Thanksgiving

Biographical Note:

Dona Herweck Rice is the prolific author of books, stories, and poems for children of all ages. She's written hundreds of books and more on just about every topic under the sun, from acrobats to zucchini and everything in between. She has also written award-winning books and curriculums for educators, especially on the subjects of writing and language arts. In fact, her first publications were a series for teachers on how to teach writing in the classroom. She spearheaded the development of Write TIME for Kids, which earned the Golden Lamp award for curriculum from the Association of American Publishers. Her writing is featured heavily in such acclaimed series as Focused Phonics, Untold Stories, Fiction Readers, Nonfiction Readers, Learn and Create, and more.

Dona's best-selling children's title with more than 13,000 copies is How Plants Grow, and her most recent titles include dozens of books for the Exploration Storytime series, two titles in the Curious Me!(TM) board book series, and Ride with Rampage in partnership with the Los Angeles Rams. When Dona visits classrooms to talk about being an author, the most requested titles include History's Mysteries, Bad Guys and Gals of the Wild West, and Oh, Rats!--the latter being one of Dona's particular favorites.

Dona is the creator of Cam E. Chameleon, the enchanting little reptile featured in her books The Adventures of Cam E. Chameleon and Cam and Sam's Colorful Adventure. Observant readers can also find Cam singing and dancing throughout the illustrated retelling of If You're Happy and You Know It.

Writing is Dona's passion, but she also loves reading, live theater, and handmade arts and crafts, with many artists and creatives in all mediums among her extended family. Dona was a preschool and middle school teacher and is an acting coach for all ages. She lives in southern California with her husband, son, and one cute, silly, and loveable little dog.

Explore the meaning behind Thanksgiving and discover why the holiday is a time for gratitude and togetherness.

In Thanksgiving, kids explore why many families celebrate this special day each year and what it means to be thankful. With warm, kid-friendly explanations and familiar examples, children learn how Thanksgiving connects to history and how traditions help people show gratitude for the people and blessings in their lives.

Thanksgiving:

• Explores Thanksgiving traditions such as sharing a special meal, spending time with family and friends, and helping others
• Connects the holiday to big ideas like gratitude, community, and shared traditions
• Invites children to reflect on what they are thankful for and how they celebrate in their own lives

From special meals and family time to gratitude and giving back, Thanksgiving becomes a meaningful celebration children can understand and remember.

The Our Celebrations series helps children connect familiar U.S. holidays to the stories, values, and traditions that shape the United States. Each book invites young learners to explore why a celebration matters--introducing its origins, purpose, and customs. With kid-friendly explanations, relatable examples, and discussion prompts that encourage reflection, the series supports early social studies learning (especially civics) while helping children see how celebrations bring communities together.

Contributor Bio:Herweck Rice, Dona

Dona Herweck Rice is the prolific author of books, stories, and poems for children of all ages. She's written hundreds of books and more on just about every topic under the sun, from acrobats to zucchini and everything in between. She has also written award-winning books and curriculums for educators, especially on the subjects of writing and language arts. In fact, her first publications were a series for teachers on how to teach writing in the classroom. She spearheaded the development of Write TIME for Kids, which earned the Golden Lamp award for curriculum from the Association of American Publishers. Her writing is featured heavily in such acclaimed series as Focused Phonics, Untold Stories, Fiction Readers, Nonfiction Readers, Learn and Create, and more.

Dona's best-selling children's title with more than 13,000 copies is How Plants Grow, and her most recent titles include dozens of books for the Exploration Storytime series, two titles in the Curious Me!(TM) board book series, and Ride with Rampage in partnership with the Los Angeles Rams. When Dona visits classrooms to talk about being an author, the most requested titles include History's Mysteries, Bad Guys and Gals of the Wild West, and Oh, Rats!--the latter being one of Dona's particular favorites.

Dona is the creator of Cam E. Chameleon, the enchanting little reptile featured in her books The Adventures of Cam E. Chameleon and Cam and Sam's Colorful Adventure. Observant readers can also find Cam singing and dancing throughout the illustrated retelling of If You're Happy and You Know It.

Writing is Dona's passion, but she also loves reading, live theater, and handmade arts and crafts, with many artists and creatives in all mediums among her extended family. Dona was a preschool and middle school teacher and is an acting coach for all ages. She lives in southern California with her husband, son, and one cute, silly, and loveable little dog.