Turkeys, Pilgrims, and Indian Corn: The Story of the Thanksgiving Symbols

By Edna Barth

Book Overview

Each of our holidays has its own familiar traditions: Trick-or-treating on Halloween, eating turkey on Thanksgiving, waiting for Santa Claus on Christmas, exchanging cards on Valentine's Day. But where do these customs come from, when did they begin, and why do we continue to observe them?In the engaging blend of careful research and lively prose that has earned her books a lasting place on the holiday bookshelf, Edna Barth explores the multicultural origins and evolution of the familiar and not-so-familiar symbols and legends associated with our favorite holidays. Full of fascinating historical details and little-known stories, these books are both informative and engaging. Festively illustrated by Ursula Arndt, they are now available again in hardcover as well as paperback editions, featuring new, eye-catching jacket designs, and fun holiday activities inside the paperback covers. Each book includes an annotated list of holiday stories and poems and an index. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0899190391
• ISBN13: 9780899190396
• Release Date: January 1981
• Publisher: Clarion Books
• Length: 96 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 7.0" x 10.0"
• Age Range: 9 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 4 to 7

Customer Reviews

Good info

This book is well-researched and very informative. It is written for an upper-elementary/middle school reader, but is still a great resource for the lower-elem teacher. It could be read aloud to older students in short segments, but is not intended to be shared in its entirety. It is presented in narrative form with pleasant pen-ink sketches. Great for a research project and another look at a familiar story. Good details...

Barth's Book Informative and Accessible for Young Students

This non-fiction work of Barth's is one of many she has written on the origin of holidays. It is written on a level for children, but with facts that adults may not know, either. Barth exposes many myths about clothing, etc..concerning the Pilgrims and Native Americans one may not know. Except for some minor editorialization regarding religion, this is an outstanding book.