The first book tells about how Thanksgiving became a national holiday. A woman named Sarah Josepha Hale persuaded Abraham Lincoln to proclaim the fourth Thursday in November a holiday after years and years of work trying to unite our country in her cause. She was a rather extraordinary lady. The book is called, "Thank You, Sarah: The Woman Who Saved Thanksgiving" by Laurie Halse Anderson. I think it is fun to realize and understand how a holiday comes into being and why we celebrate the way and when we do.
The next book I chose is directly related. This is a fun rendition of the first Thanksgiving as a national holiday in the White House. Abraham Lincoln is president and his son, Tad, is giving the staff a run for their money. Above all, he is determined that his pet turkey, Jack, will NOT be the main course! This book shares some of the numerous anectodes of Tad's precocious behavior and his father's reactions as well. "Thanksgiving in the White House" by Gary Hines is a fun story for the little ones.
And, since I have realized that both of these neat books are out of print, here is one that is not! "Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy's Parade" by Melissa Sweet is about the man who created and invented the giant balloons which fly in the famous parade in New York City on every Thanksgiving Day morning. I don't think that Thanksgiving is truly complete without watching at least some of the parade. My favorite part of the parade is the songs from Broadway muscials. I love to watch those amazing singers, actors, and dancers. I have to admit that, as a child, the Radio Music Hall dancers were mesmorizing with their long legs and absolutely synchronized kicking, though!
Have a great Thanksgiving Day! It is my favorite holiday, and I am so grateful for all the wonderful things in my life! My family, my friends, the gospel of Jesus Christ, good books, and this beautiful earth are just a few of the many, many things I have to be thankful at this time of the year.
As a side note, I thought I'd share a great Thanksgiving Day family home evening that we have had two years now, so I guess it is a new tradition. Now that my children are old enough to write well and think more deeply, we each make a list of 100 things we are grateful for. We do this list ten things at a time. For example, ten people, ten books, ten 'things', ten historic figures, ten trials, etc.... Done this way, it is very easy to find 100 and many more things to be grateful for. It is hard to feel discourged, depressed, or disappointed when we realize how many blessings we truly have. We keep these list throughout the holiday season so that we can remember and continue to thank the Lord for all that He has blessed us with in our lives!
