Three Young Pilgrims by Cheryl Harness is a wonderful Thanksgiving picture book filled with richly detailed artwork and engaging historical storytelling. It is one of those books that makes history feel warm, memorable, and alive for children, which makes it an excellent choice for cozy Thanksgiving homeschooling.
This is a lovely book for families who want more than a simple holiday story. It gently introduces children to the hardships, courage, and daily life of the Pilgrims through the experiences of three young children. It is the kind of picture book that can easily become a Thanksgiving favorite to bring out year after year.
Book Snapshot
- Author & Illustrator: Cheryl Harness
- Ages: 7–10
- Themes: Thanksgiving, Pilgrims, Plymouth Colony, early American history, family, hardship, harvest
- Best For: Thanksgiving read-alouds, early American history, and simple seasonal unit studies
About the Book
Three Young Pilgrims follows the Allerton family from their voyage aboard the Mayflower to their arrival in Plymouth and the difficult months that follow. The story centers on Bartholomew, Remember, and Mary Allerton as they experience the challenges of settling in a new land.
Children see that the first year in Plymouth was not easy. The journey across the ocean was long, the winter was harsh, and many people in the colony did not survive. The story also shows how important the help of Samoset and Squanto was to the Pilgrims as they learned how to live in their new surroundings and gather a harvest.
Cheryl Harness’s illustrations are especially striking. The paintings are full of detail and help children imagine life on the Mayflower, the hardships of the first winter, and the work of building a new life in Plymouth. The book culminates with the original Thanksgiving feast and gives children a vivid introduction to this important chapter in American history.
Why This Book Works for Homeschooling
Three Young Pilgrims works especially well for homeschooling because it combines strong visual appeal with meaningful historical content. It works especially well for:
- History – introducing children to the voyage of the Mayflower, Plymouth Colony, and the first Thanksgiving
- Geography – tracing the journey from Europe to the New World and locating important places
- Language Arts – encouraging narration, discussion, notebooking, and creative writing
- Holiday Learning – adding substance and beauty to Thanksgiving studies
- Character – reflecting on courage, perseverance, gratitude, and dependence on others
Picture Book Activities
Use these simple ideas to turn your read-aloud into an easy Thanksgiving mini unit study. Choose one or two that work best for your family.
- Geography: Use the free World Map and mark important places in the story such as England, the Netherlands, Massachusetts, and Plymouth.
- Bible: Look up Hebrews 11:13 and 1 Peter 2:11 in the King James Version of the Bible. Discuss what these verses say and how they might connect to the Pilgrims’ experience of being strangers and pilgrims.
- Math: Practice counting 1–10 with the Free Pilgrims Counting Puzzle and 11–20 with the Free Cornucopia Counting Puzzle.
- Home Economics: Make berry tarts like Mary ate in the story. This is a simple way to bring a small taste of the book into your home.
- Creative Writing: Use the First Thanksgiving Writing Prompts to write more about the Pilgrims and their experiences.
- Handwriting & Coloring: Complete handwriting practice with pages from Thanksgiving Handwriting & Coloring Pages.
- History Research: Can you find out more about Mary Allerton’s life based on what you learn in the story? Use the Thanksgiving Notebooking Pages to record what you discover.
Discussion Questions
- What do you think would have been the hardest part of the journey on the Mayflower?
- How did the lives of the Allerton children change after arriving in Plymouth?
- Why was the help of Samoset and Squanto so important to the Pilgrims?
- What details in the illustrations helped you imagine life in Plymouth?
- What can your family learn from the perseverance and gratitude shown in this story?
Final Recommendation
If you are looking for a Thanksgiving picture book that combines history, beauty, and meaningful homeschool connections, Three Young Pilgrims is a wonderful choice. It is an engaging way to introduce children to the Pilgrims and the first Thanksgiving, and it makes an excellent addition to a family library you return to each November.
Hi HAppy THANKSGIVING to you . This book sounds so good. Thanks for psoting it.. and I am going to order it for me. Since I am writing children’s books, I long to read all of them I can.. to gain publishers and also ideas of layout. Hope you have a beautiful day with your loved ones… and blessings and gratitude for all you do to make the world a better place..I have a poem I wrote that is special to me.. written for a friend,, and written by God mostly in a difficult time.. I will post it here below. I have forth poems that God gave me through that time , and am binding them into a booklet soon. to give to give away.
RECOUNTED GIFTS OF GRACE… By Merri Mc Elderry Thanksgiving 2014
How would I thank thee if I had a way,’
For glories shared of God’s love, sent out to me?
For Love, Joy, Truth and Soul, so lavishly you shared each day,
A comfort as my hungering Soul springs upward there to see.
I could not write the ways , no matter how I might,
For all the seconds, minutes, hours you’ve prayed,
That I might somehow climb to Horeb’s height,
My son in Space-filled notes to sing in raptured stars arrayed.
Yet , in the golden stillness of deep , night-hushed Space,
My feeble pen across the page doth fly;
Recalling all your glory -lights for me of Truth and Grace,
Freeing them here, with words, like star-birds in the sky.
The crossroads comes now with most clear and Truthful site,
Remembering angels God -given purpose, I yield and follow Light.
Happy Thanksgiving! Thank you for sharing your lovely poem with us. ♥
Sallie
Wishing you and your family Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving
Joan,Marion and Marilyn
Happy Thanksgiving to you as well! ♥
Sallie