Thanksgiving
Wyndham
1963
We have another Thanksgiving holiday book from the olden days. This book is more the familiar story those of us of a certain age remember as the “true” story of Thanksgiving. Of course it reads a bit more sweetly and glosses over some of the rougher experiences of the Pilgrims. Not to mention under playing the role of the local natives in keeping the colonists alive that first winter.
Smashed Potatoes
and other Thanksgiving Disasters
Murphy
1994
Someone had to remind me that this week is Thanksgiving week. It is one of my favorite holidays since it really requires nothing but some turkey and the Detroit Lions failing to win a football game. Usually we post fiction on a Friday, but since I have a Thanksgiving title, we will be featuring this one before the holiday.
This one is for the middle elementary set. The family is preparing for the holiday when Mom is called away to help a relative who is ill. Mom sets a reservation at a local place since she won’t be there to cook. (Evidently, Dad is too incompetent to cook as well.) Megan decides this isn’t how they should do Thanksgiving dinner and cancels the reservation. She is going to step up and cook. Of course, nothing goes to plan and Megan realizes her dinner is fast becoming a disaster. However, she eventually realizes that Thanksgiving is really about family togetherness.
Better Homes and Gardens
Holiday Cook Book
1967
Just in time for your holiday cooking! All your special occasion dinners are here. Aside from the standard Thanksgiving and Christmas choices, we have those special foods for simple gatherings, like fancy sandwiches for the entire group. Again, the same loaf, cake-like sandwiches that have appeared on this site more than once or twice. God forbid you make a mistake and think you are biting into a loaf cake.
But wait, there’s more! Try a fruitcake for your next Christmas dinner. My late father was convinced there were only a handful of actual fruitcakes out there. Since no one likes it, it just gets re-gifted into eternity. I don’t think I have even seen a fruitcake since the early 1980s. I remember trying it as a kid because, cake, but nearly choking on the awful taste.
Mother’s Day
Phelan
1965
As a mother (retired), I am totally okay with Mother’s day. (Actually, I am okay with anything that nets me a present or two.) This book gives us an overview of Mother’s day in the US and other countries. Not too bad, but somewhat boring. Then I got to the page about Mother’s Day in Yugoslavia, now Serbia. Evidently, Mom gets tied up by her kids. Really. Before you jump to any weird conclusions, I searched for some verification.
Mother’s Day is celebrated before Christmas as part of the Serbian Orthodox tradition. Mother’s Day is celebrated along with Father’s Day and a Children’s day as part of preparation for Christmas. These holidays are about remembrance and tying the past with the present. (This info is from the Serbian Orthodox Church Diocese of Eastern America and St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church)
At the Butt End of a Rainbow and Other Irish Tales
Livesey
1970
Happy St. Patrick’s Day to everyone. I actually forgot today was St Patrick’s Day until I had an appointment and the staff was all decked out in green. COVID has killed my sense of time and I am stuck in some sick rendition of the movie Groundhog Day, repeating the same day over and over. Since I am married to Southside Irish and have been to the parade, drank beer, and marveled at the green Chicago River, I feel obligated to share this post from 2012. You can read the original post here.
Columbus
D’Aulaire
1955
Submitter: We had a homeschool family Interloan this book for schooling purposes. We are so glad it is NOT on our shelves nor will it be. Reviews praise the artwork but that does not save this book. Besides the fact it is quite old with original copyright of 1955, it is just all wrong for educating children about Columbus. Using terms of “red skin savages” and “yellow skin” and “slanty eyes” is not acceptable; it is all stereotypes and glorifying the “white explorers” who save everyone they discover. This book will only teach you all the wrong facts about Columbus!
Holly: Not to mention it’s all highlighted and scribbled in!
It’s not too late to break out the holiday books as we close in on the end of the year. If you are celebrating Christmas, there is still time to make some personalized gifts. Your family will appreciate the thoughtfulness!
Kicking off our collection, is Magic with Tin Cans. You can make a holiday tree, ornaments, and even a can chair! Just be careful to avoid cutting yourself on the can edges.
How to Make Party and Holiday Decorations
Easy to make delightful decorations for every special occasion
Berry
1976
This book was still in circulation (as of this writing). The binding was cracked and there was quite a bit of tape used to rescue this lovely book. It also contains the ugliest decorations I have seen.
