Guest Author - Taisha Turner
Jack and Annie are time travelers. Join them in Mary Pope Osborne’s book Thanksgiving on Thursday, Magic Tree House Book #27. The Frog Creek kids time travel to the Plymouth Colony to discover the magic of community. Jack and Annie attend the first Harvest Festival with Pilgrims and Native Americans.
In the Magic Tree House books 25-28 Boxed Set, Jack and Annie solve four of Morgan le Fay's Rhymes. Morgan le Fay is the magical librarian of Camelot. She gave the magic tree house to the Frog Creek kids. Earlier, they solve two rhymes in Stage Fright on a Summer Night and Good Morning, Gorillas. Thanksgiving on Thursday is the third book in the boxed set. High Tide in Hawaii is the fourth.
The reader along with Jack and Annie travels to the Plymouth Colony. They meet Squanto, Priscilla, Governor Bradford, Captain Standish and others. The Frog Creek kids arrive hours before the Harvest Festival. Everyone is helping to prepare the meal for the hearty celebration. In Thanksgiving on Thursday, Magic Tree House Book #27, Jack and Annie learn how foods were gathered and prepared at the time. They discover it is very different from a visit to the local market.
Jack and Annie have private conversations with many residents in the Plymouth Colony area. The reader along with the Frog Creek kids learn about the previous harsh winter endured by the Pilgrims. Also, they learn of the aid given by the Native Americans to the Pilgrims. Squanto tells the time travelers of his captivity by the British and his forced trip to England. At the story’s end, he leaves the children with these wise words, “Be kind to those who feel different and afraid.”
The children learn how to catch eels and dig clams. They learn how to cook in a hearth. There is a lot of work, but there is plenty of humor. Priscilla who was sad due to the death of her parents and sibling laughs more than she has since their death. The children have humorous adventures while gathering and cooking the foods.
Thanksgiving on Thursday is a very good early reader chapter book for learning about the origins of the Thanksgiving holiday. Mary Pope Osborne has additional facts concerning Thanksgiving at the book’s end. Also, there is a Magic Tree House Research Guide, Pilgrims, to use as a companion to Magic Tree House book #27. The research guide supplies more detail information about the inhabitants in and around the Plymouth Colony. School teachers and home schoolers should use it as a resource.
Thanksgiving on Thursday, Magic Tree House book #27 is for third and fourth graders. It for children making the transition from picture books to chapter books. However, second grade students who are strong readers can read it independently. Read the book to preschool and younger elementary students.
Children Book Reviews
Early Reader Chapter Books for Children
Christmas, Hanukkah and other Holidays
Children's Books
List of Dr. Seuss Books
Don Freeman's Books
Stan Berenstain's Books
List of Magic Tree House Books
Chronicles of Narnia Books
A Series of Unfortunate Events Books
Note: Thanksgiving on Thursday by Mary Pope Osborne review copy is a library book. Random House publishes Magic Tree House Book #27 in print, audio and ebook. Enjoy Magic Tree House books!
