Keepunumuk -- New Picture Book Written by Native Americans Sharing the Story of the First Thanksgiving

 

Disclosure: I was sent a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

It is hard to believe November is almost over and harder for me to believe that I have not shared any resources for Native American Heritage Month. It is one of my favorite heritage months! Although I do share various Native American books throughout the year, I almost always have something new for November! Today I get to share with you a wonderful new picture book written by Native Americans or First Peoples that share a Native American story of the first Thanksgiving based on stories from the Wampanoag. The book is Keepunumuk: Weeâchumun's Thanksgiving Story by Danielle Greendeer, Anthony Perry and Alexis Bunten and illustrated by Garry Meeches Sr. It is recommended for ages 3 to 7.

From the Publisher:

In this Wampanoag story told in a Native tradition, two kids from the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe learn the story of Weeâchumun (corn) and the first Thanksgiving.

The Thanksgiving story that most Americans know celebrates the Pilgrims. But without members of the Wampanoag tribe who already lived on the land where the Pilgrims settled, the Pilgrims would never have made it through their first winter. And without Weeâchumun (corn), the Native people wouldn't have helped.

An important picture book honoring both the history and tradition that surrounds the story of the first Thanksgiving.

About the Authors & Illustrator:

• Danielle Greendeer is a citizen of the Mashpee Wampanoag Nation and works in the areas of tribal governance, cultural perpetuation, and food sovereignty. She lives in Mashpee, Massachusetts. 
• Anthony Perry is a Chickasaw citizen and author of Chula the Fox, an award-winning middle-grade historical-fiction book. He lives in London, England. 
• Alexis Bunten, Yu'pik and Unangan, authored the award-winning nonfiction book, So How Long Have You Been Native? Life as an Alaska Native Tour Guide. She lives in Monterey, California. 
• Garry Meeches Sr. (Anishinaabe) was born on the Long Plains reserve in southern Manitoba, Canada. His style is reminiscent of the plains style of art and evokes the Eastern Woodlands tradition. He lives in Connecticut, and this is his first picture book.

From Me:

Ok, first I am going to say I wish I knew of this book before Thanksgiving!! I wish I could have shared it with you so you could have a copy before Thanksgiving, but I only heard of it this past weekend. Thanksgiving is based off a myth. We are taught this myth in school and from an early age. Keepunumuk is trying to change the myth to something closer to the truth. This book is perfect for every elementary classroom and library!! It shares the point of view of Native Americans around the first Thanksgiving. It is a long-needed resource! But besides the book, there is also a website!! The website has some of the history of the Wampanoag people and the colonists as well as curriculum to teach about Thanksgiving and other Native American ways. The publisher's website (Charlesbridge) has a downloadable section for the book as well. It includes discussion guides for different grades, an activity pack and crafts and activities as well as the recipe (shared in the book) and more! 

Now, let's talk about the actual book. I love it! I love how Wôpanâak words are woven throughout the book. The words are defined in the beginning of the book with a note to the reader. This book is not a true story of the first Thanksgiving. The Native story was not recorded. This book shares a story based on Wampanoag stories of how the plants and animals provided for the people and the people protected the land. The story tells about the three sisters: corn, beans and squash. It shares how the animals and the plants saw the new people arrive and watched them. There is so much culture mixed into the book it is truly wonderful. 

The book itself introduces us to a grandmother and her grandchildren. The grandchildren ask the grandmother to tell them a story and she chooses to tell them the story of the first Thanksgiving from the view of weeâchumun, corn. As a lover of Native American stories, this book truly speaks to me. I truly hope every school gets copies for their teachers and every library has it for families to read together. It shares another point of view of America and shares the culture of some of the First People of America. Please check it out!!