Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center

The late summer and autumn days are associated with harvesting foods and giving thanks for all that we have. Here are some books about corn, rice, and cranberries, as well as how we remember to give thanks throughout the year.

Bigelow, Bill and Bob Peterson, eds. Rethinking Columbus: The Next 500 Years. Rethinking Schools, Inc., 1998.

The first edition offered a different perspective on the arrival of Columbus in the Americas; this revised and expanded edition is filled with historical information, essays, and lesson plans. It is a useful resource for educators.

Children’s Museum, Boston. Many Thanksgivings: Teaching Thanksgiving-Including the Wampanoag Perspective. The Children’s Museum, Boston, 2002.

Seasonal thanksgiving celebrations and related activities are the focus of this very useful teacher’s guide and curriculum unit from The Children’s Museum.

Dorris, Michael (Modoc). Guests. Hyperion Books for Children, 1994.

Follow Moss as he grows in maturity after a day alone in the woods where he has gone to get away from the outsiders invited to his village.

Grace, Catherine O’Neill and Margaret M. Bruchac (Abenaki). 1621: A New Look at Thanksgiving. National Geographic Society, 2001.

The story of the first contacts between the English settlers and the Wampanoag dispels the standard myths of the “First Thanksgiving.” Produced in collaboration with the Wampanoag Indian Program at Plimoth Plantation and illustrated with photographs of the live historical interpretations at Plimoth.

Hunter, Sally M (Anishinabe). Four Seasons of Corn: A Winnebago Tradition. Lerner, 1997.

In the We Are Still Here: Native Americans Today series; Russell learns from and helps his family plant, grow, and harvest corn.

Regguinti, Gordon (Ojibway). The Sacred Harvest: Ojibway Wild Rice Gathering. Lerner, 1992.

This photo-essay follows Glen as he learns to harvest and prepare the wild rice that continues to be an important part of Ojibway culture.

Vanderhoop, Jannette (Aquinnah Wampanoag). Cranberry Day: A Wampanoag Harvest Celebration. Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) Education Department, 2002.

Chris learns about his culture and history as his family celebrates Cranberry Day.

Information Resources serves Mashantucket Pequot tribal members and their families, other Native peoples, museum staff, tribal departments, research fellows, and the general public. There is no charge for admission.