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Babiekins Magazine

A Trendsetting Magazine & Online Community For The Trendsetting Child + Parent

Schoolkins // The First Thanksgiving

By Bethany Douglass, Former Contributor 1 Comment

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I first purchased this book, The First Thanksgiving, when my oldest children were quite young, and it is still a favorite we read again together each year. Although beautifully and simply told, it is not a sugar-coated version of this pilgrimage. Jean Craighead George, the author of two more favorite children’s books Julie of the Wolves and My Side of the Mountain, gives an honest and artful voice to the hardships endured both by the pilgrims and the Native American tribes in this read. Gently, she introduces more complex topics into the story of this feast, such as the freedom of religion, the freedom of a person (European slave trade), the Plague, life aboard a transatlantic ship, establishing agricultural life, and of course Squanto’s peaceful help in these settlements–giving more context to this intermingled, multi-day feast we now call Thanksgiving.

The First Thanksgiving is a broad picture of this bit of history more than anything, an introduction to early colonial America, a springboard for other reading and learning and conversation. As it is a picture book, the illustrations carry their own part of the story as well–gorgeous, emotional paintings of dark stormy seas, lonely Squanto in the colorful woods, the Mayflower, and the golden harvest and feast to name a few.  They are excellent fodder for budding artists to copy.

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Naturally, we cannot discuss every topic thoroughly each year. This is the joy of returning to this window in American history again annually. When my children were quite young, I may have simply read the story aloud while they played on the floor around me. Some years we have added a project, and other years, we may have simply discussed it. As my children and their context for history grow, our discussions do, too. This is one of my favorite parts of parenting.

This year, as we are re-reading this story together, each is doing their own project with it. One of my children created simple models of the pilgrim ships using clay, small craft sticks, and paper. While the other three illustrated from the book or from their own imagination with pencil or watercolors.

I am adding more writing this year, too. The older boys will write a summary paper, possibly including a bit from other history readings since we’ve been studying some early American history this fall. My oldest daughter, who is still learning about paragraphing and summarizing, will narrate the story to me, which I will write down, and she will copy on her own. My youngest, who is still an early writer, will copy one to two sentences from the story itself. Although the specifics may vary year to year, sharing the origin of Thanksgiving with my children during this season helps deepen both our understanding and gratitude.

Filed Under: Fun Tagged With: books for homeschooling, children's books, homeschool, thanksgiving Posted By: Bethany Douglass, Former Contributor

Luckiness // Native Inspired

By Debbie Jovel, Contributor Leave a Comment

Babiekins Magazine | Fashionkins//Native InspiredCredits // 01. Blankie | 02. Feathers | 03. Mini Pouch | 04. Baby moccasins | 05. Featherband | 06. Tent | 07. Sweatshirt

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving in the United States, so I am in the spirit of decorating, cooking and giving thanks. I am thankful for family, friends, health, food, shopping online and Babiekins. I enjoy the traditions of the harvest festival and look forward to celebrating them with friends and family. The fashion and decor trends that I am most loving right now that are Native Inspired are fringe, feather headbands, moccasins and tents – Happy Thanksgiving!

Filed Under: Fashion Tagged With: #babiekinsmag, anaame, Babiekins, Babiekins Magazine, barneys, Beau LOves, bu, children's decor, etsy, fall fashion, Fashion, fashion kids, fine little day, fridas tierchen, kids fashion, kids fashion magazine, kids trends, Smallable, sprayground, thanksgiving, urban classics, vilac, wovenplay Posted By: Debbie Jovel, Contributor


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Copyright © 2023 · Babiekins Magazine | A Trendsetting Kids' Fashion Magazine and Online Community for Parents and Children Alike · Since the Southern California birth of Babiekins in 2010, the magazine has grown from into an internationally-recognized print publication with a global circulation and now a thriving online community. We are more than a kids’ fashion magazine. We search everywhere for inspiration, and go beyond trends to bring you fashion, style, decor, design, books, DIY, parties, and playthings. Our readers look to us to keep up with the best and most up-to-date concepts in the children’s market worldwide. We have an eye for quirk. We’re high-fashion, but we value whimsy over tradition. Playful childhood is more important to us than making kids into copycat adults. We believe life is beautiful, life is valuable, and life changes when you see it through the eyes of a child. We seek to transcend skin color, language and zip codes and bring out the real, wild, magical creativity inherent in every child. And behind Babiekins is an optimistic team of mothers-turned-editors, working from home, often with our own little babiekins climbing on, under and around the desks. We want to encourage you, and challenge you to see something different — something special — in yourself and in this world we all share. Welcome to Babiekins!

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