Thanksgiving Treat

The Festive Year

by Catherine Stock

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, everyone is very busy. Grandma is stuffing the turkey. Dad is chopping firewood. The cousins are shucking corn. But the youngest member of the family feels left out. He has nothing to do! Until Grandpa has an idea, and invites him along to share in the most special Thanksgiving treat ever!

Genres: Thanksgiving, Picture Books, Holiday, Autumn, Storytime, Childrens, Family

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 30, 1990

Reviews

[Calista · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a simple little story about being with family for Thanksgiving and about preparing food. Since I can't be with my family today and its a different turkey day I thought this would be a good story to read.

The story is about the youngest kid at the gathering. He wants to help with dinner and everyone says he's too small and go and do something else. So he keeps looking. Boys are shucking corn, girls are peeling potatoes and carrots and adults are cooking and dads are chopping wood. The boy is off on his own a little sad, when grandpa comes along and they go for a walk. They go to a chestnut tree and collect chestnuts and everyone enjoys them.

It's a simple story about simply being with family. It's warm and cozy and I miss having family to be with. I have lots of good memories of Thanksgiving and its one of the few years I haven't been with family.

Well, Happy Thanksgiving everyone. I read this on Open Library.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet little story. The youngest member of the family keeps being shooed away from all the Thanksgiving feast preparations because he's too little. Yet Grandpa finds a special job for him when they go together to collect chestnuts and everyone in the family rejoices when they return with a bounty for roasting. I think many children can relate to the feeling of wanting to help and no one finding an appropriate role for them in the preparations. I also can't help but notice it's the oldest member of the family who goes out of the house chestnut hunting (I wonder if this was a self-appointed mission because he was considered "too old" to be helpful in anything else?) I hope it's a good reminder that we all have something to offer, no matter how old or how young.

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

A young boy wants to join in his extended family's busy Thanksgiving preparations in this lovely seasonal picture-book from author/illustrator Catherine Stock, but everyone sends him away, convinced that he is too little, and might get hurt. Sitting sadly by himself, the boy is approached by his Grandpa, who tells him that there is something he can do: he can help gather chestnuts...

Although I have read quite a few picture-books illustrated by the talented Stock, Thanksgiving Treat is the first I have picked up that is written by her as well. It is one of six books in her The Festive Year collection, which also includes such titles as Halloween Monster and Christmas Time . The story is simple but effective, sensitively capturing the emotional state of the main character. The artwork, done in watercolor and colored pencil, is lovely. I would recommend this one to picture-book readers looking for heartwarming, family-centered Thanksgiving stories, and for my part, intend to track down more titles in this collection of seasonal tales.

[Luisa Knight · Rating 2 out of 5]

A little boy goes around offering assistance to all of the family members but he seems too small for the tasks until he meets up with Grandpa.

Ages: 3 - 7

Cleanliness: nothing to note.

**Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide a Cleanliness Report, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that!

So Follow or Friend me here on GoodReads! And be sure to check out my bio page to learn a little about me and the Picture Book/Chapter Book Calendars I sell on Etsy!

[Pamela · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Thanksgiving Treat" by Catherine Stock was such a delightful read, and right on time for the Thanksgiving Holiday. It's about everybody being busy making Thanksgiving dinner...everybody except for a little child of the family that everyone believes too small to help with anything. He wants to help so bad, but all his relatives relay to him that he's too small to help, and should stay out of the way. So, the little boy goes off on his own, trying to think of how he can help be a part of the Thanksgiving preparation as well. Then, he runs into his Grandpa. The little boy's Grandpa notices his grandson's melancoly, listens to his plight, and locates a way in which he can become a part of the Thankgiving helpings. And, the suggestion that Grandpa has proves to be such a delightful addition to everyone's Thanksgiving.
Personally, I really enjoyed this book and cannot wait to share it with my daughter as she gets a little older...when she begins to read. As a parent, I believe that it's important for children to feel important and that they can contribute. This book is a great way to help little children realize that they are not to little to help...with even a grand holiday as Thanksgiving.
I give it 4 stars.

[jacky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the simplicity of this story. The main character is shooed away from all his family as they get ready for Thanksgiving because they are preforming takes that are too hard or dangerous for him. Finally, he is told to go play, but he is sad to be left out; he doesn't want to play, but wants to be part of his family's celebration. The boy's grandfather brings him to collect chestnuts, which is the perfect task for a child his age, and thus the boy gets to be part of the work of Thanksgiving and part of the tradition and celebration. Its really a great little tale about being included in traditions and gives a general idea of what Thanksgiving really looks like in many homes.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a heartwarming tale about family togetherness and a grandfather bonding with his grandson. Everyone in the family is helping to prepare the Thanksgiving dinner and the narrator of the story, a young boy, feels left out because he is too young. But then his Grandpa comes along and they find a way to bring home a special treat for the family, too. It's such a sweet tale and the watercolor illustrations complement the story nicely. We enjoyed reading this story together.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanksgiving Treat by Catherine Stock follows a young boy who wants to help with preparations for Thanksgiving, but is rejected. His Grandpa finds a way for him to contribute in a special way.

