Give Thanks to the Lord
Here are a few recommendations we love to pull out during November:
The Boy Who Fell Off the Mayflower or John Howland’s Good Fortune by PJ Lynch is a book we’ll read every November because I want my kids to really know John Howland’s story. He was miraculously saved when he was thrown off the Mayflower during a terrible storm. Despite all odds, he survived and also survived the harsh conditions the first settlers faced. What is neat is that both Joseph and Emma Smith are his direct descendants. I added this pedigree chart into the back of our book to help my children see. Also, President Ballard is a descendant of John Howland as well. What the story of John Howland taught President Ballard about expecting the Lord’s hand is a fun article to read along side the book and pedigree chart.
I highly recommend Squanto and the Miracle of Thanksgiving because it goes into detail about how Squanto was an instrument in the Lord’s hands to save the pilgrims. Squanto is paralleled to Joseph of Egypt being sold into slavery. Just as Joseph is able to save the people in famine, Squanto is able to help save the pilgrims from starvation.
The Pilgrim Hypothesis by Timothy Ballard - Loved, loved, loved this books for older teens and adults. I took material I learned in this book and simplified it for my little kids.
We also love Give Thanks to the Lord. This pairs really well with the Give Thanks dream and video from President Nelson. This was such a powerful time. We had just read Give Thanks to the Lord and a few weeks later President Nelson used the same scripture in this book to help lead the world through turmoils many were facing with the Covid-19 pandemic. It was such a tender mercy and little sign that Heavenly Father was aware of us.
A few other good books we enjoy this time of year are: Three Young Pilgrims, Thanks for Thanksgiving, In November, The Courage of Sarah Noble, If You Sailed the Mayflower in 1620 and My First Thanksgiving.
ACTIVITIES & VIDEOS
Thanksgiving Spot It (Free)
Thanksgiving Word Search and Maze (Free)
Thanksgiving Pattern Block (Free)
Mayflower Study Guide to go with If You Sailed on the Mayflower in 1620
Top 5 Church Videos to Get You in the Thanksgiving Spirit - LDS Living