Festive City: Millie and the Thanksgiving Day Parade

Mom says:
Okay, I admit it. I find most books about Thanksgiving a bit... shall we say... tedious. But I enjoyed this one, and not just because of the noses.

Even if you don't live in New York City, you have undoubtedly seen all or part of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on the television. Most New Yorkers watch it that way, anyhow... what a zoo! Although based on factual events surrounding the parade's beginning in 1924, Shana Corey's Millie and the Thanksgiving Day Parade is about the fictional Millie, a young Polish immigrant, whose father works for Mr. Macy. Millie notices that immigrant families are feeling sad around the holiday season as they miss the traditions of their homelands. The spunky girl encourages Mr. Macy, whom she sees as the most important man in America, to use his powers for good and host a giant street party, and the rest, as they say... is history.

It is fun to look through Brett Helquist's illustrations, which are festive and evoke the period nicely; his drawn characters are visually appealing with terrific noses, and decidedly un-saccharine, a quality I value greatly. The parade looks like a fabulous party, despite the lack of gigantic balloons -- one even this crowd phobic mom, might like to attend.

Although this is a fictional account (Mr. Macy actually died in 1877!), there is an author's note at the end to fill in the blanks. Just as the first Thanksgiving was the coming together of Native Americans and Pilgrims, so too, the Macy's parade was a collaboration between native New Yorkers and recent immigrants. If you're tired of books about turkeys and feasting I recommend you pick up this book.

Big Kid says: That looks fun!
Little Kid says: Whoooo! (That's his elephant noise. There is an elephant in the parade.)