History Smashers: The Mayflower by Kate Messner

 Almost all American school children first learn about the Pilgrims' arrival in America in kindergarten Thanksgiving celebrations when they hear about the Mayflower, Squanto, and the first Thanksgiving. How much about that over simplified story is true?  This book, written for children, examines the truth, myths, and complexities of what really happened when Europeans started settling in North America.  There is a lot of emphasis on how the event affected the native peoples who were already living in the region and the difficulties both they and the early settlers had in survival and intercultural relationships. It also tracks the possible origins of some of the misconceptions about the Mayflower story.

Because of the 250 anniversary of the founding of America, Utah's Libby consortium has made several books about the history of the United States available to check out without waiting lists.  This is one of them.  Most of what is mentioned in the book I, as an adult, had already heard, but I did encounter a few new facts.  The book is written at a child's level, but it doesn't pull any punches about the injustices enacted on the native peoples by the arriving Europeans. Since I have been working in the schools this year, it made me wonder what is the proper way to teach children about the Pilgrims.  How early do we expose them to collective guilt about how Europeans stole land and abused the people living on it, not to mention causing the death of millions by bringing disease to this continent for which native peoples had no resistance?  Should kindergarteners be making Pilgrim hats and paper feathered headbands? How about 4th or 5th graders?  It is a difficult question. If a parent or teacher wants to breach it, this is a good resource. (224 p., 2020)