The Itsy Bitsy Pilgrim

January 1, 2017
The traditional story of the first Thanksgiving is set to the tune of "The Itsy-Bitsy Spider" and stars rodents instead of humans. The titular itsy-bitsy Pilgrim, a mouse dressed in iconic Puritan garb, sails to "a home that's new" with three other mice on the Mayflower. They build a house, shovel snow, and greet some "itsy bitsy new friends," who are chipmunks dressed as Native Americans complete with feathered headbands, beaded necklaces, and leather clothing. While Rescek's art is droll and lively, it is wildly idealized, and the Native Americans' clothing does not reflect what is understood of Wampanoag attire. The companion title, The Itsy Bitsy Reindeer, presents equally buoyant scenes. The reindeer and several elves, who appear to be white children with pointed ears, help Santa (also white) prepare for his annual sleigh-ride delivery. In both books, would-be singers may struggle to fit all the words and syllables into the meter, and a couple of rhymes are extremely forced ("shop" and "job"?). This holiday ditty misses too many beats. (Board book. 2-3)

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