School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 2 A delightful easy-reader that serves as an introduction to why we celebrate Thanksgiving. When Harry and his sister Emily, both cats, notice that several animals are searching for food, they decide to "be like the American Indians" and help them. They gather food for squirrels, birds, and chipmunks and put it out on Thanksgiving. They can hardly enjoy their own meal because they are so anxious to see if the animals have come to their feast. The type is large, the words are simple, and there is lots of repetition. The charming watercolor pictures are lively and childlike. The slight grimace on Emily's face while she is trying to put strings around pinecones points out her frustration. A story that will generate lots of discussion about the origin of Thanksgiving and how children can share the holiday with others. Edith Ching, St. Albans School, Mt. St. Alban, Washington, DC (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book Review
(Primary) When Harry (The Monster in Harry's Backyard) and his little sister Emily hear the story of the first Thanksgiving, they decide to share their own food with some hungry squirrel, bird, and chipmunk neighbors. ""'They don't have stores,' said Harry. 'They are like Pilgrims,' he said. 'Let's help them,' said Emily. 'Let's be like the American Indians.' 'We'll have a Thanksgiving beast feast,' said Harry."" They crack peanuts for the squirrels, spread peanut butter on pinecones for the birds, and set out cranberries for the chipmunks. They even share their pumpkin-shaped cookies with the animals (Emily likes everything about Thanksgiving except pumpkin pie). Ruelle's minimalist watercolors give this beginning reader an unusually fresh look, and the combination of the appeal of the helping-animals theme and the humor in Emily's anti-pumpkin-pie campaign is a winning one. m.v.p. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
Booklist Review
Gr. 1^-2, younger for reading aloud. From the author/illustrator of The Monster in Harry's Backyard (1999) comes another holiday tale about Harry Cat, written for beginning readers. As Harry Cat's family prepares for Thanksgiving, he and his little sister, Emily, discuss their favorite foods for the holiday and learn about the first Thanksgiving. They decide to show their thanks for their own feast by preparing some treats for the birds, squirrels, and chipmunks in their neighborhood. When the holiday arrives, they have the double pleasure of enjoying their dinner and watching the animals enjoy theirs. Simple and child-centered, the story reads well and uses repetition in ways that sound natural, while reinforcing word recognition. Pleasantly childlike, the naive ink drawings are tinted with gentle washes. A rewarding Thanksgiving book for children who are learning to read. Carolyn Phelan
