The familiar Thanksgiving story often portrays Pilgrims and Native Americans sharing a peaceful meal. But the 1621 gathering was only one chapter in a much longer history. These books and resources help families explore Thanksgiving from Indigenous perspectives, including the experiences of the Wampanoag people.
Key Takeaways
The traditional Thanksgiving story often overlooks Wampanoag history, diplomacy, and the consequences of European colonization.
Indigenous peoples practiced traditions of gratitude and harvest celebrations long before the arrival of English settlers.
Some Native Americans celebrate Thanksgiving, while others observe it as a National Day of Mourning.
Books by Indigenous authors can help children understand Native American history, cultures, and experiences beyond common stereotypes.
What Is the Native American Perspective on Thanksgiving?
There is no single Native American perspective on Thanksgiving. However, many Indigenous historians and educators challenge the familiar story of Pilgrims and Native Americans celebrating together in harmony.
The Wampanoag people had lived in present-day Massachusetts for thousands of years before English settlers arrived. Their assistance helped the Plymouth colonists survive, and Wampanoag representatives participated in a three-day harvest gathering in 1621.
Yet the encounter was shaped by political alliances, disease, and increasing European settlement. The peaceful Thanksgiving narrative often leaves out the displacement, violence, and loss that followed.
According to the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian, understanding Thanksgiving requires recognizing Wampanoag perspectives and the Indigenous traditions of gratitude that existed long before 1621.
For some Indigenous communities, Thanksgiving is also a time of remembrance. Since 1970, the National Day of Mourning has brought Native Americans and supporters together in Plymouth, Massachusetts, to honor Indigenous ancestors and reflect on the consequences of colonization.
Recommended Thanksgiving Books for Kids
Children's books can introduce these perspectives in age-appropriate ways. The following selections include both new and longstanding recommendations, with an emphasis on Indigenous authors and culturally specific stories.
1. Keepunumuk: Weeâchumun's Thanksgiving Story by Danielle Greendeer, Anthony Perry, and Alexis Bunten
Written and illustrated by Indigenous creators, Keepunumuk presents the Thanksgiving story through Wampanoag storytelling traditions.
A grandmother tells her grandchildren how their ancestors helped English newcomers survive by sharing agricultural knowledge. The book also explores the Three Sisters crops—corn, beans, and squash—and includes Wampanoag language and traditions.
Best for ages 3–7.
2. If You Lived During the Plimoth Thanksgiving by Chris Newell
Written by Passamaquoddy educator Chris Newell, If You Lived During the Plimoth Thanksgiving examines the events surrounding the 1621 gathering through an accessible question-and-answer format.
The book explains how the Wampanoag and English settlers understood their relationship differently and explores the consequences of colonization.
Best for elementary school readers.
3. Colonization and the Wampanoag Story by Linda Coombs
Historian and Aquinnah Wampanoag author Linda Coombs offers a broader account of American history in Colonization and the Wampanoag Story.
Rather than beginning with the Pilgrims, the book explores Indigenous life before European arrival and follows the lasting effects of colonization. It helps older children understand why the familiar Thanksgiving narrative tells only part of the story.
Best for ages 10 and up.
4. 1621: A New Look at Thanksgiving by Catherine O'Neill Grace and Margaret M. Bruchac
Originally featured in this article, 1621: A New Look at Thanksgiving remains a useful educational resource.
Created in collaboration with Plimoth Plantation, now Plimoth Patuxet Museums, this National Geographic book uses historical research and staged photographs to depict the 1621 gathering. It also examines how the event became associated with modern Thanksgiving.
The book appears in the Smithsonian's recommended Thanksgiving resources.
5. Squanto's Journey: The Story of the First Thanksgiving by Joseph Bruchac
Abenaki author Joseph Bruchac tells the story of Tisquantum, often called Squanto, from his perspective.
Squanto's Journey explores his kidnapping by Europeans, his return to North America, and his role in helping the Plymouth colonists.
For younger readers, it introduces difficult but important aspects of the history that traditional Thanksgiving stories frequently overlook.
6. Giving Thanks: A Native American Good Morning Message by Chief Jake Swamp
Another selection from the original article, Giving Thanks introduces children to the Haudenosaunee Thanksgiving Address.
Written by Mohawk Chief Jake Swamp, the book celebrates gratitude for the natural world, including plants, animals, water, and the changing seasons.
Although it is not specifically about the 1621 gathering, it demonstrates how traditions of giving thanks exist independently of the American Thanksgiving holiday.
7. We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga by Traci Sorell
Written by Cherokee Nation citizen Traci Sorell, We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga explores gratitude throughout the seasons in contemporary Cherokee life.
Through family gatherings, cultural traditions, and moments of remembrance, children discover how gratitude connects the past and present.
This book is especially valuable for showing that Indigenous cultures are living, evolving traditions rather than historical subjects.
How to Teach Children the Thanksgiving Story Respectfully
Books are a helpful starting point, but conversations can make the lessons more meaningful.
Parents and educators can encourage children to think more critically by:
Naming the Wampanoag people: Explain that Native American nations have distinct histories, languages, and traditions.
Exploring what happened before and after 1621: Discuss Indigenous life before European settlement and the lasting consequences of colonization.
Listening to Indigenous voices: Choose resources created or recommended by Native authors, historians, and educators.
Recognizing living cultures: Highlight the contributions and traditions of Native American communities today rather than presenting them only as part of the past.
The Smithsonian's First Thanksgiving educational resources offer additional materials for families and teachers.
November is also Native American Heritage Month, providing opportunities to explore Native American history and culture beyond the Thanksgiving holiday.
A More Complete Thanksgiving Tradition
Understanding Thanksgiving from Indigenous perspectives can make room for a more complete history while respecting the diverse experiences of Native American communities.
At the Universal Life Church, we believe meaningful traditions should reflect the values and beliefs of those celebrating them. Whether you're honoring family heritage or creating new memories, you can get ordained online for free to officiate weddings for loved ones or lead other meaningful ceremonies.
