Thanksgiving is...

Author:  Gail Gibbons, 2004, Scholastic

Thanksgiving is... is a great informational text.  The reader first learns the history of Thanksgiving celebrations around the world, then the book culminates with the traditional American Thanksgiving.  I learned that President Lincoln declared the last Thursday in November to be Thanksgiving, but it was changed by President Franklin Roosevelt to be the fourth Thursday in November, beginning in 1939.  Traditions, such as decorations, family gatherings, and of course, the food, are covered throughout the book.  I really liked the simple, yet colorful, illustrations.  They do not detract from the message conveyed by the author, but they are a helpful addition to the reading.  Not only is this a great informational text, it is also a powerful teacher of culture.  Children (and adults) who read this book will think of their own traditions and how those traditions have changed over the years.  I was unaware of some traditions mentioned in the book, such as sending Thanksgiving cards and flowers.  In my family, we send Christmas cards, but not Thanksgiving cards.  I would categorize this as not only a book of information, but also a book of history.