Friday, November 14, 2014

The Mayflower

The Mayflower
by Mark Greenwood; illus by Frane Lessac
32 pages; ages 4-9
Holiday House, 2014

On September 6, 1620, one hundred and two passengers began their journey on the Mayflower. "The Pilgrims didn't know what to expect when they reached their destination," writes Greenwood. "Before them, only explorers and fishermen had undertaken such a dangerous voyage."

This book is a straightforward telling of the voyage to a new world and answers important questions about what they ate and how they spent their time aboard ship. There's an exciting rescue at sea and a few tense moments when a main beam buckles and water pours in.

What sets this book apart from other tales about the first Thanksgiving is the back matter. There's a timeline from 1620 to 1941, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a bill to set aside the fourth Thursday in November as Thanksgiving. There's also a long list of books and other resources for curious future pilgrims. Review copy provided by publisher.

1 comment:

  1. I just read an interview at Miss Marple's Musings with this illustrator Ms Lessac!! It was a great interview. This book was mentioned and it sounds like a perfect one for this time of year! Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete