Editorial Review: From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 3—This insipid story of a newly immigrated 19th-century Irish family whose daughter feels the pain of separation from her homeland reiterates the origins of Thanksgiving. Mary’s father introduces the story of the five kernels of corn, which is used to remind people of sacrifices made by the first colonists during “the starving time.” Mary comes around and actually thinks of something she is thankful for. The accompanying paintings appear to be based on or re-created from photographs and reinforce the vapidity—despite their period clothes, the characters resemble Land’s End catalog models more than Pilgrims. In one of them, Mary looks more like a spoiled 21st-century birthday child as she pulls her finger through a pie that is to be the only special dish at her family’s feast table. Talk about gratefulness! This book has limited child appeal.—Lisa Egly Lehmuller, St. Patrick’s Catholic School, Charlotte, NC
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