Goody O'Grumpity by Carol Ryrie Brink illustrated by Ashley Wolff

Ms. Wolff chose to illustrate Ms. Brink's poem after she passed away with linoleum block prints. 
I love the illustrations.

Whenever Goody O'Grumpity bakes a cake, the entire village is overwhelmed with pleasure as the smell wafts outside.
A recipe for spice bread is included in the back.
-Borrowed from the library.

The Boy Who Fell Off the Mayflower or John Howland's Good Fortune by P.J. Lynch*

**Highly, highly recommend.
From the illustrator for The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey, ---his first book he has both written and illustrated.
With beautiful watercolor and gouache paintings and well-chosen words, Mr. Lynch shares how John Howland endures his trip on the Mayflower and settles at Plymouth.
Very exciting and thoroughly interesting.  Well-researched.
I love when one can read and learn something new about a historical time that is well known.
This book I would like to purchase.
Borrowed from the library.

Pilgrim Cat by Carol Antoinette Peacock illustrated by Doris Ettlinger*

Right before the Mayflower departs, a cat jumps aboard.  Faith Barrett befriends the cat during the voyage and the cat sees her through the tough times the Pilgrims experience that first year.
*Highly recommend.

Giving Thanks The 1621 Harvest Feast by Kate Waters photos by Russ Kendall

Another great photographic story of the Pilgrim and Native American time period.

Samuel Eaton's Day A Day in the Life of a Pilgrim Boy by Kate Waters Photographs by Russ Kendall

Another wonderful book created by this team.  This book, obviously, is told from a boy's point of view.
Text Structures:  step-by-step photos; song from time period; notes about the book; a section on rye harvest; glossary
Strategy/skill: context clues

On the Mayflower Voyage of the Ship's Apprentice and a Passenger Girl by Kate Waters photographs by Russ Kendall

Another wonderful contribution by this team! Follow William Small and Ellen Moore as they travel the Atlantic to the New World.
The books by this team offer readers a little look in the past and how life for children was very different!!
Strategies: context clues
Text Structures: additional facts in back; diagram; glossary

Two Bad Pilgrims by Katherine Lasky illustrated by John Manders

All pilgrims were holy and focused on God, correct?  Well, this book revealed misconceptions I had!
This book is graphic style narrated by a "professor" and the two Billington Pilgrim boys.  These boys and their parents did exist and contributed to the beginning of the new world (maybe not all wonderful things!).

Points to discuss:  Although I learned a lot about a different aspect of history, I did not appreciate the boys' behavior-disrespectful; foul language-mentions "cursing" but no bad words are written; poor attitudes; rudeness; lying; stealing etc.
The title "Two Bad Pilgrims" is very accurate!!

Sarah Morton's Day A Day in the Life of a Pilgrim Girl by Kate Waters Photographs by Russ Kendall

Wonderful photographs; authentic language!  This book reveals what life truly was like for the Pilgrims.  It does not mention Thanksgiving.
A couple of recipes included.
Strategy:  context clues
Text structures:  A blurb about Plymouth Plantation and about the real Sarah Morton; glossary; step by step "chart"

This Is the Feast by Diane Z. Shore illustrated by Megan Lloyd

A story that shares the hardships and blessings when the Pilgrims arrive to American and endure that first year.  Told in rhyme.
I love Ms. Lloyd's bright, bold illustrations.

Thanksgiving A Harvest Celebration by Julie Stiegemeyer illustrated by Renne Benoit

The story of the pilgrim's journey to America, their first year, how the Native Americans help and the first thanksgiving are told from Ellen Chilton's point of view.  A great overview of this time period and its hardships.
Illustrations are muted.