Thanksgiving on Thursday

Magic Tree House #27

by Mary Pope Osborne, Sal Murdocca (Illustrator)

Magic. Mystery. Time-travel. Take a trip back to the first Thankgiving with Jack and Annie and the Magic Tree House-- the #1 bestselling chapter book series of all time!

It's a time for giving thanks when the Magic Tree House whisks Jack and Annie back to 1621 on the first Thanksgiving Day. The Pilgrims ask them to help get things ready. But whether it's cooking or clamming, Jack and Annie don't know how to do anything the Pilgrim way. Will they ruin the holiday forever? Or will the feast go on?

The Magic Tree House series has been a favorite for over 25 years and is sure to inspire a love of reading—and adventure—in every child who joins Jack and Annie!

Did you know that there’s a Magic Tree House book for every kid?
• Magic Tree Adventures with Jack and Annie, perfect for readers who are just beginning chapter books
• Magic Tree House Graphic   Jack and Annie's original adventures come to life with full-color, vibrant art, perfect for graphic novel fans and reluctant readers
• Merlin More challenging adventures for the experienced reader
• Super A longer and more dangerous adventure
• Fact Nonfiction companions to your favorite Magic Tree House adventures

Genres: Fantasy, Childrens, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Chapter Books, Thanksgiving, Adventure

73 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2002

About the author

Mary Pope Osborne is an American author of children's books and audiobook narrator. She is best known as the author of the Magic Tree House series, which as of 2017 sold more than 134 million copies worldwide. Both the series and Osborne have won awards, including for Osborne's charitable efforts at promoting children's literacy. One of four children, Osborne moved around in her childhood before attending the University of North Carolina. Following college, Osborne traveled before moving to New York City. She somewhat spontaneously began to write, and her first book was published in 1982. She went on to write a variety of other children's and young adult books before starting the Magic Tree House series in 1992. Osborne's sister Natalie Pope Boyce has written several compendium books to the Magic Tree House series, sometimes with Osborne's husband Will Osborne.

Reviews

[Sarah Sammis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thanksgiving on Thursday by Mary Pope Osborne was the book that killed my son's interest in the series. It seems that every series feels the temptation to do an issue, book or episode for the major holidays. This book sends Jack and Annie to experience a thanksgiving feast with the Pilgrims.

Yes, there were pilgrims. Yes they got help from the local indigenous population. But the holiday we celebrate now on the fourth Thursday of November evolved over time and except for sentimentality has nothing to do with that first feast.

So Jack and Annie go back the pilgrims and make a dogs breakfast out of trying to help prepare for the meal. I get that they are children but they were completely useless, more so than usual. My son who was going on seven at the time that we read the book was shocked at how little they know. He's grown up in an urban setting his entire life but he has more domestic life skills than both children combined.

Frankly it would have been more interesting, unique and educational to have sent Jack and Annie back to 1941 when Congress designated the fourth Thursday as a national holiday of Thanksgiving. I bet most kids don't know that part of the story. It would certainly be refreshing compared to yet another rehashing of the same old Pilgrim story.

[Mohi Hajihoseini · Rating 4 out of 5]

داستان درباره‌ی اولین Thanksgiving یا همان جشن شکرگزاری‌ست. در سال ۱۶۲۰ میلادی ۱۰۲ نفر با کشتی به نام می‌فلاور برای به دست آوردن آزادی مذهبی از انگلستان به آمریکا مهاجرت کردند. امروزه تمام این مهاجرین را به نام Pilgrims
می شناسند.
اولین زمستان در سرزمین جدید بیش از نیمی از مهاجرین را به کام مرگ فرستاد. اما در ادامه با کمک‌های سرخپوستی به نام Squanto کم‌کم نحوه زندگی در این سرزمین‌های ناآشنا از جمله کاشت ذرت و... را یاد گرفته و با بومی‌ها کنار آمدند. بعد از آن هر سال در پاییز و ماه نوامبر به مناسبت برداشت محصولات خوب سه روز جشن گرفته می‌شد.
در سال ۱۸۶۳ رئیس‌جمهور آبراهام لینکلن آخرین پنجشنبه‌ی ماه نوامبر را به عنوان روزملی شکرگزاری ثبت کرد. و در سال ۱۹۳۹ رئیس‌جمهور رزولت روز را به چهارمین پنجشنبه‌ی ماه نوامبر تغییر داد.

