Happy Thanksgiving

I'm going to be way too busy tomorrow eating all the yummy Thanksgiving food so I wanted to share my favorite Thanksgiving book with you today.

'Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving by Dav Pilkey is my go to read every Thankgiving.  This book has everything- humor and sweetness.

Using the rhyme and rhythm from 'Twas the Night Before Christmas this tells the story of a few kids who find out what happens to turkeys on Thanksgiving day.  It is the day before Thanksgiving and the class is taking a field trip to a turkey farm.  When the class meets arrives to meet Farm Mack Nuggett's eight turkeys (affectionately named Ollie, Stanely, Larry, Moe, Wally, Beaer, Shemp and Groucho) they fall instantly in love.  The class is distraught when they fine out the fate of their new turkey friends and decide they must do something about it.  Each of the kids "stuffed" a turkey under their shirt and and climbed aboard the school bus.  All of Farmer Mack Nuggett's turkeys were gone! The story ends with each of the children having the turkey to their Thanksgiving feast as a guest.  A true Thanksgiving story of love and thankfulness!

To go along with this book I always make a turkey craft.  The one I am sharing with you is great for a small number of children.  There is just a lot of prep work involved so it does not work well for a full class.

Materials:
- Construction paper or real feathers.
- Clear plastic cup
- Needle
- Thread of string
- Small square of sponge
- Glue
- Scissors

1) Poke a small hole in the top of the plastic cup and thread your string through the whole.  Tie a big enough knot so the string cannot be pulled through.
2) Tie a piece of sponge to the end of the string that is hanging through the cup.
3) I chose to trace my sons hands to use as the feathers.  You can either do that, cut feathers out of the paper or use real feathers.  Glue whatever you are using as feathers onto the back of the cup.
4) On the construction paper draw and cut out a turkey face.  Glue to the front of the cup.
5) Moisten the sponge that is hanging on the end of the string. Reach the sponge to the top of the string and drag it down.  You should hear a sound like a turkey.

Kids love playing with this little "craft".  Below is a video of what it looks and sounds like when finished.

Happy Thanksgiving!
Happy Reading!
Laura

Throwback Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays and with it being just one short week away I thought I would share a couple of great Thanksgiving poems for you to read aloud.  

The first poem I want to share with you is "I Ate Too Much Turkey" by Jack Prelutsky.

I ate too much turkey,

I ate too much corn,

I ate too much pudding and pie,

I'm stuffed up with muffins 

and much too much stuffin'

I'm probably going to die.

I piled up my plate

and I ate and I ate,

but I wish I had known when to stop, 

for I'm so crammed with yams,

sauces, gravies and jams

that my buttons are starting to pop.

I'm full of tomatoes

and french fried potatoes,

my stomach is swollen and sore,

but there's still some dessert,

so I guess it won't hurt,

If I eat just a little bit more!

This poem is a little bit on the sillier side, but who does this poem not describe on Thanksgiving day? I know that I always enjoy eating all the yummy food everyone has brought to the table!  My favorite is the corn pudding and butter fluff rolls.  What's your favorite Thanksgiving food?

Now for a poem, that is much simpler but hits right to the meaning of Thanksgiving.  This is a short verse from Ralph Waldo Emmerson. 

For each new morning with its light, 

For rest and shelter of the night, 

For health and food, 

For love and friends, 

For everything Thy goodness sends. 

Sisters- hanging on the porch swing.
Thanksgiving 2006, the first of many at the farm!

What are you most thankful for this Thanksgiving?  I hope you find the time to read aloud some fun or thoughtful Thanksgiving poems this year!

Happy Reading!

Laura