Nickommoh: A Thanksgiving Celebration

"Nickommoh! A Thanksgiving Celebration" is a unique book because it provides young (and adult) readers a fascinating glimpse into the Thanksgiving celebrations of Native Americans who held large celebrations 13 times a year (one for each lunar month). The term Nickommoh is the term used by the Narragansett Indian Tribe in New England in referring to these celebrations. Author Jackie French Koller captures the celebratory spirit of these Native Americans through her vivid prose - "With joyful greetings they come together, together to give thanks. Nickommoh!" The illustrations by artist Marcia Sewall are striking and detailed, taking us step-by-step through the celebrations, from the initial preparations to the actual festivities. Throughout, the great sense of community that is so much a part of the Native American way of life is conveyed - communal cooking, games, the costumes, people helping each other dress and painting faces, etc - and finally moving in circles around the fire as they invoke the blessings of Kautantawwitt or the Creator. This makes for a perfect read-aloud and makes for an interactive reading experience in classrooms (as the children can be called upon to chorus or re-enact parts of the story). This is a beautifully-illustrated book which provides wonderful insights into the Native American culture and their celebration of Thanksgiving.

What a fascinating and beautiful look at a traditional Native American celebration. Both my young son and I enjoyed it very much. I learned something, and it gave him a good start at appreciating and understanding cultures different from our own.