[Beth Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just a little note: I really like that Priscilla was in this story. She and John Alden are actually ancestors of mine, and this story was the first time I got to introduce my son to them. Very cool. ;-)

[Marissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

An obligatory Turkey Day reread. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

[QNPoohBear · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jack and Annie are super excited when the magic tree house sends them back in time to Plymouth Colony in 1621, in time for the first Thanksgiving. They make many blunders along the way but learn the importance of the magic of community.

I picked this up, wincing, for my younger niece who enjoys these ridiculous historical fiction books. It's almost Thanksgiving and she went on a visit to Plimoth Plantation over the weekend. That museum is my gold standard and I've spent a lot of time studying Plymouth and the early settlers. I was fully prepared to toss the book in the recycle bin if it was full of lies. Thankfully the author visited Plimoth Plantation to do her research. While the story does read like the game "two truths and a lie", it's mostly correct. The only major factual error is that the so-called Pilgrims didn't actually invite the Wampanoag to the harvest feast. The Wampanoag heard the muskets from the "exercising arms" part of the feast day and got nervous. They crashed the party and stayed for three days, bringing their own food and shelter. The only other nitpicking I did was in the illustrations. Annie seems to have lost her ruff. (Her "dress" should be two pieces- a waistcoat and one or more petticoats).

Jack and Annie are cringeworthy in this story. They make many many mistakes but learn valuable lessons. The lessons learned are what will make me pass the book on. I especially really liked that Squanto talks about how he was kidnapped and enslaved. Most Thanksgiving books don't cover that (most are giant lies anyway).

I would recommend this for a first grader or maybe even second grader as an introduction to Plimoth Plantation before a museum visit. They'll get more out of the museum if they know what life was like at the time and how to interact with the people from the past.

[Stephanie ((Strazzybooks)) · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Be kind to those who feel different and afraid." Magic Tree House gets it, why can't our government?

Happy Thanksgiving! 🍂🍁

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Annabelle:
There's this girl named Annie and she's 7 or 8 years old, but I can't remember. And there's her brother Jack, I think he's 8. And they're supposed to go to their Grandma's, but they have to go somewhere in a magic tree house first.

And they're in the time of the Pilgrims and the first Thanksgiving.

The Pilgrims had a terrible winter, but they stored lots of food for Thanksgiving.

And they had to help make food. And there's this Pilgrim girl named Priscilla, and she helped them in what she was making for the Thanksgiving.

Let's see...

I don't know what to say, Mom!
-Then you can be done.
I have 2 more things to say.

Jack has to carry a pumpkin. Priscilla helps find some nuts and helps with the bread. And Jack and Annie helped her bake her food.

They all have a good Thanksgiving. And ALL of the pilgrims eat and all of the pilgrims even helped bake the food, even the boys! And the boys also exercised their arms. Arms are guns sometimes.

I only have to say one more thing. When they were done, they found out that they had found the magic rhyme. The magical librarian Morgan told them they had to find. It was a community rhyme.

That's all I have to say about this book.



(This time, I didn't ask Annabelle any questions, except the first given one, "What did you think?" I sat and waited silently for her to tell me what she thought. Each new paragraph came after a long pause of thought).

