"The Thanksgiving Door" is is based on a story about an elderly couple, Ed and Ann, whose Thanksgiving dinner did not go as expected when Ann accidentally burnt their dinner. Ed suggests they go to the new restaurant down the street, 'New World Cafe' where they are invited to join an immigrant family for dinner. Ed and Ann were exposed to the immigrant family's holiday traditions, which differed from their own, but they developed new friendships out of it. This book is a great depiction of diversity of holiday celebrations amongst ethnicities, as well as being open and accepting of the diverse situations around you. This book can obviously be shared to students before or after Thanksgiving break on a lesson about holiday traditions amongst various types of races and ethnicities. I would also like to point out that the illustrations in this book are very colorful and are great for grasping the readers attention and allowing them to follow along with the plot. ( )

A tale by Debby Atwell follows an elderly couple on Thanksgiving day. When their dinner is burned , they venture out to find a place to eat. The couple stumbles upon a restaurant, which is meant to be closed, and is invited to join a family of immigrants during their Thanksgiving festivities. A beautiful story of old world traditions in a new world. The book is able to depict how different cultures celebrate familiar holidays very well. I enjoyed the illustrations and even felt that they carried the book at some points. I wish the writing would have been a bit more engaging, perhaps differing sentence structure could have helped in that regard. This would be a great story to have available for children when discussing traditions around the world. ( )

An elderly couple seeks out the new restaurant in town when their own Thanksgiving dinner burns in this lovely holiday picture-book, finding themselves unexpectedly included as guests at the very first Thanksgiving dinner to be celebrated by the immigrant family which runs The New World Cafe. Youngsters Tatyana and Leon are dismayed at their arrival, but their wise (and sly!) grandmother informs them that there is plenty to share, and that the hungry are not to be turned away on such a day. What follows is a wonderful celebration for all, as Ann and Ed join in the feasting and old-world dancing, and become fast friends with their hosts. Exchanges of gift and contact information are made at the end of the night, cementing this serendipitous friendship formed through happenstance. Or rather, formed thanks to Grandmother's foresight, and a handy potato...

I was surprised to discover, upon examining the colophon of The Thanksgiving Door, that it was first published in 2003, as both artwork and general storytelling feeling had me thinking that it was a much older book. Author/illustrator Debby Atwell creates a beautiful slice-of-life tale here, one which celebrates the welcoming heart, generosity, and cross-cultural friendships that are at the heart of Thanksgiving Day. Although no specific background information about the immigrant family is given, it is clear from the illustrations that they are Eastern European, perhaps Bulgarian, given Atwell's dedication at the front of the book, to the Women's Bulgarian Choir of Maine. Given that the book is also dedicated to an "Ann," one wonders if this were a true story? Leaving that aside, I finished the book with a happy feeling, glad (as Ed was) that circumstance took this couple into that cafe. I also finished it with a chuckle, as it becomes clear (something attentive readers will discover in the cover art as well) that the door of the cafe wasn't open by accident. The illustrations here are every bit as satisfying as the story, with a deep, vibrant color palette and a lovely folk-art feeling that is quite beautiful. In short, this was an unexpected delight, picked up at the library almost on a whim. I will definitely be seeking out more of Atwell's work, and lament that she isn't better known! ( )

On Thanksgiving Day Ann and her husband Ed were alone. Ann was cooking dinner when she realized that she had burnt it. The couple did not know what to do so they headed down to a new restaurant, the New World Café. The door was open and it was quiet inside, however, a table was set up. A pilgrim family was planning to have their thanksgiving dinner at their new restaurant. They thought that their party would be ruined by the two unexpected guests, but Grandmother allowed them to stay. They ate dinner and watched the men perform. They had on black hats and danced to the conga. That Thanksgiving Day was one that they will remember forever. The family welcomed them into their celebration, despite the circumstances. Two cultures came together that night and they truly were thankful for the great meal and performance that they received. ( )

The Thanksgiving Door is about two families with different cultures coming together to celebrate Thanksgiving, similar to the Pilgrims and the Indians. When an old couple burn their turkey, they decide to go the cafe down the street. The family that owns the cafe is setting up for their first Thanksgiving dinner. At first, they don't want the extra guests, but the grandmother reminds them of the meaning of Thanksgiving. Together, both families celebrate. The family who owns the cafe recently immigrated to America. They incorporate their culture into the American holiday. The other couple joins in the celebration and they all say it was the best Thanksgiving ever. The main character development in the book is the family who owns the cafe. They did not want any extra guests at their dinner, but change their minds and invite the other family to experience Thanksgiving in a new way. I liked how this book is about different cultures coming together to be thankful, just like the Pilgrims and Indians did on the first Thanksgiving. ( )