodye Benson Rosales (Illustrator)

During the time of slavery, the men, women, and children who had worked so hard bringing in the harvest were sometimes allowed one night to celebrate the completion of their wearisome tasks. This story takes place during one of those nights. Jess has always wanted to be the special boy who is allowed to help the fiddler during the corn-shucking party. He wants to be the one who gets to keep time by beating on the old man's fiddle with a pair of sturdy straws. However, wishing is one thing and making sure your wish comes true is something else. Irene Smalls's story of one boy's determination to succeed has been glowingly illustrated by Melodye Rosales, and the combination of their talents creates a vivid vignette of a people's strength and spirit during the terrible days of slavery.

Genres: Thanksgiving, Picture Books

Hardcover

First published September 1, 1998

About the author

Irene Jennie Smalls has been a model, an actress, a radio reporter, and a small business owner, but her favorite job is being a children's author. She lives in Boston Massachusetts.

Reviews

[QNPoohBear · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the times of slavery, in late November, the enslaved people would celebrate the corn shucking with a party. A strawbeater is a musician who stands behind a fiddler, reaches around his left shoulder, and beats on the strings while the fiddle is being played, in the manner of a snare drum.

In this story, a young boy named Jess is dreaming of being the strawbeater as soon as his trash cleanup is done. Jess's mama, Sis Wisa, believes he can be somebody special, but a bully named Nathaniel is determined to stand in Jess's way.

This is a great story. It shows that despite the horrors enslaved people endured, they also found ways to form communities and come together and celebrate. I assume they draw from African traditions and American, possible even Native American as well. The celebration includes music, dancing, food, drink and quilting. It sounds very lively!

The illustrations are beautiful. I am familiar with the illustrations of Melodye Benson Rosales from the American Girl Addy books. These illustrations are not quite as realistic and evocative as Addy's but similar. The people come in all different shades of brown and the bright colors of their clothing stand out against the dark night sky.

The title page lists principal sources and an author's note appears on the first page.

I highly recommend this story for those who want a different Thanksgiving book and those who are interested in slavery.

[Elizabeth]

I appreciated a view into a part of slave life that wasn't all terrible -- showing how even in the midst of their difficult lives, slaves could find ways to celebrate in community, while still reminding the reader that it was only squeezed in between and it wasn't like this means we can all stop feeling bad about slavery.

But ugh, I did not care about Jess or his desire to be strawbeater, so instead of experiencing his story as a triumph of an underdog or the triumph of persistence of whatever, I was actually kind of rooting against him and mostly just wanted to read as little as possible of that part of the story.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the art. Love that we get to see a different side of the experience of slavery, and we see how love and hope and dreams are powerful. Poor Nathaniel, though. And no notes for educators.

Rounding up from 3.5 to help the community rating. ;)

[Irini · Rating 4 out of 5]

1. Awards the book has received: None
2. Appropriate grade level(s): 2nd, 3rd, 4th
3. Original summary: During the time of slavery, the men, women, and children who had worked so hard bringing in the harvest were sometimes allowed one night to celebrate the completion of their wearisome tasks.
4. Original review: Irene Smalls's story of one boy's determination to succeed has been glowingly illustrated by Melodye Rosales, and the combination of their talents creates a vivid vignette of a people's strength and spirit during the terrible days of slavery.
5. 1-2 possible in-class uses: Can be used to study History in America

[Patricia N. McLaughlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poignant paintings depict a time not so long ago when African-Americans celebrated the annual harvest with a corn-shucking party that brought slaves together from area plantations for a night of feasting, dancing, crafting, and making music as a means of affirming their humanity amidst the barbarism of slavery.

[Ashley Jacobson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book for older elementary kids. It’s a hopeful story, but a little confusing.

[Mainchild]

PIC Smal

[Teri · Rating 1 out of 5]

eh