~ MARVELOUS MIDDLE-GRADE
MONDAY THANKSGIVING
HOLIDAY FAMILY READ ALOUD ~
-- CRANBERRY THANKSGIVING --
AUTHOR WENDE DEVLIN
ILLUSTRATOR HARRY DEVLIN
ABOUT THE BOOK {from Goodreads}:
Today was Thanksgiving, Grandmother's favorite day of the year. The cooking was done and her famous cranberry bread was cooling on the wooden board. Every year Grandmother invited a guest for dinner and allowed Maggie to do the same. "Ask someone poor or lonely," she always said.
She wasn't happy upon learning that Maggie had invited the unsavory Mr. Whiskers to dinner. Would her secret cranberry bread recipe be safe with him in the house?
After a long absence this delightful 1971 classic is back and so is the secret recipe for Grandmother's Famous Cranberry Bread!
ABOUT THE AUTHORS {from the publisher's website}:
Wende and Harry Devlin
Wende and Harry Devlin graduated from Syracuse University
with degrees in fine arts and both evolved into accomplished painters.
They
later moved to New Jersey, where they became lifelong residents, to raise their
family.
The Devlins first collaborated in the 1950s on a syndicated
comic strip, Raggmopp, based on the antics of their seven children.
After this,
for more than thirty years from 1963 to 1995, Harry and Wende delighted young
children with their Cranberry and Old Witch series. Some of these stories
contained more than just happy endings, featuring recipes pleasing to children
and adults alike. In fact, many people remember Old Black Witch as the
“Blueberry Pancake Witch,” and this beloved series went on to sell over a
million and a half books.
Wende’s words, brought to life by Harry’s vivid
illustrations, will continue to enthrall future generations as an unforgettable
legacy in children’s literature.
Each of their books comes with a recipe on the back cover,
take a look on Pinterest for all of them: Recipes from the Devlins.
Our favorite recipe is the Cranberry Upside Down Cake. The
Blueberry Pancakes and Cranberry Bread are soooo good too!
Don’t forget to check out all the cool facts at Wende and
Harry’s
Website: http://harryandwendedevlin.com/
ILLUSTRATION COURTESY OF THE PUBLISHER
MY THOUGHTS:
Cranberry Thanksgiving was one of my favorite read alouds when I taught primary grades. Kindergartners, first graders, and second graders all loved it. And they didn't just love hearing it read aloud at Thanksgiving time. They wanted to hear it well after we returned from our Thanksgiving break from school.
I recently saw a reading level of 3.7 listed for this book, but I didn't work with students who read this book independently. It was a storytime favorite, and I think I know why . . .
Harry and Wende Devlin were the parents of seven children. Like Beverly Cleary, it has been reported that the Devlins included the antics of their own offspring in their books. As I mentioned in my post about Author Beverly Cleary in 2018-- https://authorjunemccraryjacobs.blogspot.com/2018/08/mmgm-retro-fiction-beverly-cleary.html
-- the Devlins understood children and what made them laugh, cry, become angry, and a host of other insights to be gained by working with, living with, and/or loving children.
If you have a chance this Thanksgiving season, find a copy of this holiday classic and share it with your family, friends, or neighbors no matter their age. Read it aloud to a group and experience the magic that only a well-written, beautifully-illustrated classic children's book can inspire.
Find the links to read more great Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday posts from middle-grade authors and bloggers at Greg Pattridge's 'Always in the Middle' Blog.
I recently saw a reading level of 3.7 listed for this book, but I didn't work with students who read this book independently. It was a storytime favorite, and I think I know why . . .
Harry and Wende Devlin were the parents of seven children. Like Beverly Cleary, it has been reported that the Devlins included the antics of their own offspring in their books. As I mentioned in my post about Author Beverly Cleary in 2018-- https://authorjunemccraryjacobs.blogspot.com/2018/08/mmgm-retro-fiction-beverly-cleary.html
-- the Devlins understood children and what made them laugh, cry, become angry, and a host of other insights to be gained by working with, living with, and/or loving children.
If you have a chance this Thanksgiving season, find a copy of this holiday classic and share it with your family, friends, or neighbors no matter their age. Read it aloud to a group and experience the magic that only a well-written, beautifully-illustrated classic children's book can inspire.
🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂
🦃🦃🦃 Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! 🦃🦃🦃
🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂
**************
Find the links to read more great Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday posts from middle-grade authors and bloggers at Greg Pattridge's 'Always in the Middle' Blog.
🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂🍂
THE SALE INCLUDES MULTIPLE GENRES, MULTIPLE AGE GROUPS, AND MULTIPLE AUTHORS.
GREAT SAVINGS ON SOME GREAT BOOKS!
**** MY MIDDLE-GRADE HISTORICAL ADVENTURE, 'RES-Q TYLER STOP', IS PART OF THE SALE AS ARE MY TWO CHRISTIAN ROMANCES FOR ADULTS--'ROBIN'S REWARD' AND 'HANDMADE HEARTS'. LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SALE BY CLICKING ON THIS LINK:
BLACK FRIDAY CLEAN INDIE AUTHOR BOOK SALE
📚📚📚 A SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT 📚📚📚
I AM PARTICIPATING IN A 'BLACK FRIDAY' E-BOOK SALE WITH OTHER CLEAN INDIE AUTHORS BEGINNING THIS FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29TH, AT MIDNIGHT PST, AND RUNNING THROUGH TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3RD AT MIDNIGHT PST. ALL BOOKS LISTED WILL BE PRICED AT 99¢!THE SALE INCLUDES MULTIPLE GENRES, MULTIPLE AGE GROUPS, AND MULTIPLE AUTHORS.
GREAT SAVINGS ON SOME GREAT BOOKS!
**** MY MIDDLE-GRADE HISTORICAL ADVENTURE, 'RES-Q TYLER STOP', IS PART OF THE SALE AS ARE MY TWO CHRISTIAN ROMANCES FOR ADULTS--'ROBIN'S REWARD' AND 'HANDMADE HEARTS'. LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SALE BY CLICKING ON THIS LINK:
BLACK FRIDAY CLEAN INDIE AUTHOR BOOK SALE
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I don't remember the Devlin's and their Cranberry Thanksgiving and other books. They began publishing when I was a tween. The book sounds delightful. I always loved when books include a receipe. Perfect share for Thanksgiving! Happy holidays!
ReplyDeleteI didn't find any Thanksgiving books that grabbed me this year, and now I'm sorry I didn't know about Cranberry Thanksgiving. Thanks for sharing it, it sounds wonderful.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great read-aloud and perfect for this week. Thanks for such a timely share on MMGM.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds so cute and perfect for Thanskgiving. I don't read picture books anymore, but I remember when I was younger reading some really good ones--it really helps spark the imagination and encourage a love of reading! I'm glad this one seems to do that, awesome recommendation!
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of this book, but my library has it in their system. Many are ahead of me on the wait list, but that's okay. It sounds like something I will enjoy any time. Thanks for telling me about it. Happy Thanksgiving!
ReplyDeleteI was the target demographic for this when it came out-- I think my first grade teacher read it when it was brand new. Always loved this one, although never owned a copy. It's still in print!
ReplyDeleteI have never heard of this book, but now I'd like to read it!
ReplyDelete