Giving thanks

Opinion

Discussion

Welcome to our online comments feature. To join the discussion, you must first register with Disqus and verify your email address. Once you do, your comments will post automatically. We welcome your thoughts and your opinions, including unpopular ones. We ask only that you keep the conversation civil and clean. We reserve the right to remove comments that are obscene, racist or abusive and statements that are false or unverifiable. Repeat offenders will be blocked. You may flag objectionable comments for review by a moderator.

comments powered by Disqus

November 25, 2009

Your Libraries

By now the leaves are off the trees and are blowing around the yard. It is finally feeling like late fall. We now turn our attention to preparing our lives for the fall season and what is to come after that. There are many children's books that have been written explaining Thanksgiving, from books about the Pilgrims who came to the new world to settle in Plymouth Plantation to the Native Americans they befriended. These books tell our children the hardships they faced that first winter and how they celebrated with their new friends the fact they had survived. Many times with our hectic lives, we do not stop to give thanks for what we have. Children should be taught these simple lessons. With these books, they might see what they take for granted each day and stop at the end of a day and give thanks.

The following books are favorites in our Thanksgiving collection. Some have been around for a while and there are many brand new ones ready to be checked out.

ÔÇ¢ "One Little, Two Little, Three Little Pilgrims" by B.G Hennessy

This children's book was first published in 2001 and is suitable for ages 3 to 8. Although it doesn't mention the word Thanksgiving and is not intended to represent the first Thanksgiving, its purpose is to represent the daily lives of the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag children during the 1600s. The story doesn't tell of the hardships the Pilgrims faced that first winter.

Wampanoag children are out collecting clams, fishing and gathering nuts and berries in the woods. The Pilgrim children are hunting ducks and geese, digging up the garden for turnips and carrots. Finally it is time for the meal. The Pilgrim and the Wampanoag families gather together to enjoy the feast. The text is simple and rhythmic and the illustrations are autumn-colored. This story is a good introduction to the simple things back in the old days. A must read for our younger ones.

ÔÇ¢ "Run, Turkey, Run!" by Diane Mayr

Diane Mayr, author and librarian at the Nesmith Library in Windham, has written a book for Thanksgiving.

Turkey is having a bad day as it is the day before Thanksgiving. Turkey decides to make a run for it to the pigpen to hide from the farmer in the mud. Turkey thinks that if hides in the mud, the farmer will think he is a pig and he will be safe. No such luck! Run, Turkey run! He then tries to be a duck, then a horse, but the farmer knows his animals too well. Run, Turkey run! Off he goes again trying to escape the farmer.

Readers will laugh at the turkey when he puts on a diving mask and jumps into the pond trying to be a duck. The farmer goes out in his boat to continue the chase. The turkey arrives at the barn with the horses where he puts his head into a feed bucket. The farmer isn't fooled at all. Off goes the turkey into the woods. On his way to the woods, the barnyard animals cheer him on and tell him to run from the barnyard.

On Thanksgiving Day the family is gathered around their table without a turkey to eat. Instead they are feasting on peas, mashed potatoes and grilled cheese sandwiches. In the woods, Turkey is giving thanks for being spared. After Thanksgiving, the farmer and his family go out into the woods to find their Christmas tree. There, hiding under the tree is Turkey. Run, Turkey Run!

This delightful story will certainly be a favorite story time book for young and old alike. Thank you, Diane for another hit. The children at the Taylor Library love your books. Please keep them coming!

Stop by your local library for any one of these titles or other Thanksgiving books. "Fall" into the season and give thanks for your many blessings. For further information about the Taylor Library, please call us at 432-7186 or visit our web site: www.taylorlibrary.org for information about upcoming programs for children and adults.

UPCOMING EVENTS

WEEKLY PRESCHOOL STORY HOURS

Call the library as we still have a few spaces remaining.

Story hours are run on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at various times during the day. You must pre-register to take part in the story hours as space is limited.

Polar Express Story Hour

We are taking a wait list at this point for our ever popular evening story hour in December. Call the library for details and to get your little one on the wait list.

ÔÇæÔÇæÔÇæ

Linda Merrill is the director of the Taylor Library in Derry. The Taylor Library is located at 49 East Derry Road in Derry. For more information on library events, call 432-7186 or visit the library's Web site at www.taylorlibrary.org.