This Is the Feast

This is it

by Diane Z. Shore, Megan Lloyd (Illustrator)

This is Thanksgiving, a time to remember the friendships and freedoms we all share together.

When the Pilgrims embarked on their legendary Mayflower voyage in 1620, they couldn't predict what lay ahead of them. In search of religious freedom and a new life, the settlers faced hardships including harsh storms, illness, and unfamiliar terrain. Thanks to their natural perseverance and the help of their neighbor Indians, the Pilgrims survived their first year. And when the harvest the next fall was plentiful, the Pilgrims and the Indians joined together in a three-day celebration, the first Thanksgiving.

Diane Z. Shore's lyrical, rhythmic verse and Megan Lloyd's lively, joyful illustrations bring the Pilgrims' harrowing experience to life and demonstrate the strong bonds for which we give thanks every year.

Genres: Thanksgiving, Picture Books, History, Childrens, Holiday, Autumn, American History

32 pages, Hardcover

First published August 26, 2008

About the author

Diane Shore says that she never grew up past the 3rd grade and admits that she still thinks like an impetuous nine-year-old with ADD. She is the author of, Bus-A-Saurus Bop, winner of the 2004 Childrens Choice Award, Look Both Ways, winner of the 2007 Kansas Reads to Preschoolers Award, and her most recent picturebook, This Is the Dream, which received a Booklist starred review and was named a 2007 Once Upon a Child Honor book. Her I-Can-Read series with publisher HarperCollins titled How to Drive Your Sister Crazy! will be released this summer. She lives in metro Atlanta, Georgia, with her husband and two teenagers, and loves visiting schools. Visit her website at www.dianezshore.com"

Reviews

[Kathryn]

Appreciated the rhyming style, giving more flow and cohesiveness to the story of the pilgrim crossing, arriving in the New World, hardships/triumphs and first Thanksgiving. However, I was a disappointed that the author used "Indian" to describe the Wampanoag people. Perhaps "Wampanoag" didn't fit with the rhyme scheme, but there is no excuse for ignoring the tribe's proper name in her "Historical Note", especially as this book was published in 2008 when we should all be more knowledgeable about real history.

[Peacegal]

Realistic paintings tell the story of the Pilgrims and the first Thanksgiving. While still idealized, this book nevertheless acknowledges there was a grimmer side to the story--the plague striking down most of the Native Americans and many of the Pilgrims not surviving their first harsh season.

This is definitely one of the more balanced Thanksgiving picture books out there.

Veg*n families note: While the human participants are the main focus of the story, there are still references to hunting and catching a variety of animals for meat, and a feast table shown weighted down with all sorts of animals for consumption.

[Luisa Knight]

This is a fantastic way to introduce your younger children to the original feast! The images really do a great job of capturing the Pilgrim's experiences and the history is told in a rhyming poem. I recommend this one!

Ages: 4 - 9

Cleanliness: nothing to note.

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[Isaac Horan]

it's a book about the first Thanksgiving and having fun with people and coming to u s.a I will read it again and it's good for kids 🤠😎

[Shunta]

This is a cute innocent yet inaccurate version of the pilgrims and native americans. I read it and it is a cute little story. It reminds me of the stories they told me as a child. But after this cohort and these classes I dont want to tell them this side of the story and have my students shocked when they find out the truth. I could use it to teach perspective though.

[Danielle Monroe]

This is one of the few Thanksgiving books that I wouldn't mind using in the classroom. It actually mentions the Plague and how only Squanto survived it. It's a very brief reference that wouldn't completely unsettle young children, but could be further discussed in a classroom of older students.

[Lisa]

This book doesn't have a lot of text per page which is great because the illustrations are beautiful and you can better take them in. The pictures have a very realistic look and illustrated some of the hardships (weather, seasickness, etc) and many blessings. I loved that it repeatedly mentioned their thanks to God.

[KarenMLISt]

Recommending to Gr. 3 & UP as a Thanksgiving read aloud with it's rhythmic text and enticing illustrations. Older grades can use this as a perspective of "cleaned up" historical fiction and younger grades can intro Squanto & the unpleasant truth about disease \ death.

[Kimberly]

Lovely illustrations!
She also put such personality in so many of their faces!

A rhymning story of the Mayflower pilgrims. Starting after their voyage has begun, and ending with the Thanksgiving feast.

[Molly Cluff (Library!)]

The illustrations in this are very lovely! I always wonder about historical accuracy in Thanksgiving books, so I wish it had some sources or something, but the rhyming had a nice cadence to it.

[Marcia]

Beautifully illustrated and adds a few details often missing from other Thanksgiving picture books.

[Anthony]

A look at the what it took for the first Thanksgiving in North America to occur as told in poetic rhyme and verse.

[Brittany]

Good preschool-1st grade rhyming book on the pilgrimage, Squanto and the first feast. Accurate and engaging.

[Sarah]

Written in the style of "this is the house that Jack built," this book summarizes the first American Thanksgiving for elementary students.

[Kelly]

One of our Thanksgiving favorites: a simple story with lovely illustrations, and overall a reminder of the Pilgrims' conviction and courage!

[Nazziwa]

I appreciated this story of the feast, revealing the good times as well as the hardships they all faced and went through because it's just part of living life!

[Audrey Pollard]

The mayflower is how the pilgrims got here, and this story explains all the preparation and the hard-work it took for the first thanksgiving.

[Emily Hayden]

Thanksgiving read aloud.

[Amanda Malinaric]

Rhyming kids book about the pilgrim’s first Thanksgiving. Nice illustrations. Nothing amazing.

[Cheryl]

Beautiful illustrations! I could look at them for hours! We borrowed this from the library, but I may go ahead and buy this one!

This is a simple telling of the Pilgrims on the Mayflower for young readers. I love that the story is told in rhyme, as this really helps to get my son's attention. Some pages only have one sentence & some pages are much longer. My son is only 2 so this book is a little bit wordy for him right now. He gets antsy if we have to stay on the same page for very long. He will probably like it better in a few years.

[Christine Levinge]

This book was alright. It is a rhyming story of the first Thanksgiving. Although they incorporate a little bit about the contributions of the Indians, in this book they act like the Indians and Pilgrims got along like one happy family.

[Jenny]

Beautiful illustrations--the colors are just gorgeous. The text was definitely an innocent telling of the story and painted the Pilgrims in a very favorable light. It could have used a bit more balance, but a lovely book nonetheless.

[Susie]

Great historical rendition of the early colonists. Beautiful pictures that create a wonderful setting for children to learn about the first Thanksgiving. The 'sing-song' of the text adds to the delight for young children.

[Miri]

Told in rhyme about the pilgrim's journey to America, making their new homes as they endure the hardship of winter and disease. Thankfulness for the harvest and aid from the Native Americans culminating in the first Thanksgiving Feast.

[Rachel]

Lush rich illustrations. Text is lack luster, rhyming scheme that does not always work, patterns do not follow throughout.

[Sally]

I loved the sing-song rhythm and rhyme used by the author to tell the story if the first Thanksgiving. Beautiful illustrations!

[Jackie]

This Is the Feast is told in rhyme as it recounts the story of the first Thankgiving Feast.

Used for "We Are Thankful" Storytime-November, 2010.

[Teri]

Really nice rhyming meter, love the illustrations--not too heavy with facts, use another book for those.

[Miss Erica]

GR Level: ?

NOT AVAILABLE

[Muna Escobar]

Beautiful book