The Autumn Equinox: Celebrating the Harvest by Ellen Jackson

The Autumn Equinox: Celebrating the Harvest Reviews

• 
  Abigail

  Author Ellen Jackson and illustrator Jan Davey Ellis, who have also produced picture-books about the
  Winter Solstice,
  Spring Equinox and
  Summer Solstice, here explore the Autumn Equinox, and the many harvest festivals worldwide that coincide with it. From the American Thanksgiving, which opens the book and is explored more fully later on, to the Chinese Mid-Autumn Moon Festival, from the Celtic Samhain (a precursor of Halloween) to the Iroquois Green Corn Dance, many different traditions are described. The book concludes with a brief retelling of a Sauk folktale, and with various craft ideas associated with each holiday or festival described...
  
  Although The Autumn Equinox: Celebrating the Harvest is the first of Jackson and Ellis' four books exploring the cardinal points of the solar calendar that I have read, it will definitely not be the last. Having read all four of
  Wendy Pfeffer's books, which also cover these important days, I have long also been aware of the Jackson/Ellis series, and have meant to get to them. I'm glad I finally did, as I found the text here informative, the artwork appealing, and the craft ideas fun. My only criticism would be the fact that the Chinese Mid-Autumn Moon Festival is never explicitly named, even though there is a page devoted to it, which seems an odd oversight. That said, I can see this one working very well in a classroom unit on the autumn, and would recommend it to anyone seeking picture-books that explore the idea of harvest festivals as a worldwide phenomenon.
• 
  Emelda

  Again, Ms. Jackson make a simple, annoying mistake: she claims that Ceres was the goddess of corn. No. Corn came from the Americas, therefore if you are describing a old-world goddess in her prime... her worshipers wouldn't know what corn was.
  
  Anyway. Again, interesting and simple. Not particularly compelling, hence the 3 stars.
• 
  Stella

  Covers a diverse collection of world harvest festivals, and in this it should be applauded. But it is problematic that the author includes crops such as corn and pumpkins as part of "traditional" European celebrations...before these were imported from the Americas. Makes me wonder what other information might be inaccurate.
• 
  Natalie

  This book offers a glimpse of how people of the past from many different cultures celebrated the harvest. From these various beliefs and traditions we find the origin of the word "cereal", some of the background of current halloween traditions, the Chinese moon cake festival, and the American Thanksgiving.
• 
  Anthony

  This book shares the many different cultures from around the globe, and how the people celebrate the change of season known as the Autumn Equinox. From folk lore to pagan rituals, the bounty of the harvest is celebrated by all mankind.
• 
  Ogechukwu

  Geared more towards students in middle school. One thing I like about this book is the different classroom activities in the back of the book.
• 
  Melki

  Lovely illustrations by Jan Davey Ellis highlight this look at harvest festivals around the world and throughout history.
• 
  Melanie H.

  A discussion of the history and traditions of the Autumnal Equinox. Also included are recipes and activities discussed in the traditions. The science of an equinox is explained first thing and a Native American tale is included.
• 
  Mainchild

  NF 394.264 Jack