“Squanto and the First Thanksgiving,” by Sarah Albee Kessel, illustrated by Lisa Donze.
Carolrhoda Books, Minneapolis, 1983, 48 pages, Grades 3-5.
Harvest festivals are common in most cultures. After a summer of laboring to produce crops, the farmers throughout an area harvest the grain and produce from the trees and fields. To celebrate their bounty, communal parties and festivals are held. Here, all the people gather to thank God for His blessings and to share a joyful day with each other.
When the Pilgrims landed in Massachusetts in December of 1620, they were in a perilous situation. Massachusetts is a cold, snowy state and they were ill prepared to survive the elements. Lucky for them, Squanto, a member of the nearby tribe of Patuxets would help the settlers. Joyce Kessel has written a valuable account of Squanto’s life and the assistance he rendered to the Pilgrims in the early years of the colony. The name of this fine book is “Squanto and the First Thanksgiving.”
When Squanto is a young man, some English explorers capture him and a number of Patuxet men. They are sold into slavery. During his time as a slave, Squanto has learned to speak English. After years of hard work, Squanto is allowed to go back to North America on Captain John Smith’s ship. However, his thoughts of freedom are quickly ruined when an unscrupulous Englishman again captures and enslaves him and other members of his tribe.
Fearing the anger of Captain John Smith for his evil actions, the Englishman sells Squanto to the Spanish. Now a slave for the second time, Squanto discovers his new owners are monks. He becomes a Christian and is freed for the second time after several years.
Returning to Massachusetts for the second time, Squanto returns to his village. There he learns that tragedy has befallen his people. An epidemic has killed everyone in his village. He is the last remaining Patuxet.
At this time, the Pilgrims land in Massachusetts during the winter of 1620. Immediately, they learn how ill prepared they are for the land. During the winter, many of the Pilgrims die from hunger and disease. The next spring, they face an unknown land. Taking pity on these unfortunates, Squanto teaches the Pilgrims how to hunt, fish and farm in Massachusetts. He becomes their great benefactor.
The harvest is bountiful and everyone wants to have a celebration of thanks. The Pilgrims ask Squanto to invite a neighboring tribe to join the thanksgiving celebration. More than 90 Native Americans come to the party and celebrate for three days with the Pilgrims. This celebration will become one of the great festival days in the future United States. How does this all happen?
Why is Squanto an American hero? What foods are eaten at the first Thanksgiving celebration? Do you think you could eat for three days? Who actually sets the current date for Thanksgiving? Why do so many people think that the Thanksgiving meal is one of the most delicious meals of the year? How much do we all owe to Squanto? To find out the answers to these and other questions, go to the library and check out this excellent book, “Squanto and the First Thanksgiving” by Joyce Kessel.
This book contains important biographical information about Squanto’s life and his contributions toward helping the early Pilgrims survive in North America. The book is not hard to read and the pictures are helpful. Middle school children can learn important historical information about Squanto, the Pilgrim’s early Massachusetts Bay colony and how the feast of Thanksgiving began. I found the book very interesting and think you will as well. Happy Thanksgiving.
