
Keepunumuk: Weeachumun’s Thanksgiving Story
ISBN
9781623542900
Publisher & Publication Year
Charlesbridge, 2022
Author
Danielle Hill (Mashpee Wampanoag), Anthony Perry (Chickasaw), and Alexis Bunten (Yu'pik/Unangan)
Illustrator
Garry Meeches Sr. (Anishinaabe)
Synopsis
Summary
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 the 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 been able to help.
Notable Achievements
CBC Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young Readers (2023); New England Book Award (2022); Kirkus Reviews Best Book of 2022; A Center for the Study of Multicultural Children's Literature Best Multicultural Children's Book of 2022
Reviews
Publishers Weekly: "The creators’ poetic prose sensitively conveys the First Peoples’ lived history and foreshadows historical hardships to come. Meeches’s delicate brushstrokes, paired with bold swathes of earthen toned acrylic, add vibrancy."
Kirkus: "Rich, saturated acrylics imbued with a touch of magic add to the vibrancy of this important, beautiful story... A much-needed Thanksgiving retelling that centers the Wampanoag people."
School Library: "A good choice for libraries striving to share Indigenous perspectives."
Booklist: "This is a perfect choice for anyone looking for an alternative perspective to the traditional Thanksgiving story or an Indigenous Peoples’ Day read."
The Horn Book: " A team of Native creators provides a refreshing look at what the Wampanoag called Keepunumuk, or 'the time of harvest,' highlighting that the Pilgrims’ survival was largely due to the assistance offered by the Indigenous people who lived on the land... Using an earth-tone palette, the impressionistic illustrations beautifully convey their settings."
Educator Guide
These two guides, designed to reframe the story of Thanksgiving from an Indigenous perspective and teach students about Indigenous agricultural and ecological practices, provide lesson plans with instructional guidelines, activities and homework materials, and additional resources such as handouts, videos, and links to further reading.