[Maya Orama · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is about a girl and boy named jack and Annie going on an adventure to see pilgrims . It was the morning when Annie told Jack to go to the magic tree house. then, when they where going downstairs, their mother and father told them to come back at 9:00 so they can go to their grandmothers house. they said okay and went to frog creek woods. Jack and Annie went into the magic tree house. They looked on a shelf and found a note next to a book. The note said to go to the pilgrims to learn about thanks giving. So, Annie and Jack wished to go where the pilgrims where. The tree house spun and spun until it stopped. Jack and Annie looked like pilgrims because they where dressed in black and white. Jack was also wearing a pilgrim hat. Jack and Annie found pilgrims and Indians that taught them how to fish, cook fish, and catch turkey. The Indians and pilgrims cooked the turkey, fish, corn, and other food. The Indians, pilgrims, and the two siblings ate a little food. Before Jack and Annie left, the Indians gave Them magic seeds. They both went into the tree house, left, then went to their grandmothers house. They both had a fun thanksgiving and couldn't wait until their next adventure. THE END

[Jordon Worley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 27th book in the Magic Tree House Series. In this series, Jack and Annie discovered a tree house filled with books. They learned that it was magic, and with a simple wish they can go anywhere in the books while no time passes at home (Frog Creek, PA). In this story, Jack and Annie are taken back to 1621 when the Pilgrims are about to have their first Thanksgiving. Jack and Annie help gather food for the feast and they talk with major people in history. While there, they occasionally have to consult their book for information.

This book is an easy read for students in 2nd-3rd grade. There are illustrations throughout the book which makes the 73 pages (10 chapters) seem really short. I love that this book has accurate historical information in it. I also love that it has more facts at the end of the book so that children can learn even more.

[Lindsey Adams · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thanksgiving on Thursday, is a story of historical fiction genre. It tells about the first Thanksgiving between the Pilgrims and Indians at the new Plymouth Colony. I like that this book gives a little history about Thanksgiving but it also gives a very biased history. I feel like I will lean less towards that history and more towards the realistic history that also tells some of the unpleasant things about how thanksgiving came to be.

[A.L. Sowards]

I read this one with my six-year-old. I haven't read a ton of the books in the series, but this is my favorite so far. It had a nice message of being Thankful and being kind to those who feel different and afraid.

[Marsha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just finished this book with my 2nd grade readers. They loved it!

[Isabel Orama · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book I read today was number 27. "Thanks Giving On Thursday". It was a very good book. It was about a brother and sister named Jack and Annie. In this book Jack and Annie went where the pilgrims lived. Morgan gave them a mission to go to Plymouth so they can be thankful for what they have.

Anyway, book number 27 is when Jack and Annie go to Plymouth to see how the pilgrims lived. When they first arrived they saw pilgrims and Native Americans. They saw Squanto,the governor, and other people. They saw a woman and a little girl. The women asked Jack and Annie who and where they came from. They said they went on the Mayflower , but the women never saw them, and Annie refused to say that they were just babies. The women asked Squanto if he have ever seen two children named Jack and Annie and Squanto said yes but they were not telling the truth.

Annie told the women that they know how to hunt for fish and the women said, "good". "You can hunt for the eels, oysters, and fish for the Thanks Giving dinner". Jack and Annie didn't know how to hunt fish, eels, and oysters, so Jack just looked up inside the book. It said, Native Americans stomped their feet to catch the eels. Then the book told them about oysters. Annie and Jack started stomping then Jack felt something squishy he picked it up and saw a slimy eel. Jack and Annie fell in the cold water then the nice women named Priscilla asked them if they would like to come inside her house hold so they can warm up and they both nodded their heads.

She let Jack and Annie's clothes dry while they helped Priscilla make the Thanks Giving dinner. Finally it was Thanks Giving. Annie and Jack help set the table, then Priscilla told Jack to get the turkey. As he got it he dropped it in the flames. Jack poured water on it but that didn't help. The turkey was ruined.