The youngest child offers to help with Thanksgiving preparations. He's asked to leave the kitchen by his mother, the girls, and aunts who are preparing food. The cousins shucking corn and men chopping wood don't need his help either. His Grandpa asks for his help in collecting chestnuts, enjoyed by everyone as a special Thanksgiving roasted treat.

The story is narrated by the young boy, with frequent dialog. The text is in a large font and would be appropriate for a beginning or transistional reader.

The watercolor illustrations match this gentle family story, which is a nice addition to Thanksgiving family tales.

For ages 3 - 6, celebrations, Thanksgiving, gatherings, grandparents, family, inclusion, and fans of Catherine Stock.

[Sandie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a pretty cute story. My daughter (5) and I both enjoyed it. Its about a family getting ready for Thanksgiving dinner and the littlest boy goes from family group to family group trying to find a way to help and everyone keeps telling him that they don't need help or he is to small and so finally he goes off by himself to sit and be sad until grandpa comes along and needs his help gathering a special treat for Thanksgiving dinner.

The pictures were nice and gave a clear picture of what the story is about and it was a very simple read. It was a nice Thanksgiving story and we enjoyed it very much.

[Kate Puleo Unger · Rating 4 out of 5]

The whole family gathers at grandma and grandpa's house for thanksgiving, and everyone has a job to do to put the meal together. Everyone except the youngest girl. She goes from group to group asking if she can help, but she's repeatedly told that she's too little. Finally grandpa has a special task just for them, and a special treat for everyone to share. It's a cute story and a great reminder to let our little ones help in any way they can on Thanksgiving, so they can feel special and included in the traditions as well.

Ages 4-6

http://www.momsradius.com/2016/11/8-g...

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, everyone is very busy. Grandma is stuffing the turkey. Dad is chopping firewood. The cousins are shucking corn. But the youngest member of the family fells left out. He has nothing to do! Until Grandpa has an idea, and invites him along to share in the most special Thanksgiving treat ever!

Very sweet idea - challenge kids to think of how they can best help over Thanksgiving.

[Alice Ball · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little boy asks family members one after another if he can help them prepare for Thanksgiving. After each one says no, he’s too small or should just go play, he feels unneeded and alone. Thankfully Grandpa knows just what to do. A sweet story about finding a sense of belonging in a family. Note that all characters are filling gender normative roles with women in the kitchen and boys working outside.

[Asho · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a cute story about a young boy who wants to help with the Thanksgiving preparations but is continuously told that he is too young or not needed. In the end his Grandpa helps him find a way to be useful. I wish it talked more specifically about Thanksgiving and was a bit more explicit in its lesson at the end, but it was an enjoyable quick read for the holiday.

[Rosa Cline · Rating 3 out of 5]

this Thanksgiving story is about a little boy trying to find a 'spot' to help his family get ready for the Thanksgiving day feast. It seemed like everyone but him was doing something to help but everyone told him he was too young, or to little. But Grandpa had a surprise for the two of them; they took a walk and gathered something special to take back to the family for after dinner.

[Sandybear76]

Little boy tries to help everyone get ready for Thanksgiving but they all say he is too little to help. Then Grandpa takes the little boy on a walk and they gather a treat for everyone.

[★ gwiz ★ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story about how someone who is young can help out with the Thanksgiving feast. Would have like one or two more pages that gave the feelings of how he felt by contributing to the family.

[♡ Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a good story, I liked the pictures and the characters!

[Jazz Feylynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story about how someone who is young can help out with the Thanksgiving feast. Would have like one or two more pages that gave the feelings of how he felt by contributing to the family.

[Books On the Ponderosa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a sweet story for Thanksgiving. While the story is short, it’s still heartwarming; a little boy feeling needed to help contribute to a happy Thanksgiving!

[sweet orange books · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read: 2018-11-19

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a precious book about a little boy who wants to be involved on Thanksgiving but no one wants his help. Finally, someone gives him an opportunity to help and he contributes to Thanksgiving in a big way. Sweet, cozy book perfect for Thanksgiving and for young kids who may relate to not being big enough to help.

[June · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorite to use for Thanksgiving. I enjoy the grandfather relationship and definitely relate, as the youngest, to the feeling of being left out. My grandfather had a lot of patience with me.

Used with a kindergarten class with a teacher who requested Thanksgiving stories. 11/20/13

The only Thanksgiving book that arrived and it went over well as the first book for Preschool Story Time. I was born on my Grandfather's birthday so have a soft spot for Grandfather and youngest stories.

[Cws]

HT-Sto

[Sydney Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Your kids want to help. Put them to work. ;)

[Maren Prestegaard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vintage.