PZM BREAD JacketReader Engagement Project:

THE BOOK
In the picture book Sharing the Bread: An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving Story by Pat Zietlow Miller and illustrated by Jill McElmurry (Random House Children’s Books), a 1890’s family prepares the holiday meal together. With the book’s final lines, author Pat Zietlow Miller celebrates the “sharing of bread” that has happened every Thanksgiving since that turn of that great century.

We will share the risen bread.
Our made-with-love Thanksgiving spread.
Grateful to be warm and fed.
We will share the bread.
—Sharing the Bread: An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving Story

READ ALOUD & FOOD DRIVE ACTIVITY KIT
The final lines may also remind us to share the bread with those not at our table.  This activity kit invites you to:

Use the Read Aloud as a Food Drive Event

The event poster encourages event attendees to bring non-perishable food to support a local food bank or shelter. For those not able to collect food, the kit also provides flyers encouraging donations post-event.

Create Thanksgiving Place Card Craft

The children in the book make pilgrim hat placemats for their Thanksgiving table. The simple craft in this kit invites children to make pilgrim hat place cards. The cards quote the last line of the book and ask holiday guests to, “Remember to ‘share the bread’ with those in need.”

Engagement / Programming Tool:

View & Download Read Aloud & Food Drive Activity Kit
View & Download Extra Thanksgiving Place Cards

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Best Users:

Educators Grades 00-03, Public Children’s Librarians, School Librarians, Faith Groups, Food Banks and Non-Profits

Best Audience:

Children Grades 00-03

More on the Book:

Sharing the Bread: An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving Story
By Pat Zietlow Miller
Illustrated by Jill McElmurry
Published by Random House Children’s Books
ISBN-13: 9780307981820
Age Range: 4 – 8 Years