Molly's Pilgrim

by Barbara Cohen, Jennifer Bricking (Illustrator)

Overview

A modern Thanksgiving classic about an immigrant girl who comes to identify with the story of the Pilgrims, as she seeks religious freedom and a home in a new land. Now with a gorgeous new cover and lovely interior illustrations.

As Molly nears her first Thanksgiving in the New World, she doesn't find much to be thankful for. Her classmates giggle at her accent and make fun of her unfamiliarity with American ways.

And Molly’s mother only makes things worse when she creates a doll for a school Thanksgiving project that looks more like a Russian refugee than a New England Pilgrim. But the tiny modern-day pilgrim just might help Molly to find a place for herself in America.

The touching story tells how recent immigrant Molly leads her third-grade class to discover that it takes all kinds of pilgrims to make a Thanksgiving. Originally published in 1983, Molly's Pilgrim inspired the 1986 Academy Award-winning live-action short film.

Don't miss acclaimed author Barbara Cohen's moving immigrant story, a perennial Thanksgiving favorite in homes and classrooms, now with beautiful new art.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062870940
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	09/04/2018
Edition description:	Revised
Pages:	48
Sales rank:	225,837
Product dimensions:	4.90(w) x 6.70(h) x 0.10(d)
Age Range:	6 - 10 Years

About the Author

Barbara Cohen (1932-1992) was the author of several acclaimed picture books and novels for young readers, including The Carp in the Bathtub, Yussel's Prayer: A Yom Kippur Story, Thank You, Jackie Robinson, and King of the Seventh Grade.

Read an Excerpt

I didn't like the school in Winter Hill. In Winter Hill, they laughed at me. Elizabeth laughed most of all. I never raised my hand to answer a question, but when Miss Stickley called on me, I had to say something. My English wasn't perfect yet, so Elizabeth always giggled at whatever I said. Miss Stickley would stare at her, and then she'd shut up. But later, in the schoolyard, she'd say, "You talk funny, Molly." And then she'd sing a song:

"Jolly Molly,
Your eyes are awf'ly small.
Jolly Molly,
Your nose is awf'ly tall."

Hilda and Kitty would sing the song too, and sometimes even Fay and Emma. They all admired Elizabeth. She brought peppermint sticks to school and handed them out to all her friends at recess.

One day Elizabeth and Hilda followed me halfway home, singing that terrible song

"Jolly Molly,
Your eyes are awf'ly small.
Jolly Molly,
Your nose is awf'ly tall."

I started to run

Editorial Reviews

Molly wants to go back to Russia. The girls in her third-grade class make fun of Molly's imperfect english and her peasant-looking clothes. Her mother reminds her they can't go back to Russia; the reason they came to America was to escape religious persecution, and it would be very dangerous to return. To make matters worse, Molly's teacher gives the class a project for Thanksgiving. Not only has Molly never heard of Thanksgiving, but she is supposed to make a Pilgrim doll out of a clothespin for the class display. That evening, her mother offers to help, and when Molly takes her doll to school the next day, the children tease her, saying her doll doesn't look like a Pilgrim. But Molly defends her position, explaining why the doll her mother made is a pilgrim. With the help of the teacher, the entire class soon realizes that not only is Molly right, but it really does take "all kinds of Pilgrims to make a Thanksgiving." First published in 1983 and in its second printing, this strong and important story easily ranks as one of the best choices for this and every Thanksgiving.

Sun Chronicle

A Russian immigrant girl adjusts to the American celebrations of Thanksgiving and birthdays, respectively. Ages 5-8; 6-10. (Apr.)

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

A thought-provoking Thanksgiving read-aloud.

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