The Night Before Thanksgiving by Natasha Wing is a takeoff on the Clement C. Moore Night Before Christmas story. Instead of visions of sugar plums there are visions of turkey legs. And instead of what to our wondering eyes should appear there is “what to our watering mouths”.
The Night Before Thanksgiving is a heartwarming story that does a good job of showing a hectic modern family holiday. The book is actually more about the day of Thanksgiving than the night before. The illustrations by Tammie Lyon are quite charming. They show the children playing, helping with the dinner, and interacting with their cousins. Lots of cousins, grandparents and other relatives come to visit. The children play with toys and computer games and put on a pilgrim skit. All the while the reader sees the illustrations of dinner being prepared. The children even stick olives on their fingers. That part made me laugh because that’s an unofficial tradition at my house too. The children in the book pretend the olives are finger puppets and grand opera singers. My children haven’t come up with that one!
An uncle almost misses the holiday dinner because he’s caught in a storm, another part that seemed true to most family holidays. Someone always seem to get stuck somewhere. There are also pets who get underfoot and almost wreck the dinner. The children have a fun day and manage to save dinner as they catch the falling turkey on a platter. A lot happens in this books twenty four pages.
I think it’s a cute Thanksgiving story to share. It’s recommended for ages from four to eight. I love that it shows the busy and hectic day all the way from parades to dinner. And I like the way it ends with thanks.
Also See:
Thanksgiving in the Barn – Nadine B. Westcott
Kid’s Pumpkin Projects – Deanna F. Cook