Reviews

Sarah Gives Thanks: How Thanksgiving Became a National Holiday by David Gardner, Mike Allegra

nerfherder86's review against another edition

3.0

Picture book about the life of Sarah Josepha Hale, who advocated for 36 years to have Thanksgiving become a national holiday--until finally, President Abraham Lincoln agreed with her. She wrote novels and poetry, having given herself a college education at home using her brother's books; she went on to edit Ladies Magazine and Godey's Lady's Book magazine. This book has nice realistic watercolor illustrations, with an author's note and sources; the author even researched actual issues of the two magazines from the nineteenth century! But I wouldn't call this a biography exactly; it's more about how the holiday came to be and incidentally gives some info on Hale too.

jennybeastie's review against another edition

5.0

I'm so impressed -- a thanksgiving book that doesn't wander into culturally insensitive territory, and instead celebrates the strong willed and talented woman who got it declared a national holiday. Great job, I say! Good illustrations, a solid story and emotional depth. Not what we have come to expect from the run of the mill picture book.

libraryjen's review against another edition

4.0

A solid and inspiring story of Sarah Josepha Hale, the woman who wrote May Had a Little Lamb, edited multiple magazines, and eventually got Abraham Lincoln to declare Thanksgiving a national holiday. I had never heard of her before reading this book, but she must have a had a fascinating life! This book could be used in a story time about Thanksgiving and gratitude, just beware that you might want to shorten it a bit (skip a spread or two or thee) depending on your audience. The only mention of "Pilgrims and Indians" comes when explaining that Thanksgiving was celebrated in many states, but not as a national holiday. The context is that in a lot of southern states many considered it a northern holiday so they didn't celebrate it. This part is easily "skip-able" if desired.

This book is also appropriate in a story time about feminism or strong women. Sarah also worked tirelessly for women's education (including pushing for female faculty at Vassar, one of the first women's colleges in the US, when it first opened and the plan was for an all-male faculty lineup).

Excellent illustrations accompany the easily accessible narrative.

ashleysbooknook's review against another edition

3.0

Good factual book about Sarah Hale, who convinced President Lincoln to make Thanksgiving a national holiday. This gives more information about her life before she decided to petition various presidents, unlike other books. It’s less fun to read because it’s all facts, but it does flow like a story and older elementary kids would probably enjoy learning about how Thanksgiving became “official”.