Children’s Book Reviews
By Selene S. Vasquez

Feast upon a cornucopia of delectable books for the Thanksgiving holiday:

PICTURE BOOKS: AGES 6 THRU 8

Milly and the Macy’s Parade by Shana Corey. Illustrated by Brett Helquist. (Scholastic, unpaged, $16.95).
The highlight of New York City’s holiday season is the stupendous annual Macy’s Thanks-giving Day Parade. Set in 1924, a little Polish immigrant girl outright proposes to Mr. Macy himself the idea of a parade from Central Park to 34th street. Acrylic and oil paintings feature the festive costumes, marching bands, and big balloons so characteristic of this wonderful tradition.

The Very First Thanksgiving Day
By Rhonda Gowler. Illustrated by Susan Gaber. (Atheneum, unpaged, $15.95).
A rhyming and rollicking tribute to the first Thanksgiving celebration in a “This is the house that Jack built” cumulative style. Double page acrylic paintings engage the reader with realistic visions of Native Americans, Pilgrims, the Mayflower Ship, and the infinite ocean surrounding Plymouth Rock.

Turk and Runt: A Thanksgiving Comedy
By Lisa Wheeler. Illustrated by Frank Ansley. (Atheneum, unpaged, $15.95).
Turk is the much admired “He-bird” of turkeys, big and strong as compared to his less endowed brother nicknamed “Runt”. One fateful November day, however, a little old lady comes along and decides Runt is just the right size for her holiday table. Can the prized bird show more brains than brawn to rescue his brother? Ink and watercolor cartoon illustrations provide an enjoyable dose of silliness.

NONFICTION: AGES 6 THRU 10

Grandma Maxine Remembers:
A Native American Family Story

By Ann Morris. Photos and illustrations by Peter Linenthal. (Millbrook Press, 32 pp., $22.90).
A social worker at the Head Start Center, Grandma Maxine belongs to the Shoshone tribe and lives on the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming. She shares a special bond with her eight-year-old granddaughter Shawnee, exploring the history and culture of their people through crafting, cooking, preparing for powwows, and looking through family photo albums. A straightforward photo essay portraying contemporary life on a reservation.#

Selene S. Vasquez is a media specialist at Orange Brook Elementary School in Hollywood, Florida. She is formerly a children’s librarian for the New York Public Library.