Over the River and Through the Wood: The New England Boy's Song About Thanksgiving Day    by L. Maria Child & Matt Tavares Order:  USA  Can Candlewick, 2013 (2013) Hardcover      Reviewed by Bob Walch This Thanksgiving classic first published in 1844 comes alive again with the wonderful watercolor, ink and pencil illustrations provided by Matt Tavares. With a blanket of snow on the ground, perhaps the first one of the season, the family hops into their sleigh for a fun filled journey to grandfather's house for Thanksgiving dinner. The short trip will take them out of their village, over the river, and through the wood on this crisp, windy and clear November afternoon. By the time the family arrives, a light snow is falling and the grandparents are ready to serve the family's traditional Thanksgiving dinner. Although many people believe this famous poem is about Christmas Day, it really is intended for enjoying at Thanksgiving. As families continue to travel great distances to gather for a meal together, this is still a very timely work of literature. What better idea than to begin a new tradition by sharing this wonderful version of the poem with the younger family members on this very special day. There may not be snow on the ground in your area to add atmosphere to the rhymed narrative but, no matter, the experience of the journey and significance of the day are still the most important elements of the work. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Kids books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews