Nonfiction Children’s Books That Teach Point of View

The first Thanksgiving is a story of two different people groups coming together on Thanksgiving, but often, the story is told from only one side.

The Pilgrims’ First Thanksgiving tells the story from the viewpoint of the Pilgrims – the long journey on the Mayflower, the harsh first winter, the building of Plymouth, the essential help they got from Squanto, and the first Thanksgiving when Native Americans and Pilgrims came together.

Squanto’s Journey: The Story of the First Thanksgiving tells this same story from the viewpoint of Squanto – how he was captured, enslaved, and forcibly taken to Spain, how he escaped and returned to his home, how he tried to help the white men and the Native American tribes, and how the two groups celebrated together.

By exposing your students to both sides, they will develop a better understanding of what actually happened. It will also help them understand how an author’s point of view affects how a story is told. For example, The Pilgrims’ First Thanksgiving mentions the help Squanto gave the Pilgrims but omits any reference to his captivity.

Check out these other ideas for teaching around Thanksgiving.