Priscilla came inside and saw the turkey. She wasn't mad because lots of pilgrims made meat and other fesents. Jack wasn't scared any more. Jack, Annie, and the other pilgrims ate and ate until their bellies were full.
And that was the book I read today

[Luisa Knight · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you have an early reader who's eager to read something festive, give this book a try. Jack and Annie get transported back in time to the day of the Pilgrim's famous feast. From this brother and sister duo, your reader will understand a little of what it was like to live in the 1600s and hear how the Pilgrims talked.

Reading Level: 1st - 3rd grades

Cleanliness: A magical tree house acts as a time traveling device. Someone says "oh, mercy!" twice, Mentions smoking a pipe. The word "idiot" is used. A young lady gives a boy a kiss.

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[Lia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magic Tree House Thanksgiving on Thursday
Book 27 (as picked by Andrew)

"Children are a gift from god -- no matter where they come from."


"Be kind to those who feel different and afraid."

I love these lines so much -- with simple words you know it means a lot. I completely agree.

Okay. This book is about finding "magic". Jack and Annie were set to another adventure -- to where Pilgrims lived. They tried doing what pilgrim children do as they were preparing for the feast -- the Thanksgiving feast. They find it difficult but they were able to help. Nonetheless, they found what they were looking for -- the Magic.

It's the magic of community.
"At this moment, three worlds -- your world, our world, and the world of Wampanoag -- are not three. They are one. 'Tis the magic of community. "

Indeed. It is. Thank you. Thank you very much.

Thoughts?

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was very impressed by this book! Not only did it hold my attention the entire time I read it, but it had many history facts that are important to know. Being an elementary education major with a content area in history, I appreciate books that contain history in them. Children would love this book because it has that element of magic but teaches them about the United States. I would use this book in my future classroom to teach about Thanksgiving and how it did come about. The characters read a reference book throughout the entire time of this book and it shows what the reference book says so it is giving straight facts. Magic Tree House is an excellent series that teachers everywhere can use.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

We really enjoy reading this series and this book was a good way to introduce the history of the Pilgrims and the Mayflower. It was the first time I told our girls about being related to someone on the Mayflower, so that was an added bonus. I love how these stories are the catalysts for starting conversations and lead to research in the library (with the research guides and other books and videos, too). We are eager to read more!

[Corinne O’Reilly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is great because it intertwines fiction with facts to engage kids in learning about the Pilgrims, Native Americans, and the first Thanksgiving. It shows how the language has changed when the Pilgrims are confused by Jack and Annie's slang, and how Jack and Annie don't understand some things that the Pilgrims say. It also is filled with lots of facts about the first Thanksgiving and the time period because Jack reads facts from their book frequently in the story.

[Alexis · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought this was very interesting. They got to try to help catch eels and clams and they helped cook two pots of soup. They accidentally burned the turkey!

[Libby Sterrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magic tree house was one of the first series I've ever read! I really like this book I don't know why I just really like it!

[Christie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kids loved it and were sad to see it end. This series bores me to tears, but as long as the kids are happy we will continue.

[Book2Dragon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun Thanksgiving book and chronicles the first Thanksgiving celebrated by the pilgrims. It still follows the brother and sister as the travel from the Magic Tree House.

[Oopsie Daisy (Crows Version) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pioneer: It's not okay, IT'S INDEED AHHHHHH

[Margie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great stories. Both enjoyable and educational.

[Kevin Patton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carli’s review: I really liked it because Jack and Annie got to meet the Pilgrims. I really like that Squanto taught them to make corn. I really liked that Priscilla was okay when Jack burned the turkey because they still had a big feast with lots of food.

[Katie Solt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was cute book I learn something new every day went you read a book.

[Assortedtrashprincess · Rating 3 out of 5]

Worst history use award

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this with my 11 year old who loved it. It's a quick, fun story. Highly recommend the fact tracker companion book to learn more about the pilgrims.

[Noemie | allmybookthoughts · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ben says: “I liked it. I liked the fireplace & when the turkey fell in.”

[Micah · Rating 5 out of 5]

They helped in a lot of ways.