Or do we? This uniquely American holiday has a rich and little known history beyond the famous feast of 1621.In Thanksgiving, award-winning author Melanie Kirkpatrick journeys through four centuries of history, giving us a vivid portrait of our nation's best-loved holiday. Drawing on newspaper accounts, private correspondence, historical documents, and cookbooks, Thanksgiving brings to life the full history of the holiday and what it has meant to generations of Americans.Many famous figures walk these pages—Washington, who proclaimed our first Thanksgiving as a nation amid controversy about his Constitutional power to do so; Lincoln, who wanted to heal a divided nation sick of war when he called for all Americans—North and South—to mark a Thanksgiving Day; FDR, who set off a debate on state's rights when he changed the traditional date of Thanksgiving.Ordinary Americans also play key roles in the Thanksgiving story—the New England Indians who boycott Thanksgiving as a Day of Mourning; Sarah Josepha Hale, the nineteenth-century editor and feminist who successfully campaigned for Thanksgiving to be a national holiday; the 92nd Street Y in New York City, which founded Giving Tuesday, an online charity established in the long tradition of Thanksgiving generosity. Kirkpatrick also examines the history of Thanksgiving football and, of course, Thanksgiving dinner.While the rites and rituals of the holiday have evolved over the centuries, its essence remains the same: family and friends feasting together in a spirit of gratitude to God, neighborliness, and hospitality. Thanksgiving is Americans' oldest tradition. Kirkpatrick's enlightening exploration offers a fascinating look at the meaning of the holiday that we gather together to celebrate on the fourth Thursday of November.With Readings for Thanksgiving Day designed to be read aloud around the table.

    V. Wood. Three Years in Wonderland presents the never-before-told, full story of -the happiest place on earth.- Using information from over one hundred unpublished interviews, Todd James Pierce lays down the arc of Disneyland's development from an idea to a paragon of entertainment.In the early 1950s, the Disney brothers hired Wood and his team to develop a feasibility study for an amusement park Walt wanted to build in southern California. -Woody- quickly became a central figure. In 1954, Roy Disney hired him as Disneyland's first official employee, its first general manager, and appointed him vice president of Disneyland, Inc., where his authority was exceeded only by Walt. A brilliant project manager, Wood was also a con man of sorts. Previously, he had forged his university diploma. A smooth-talker drawn to Hollywood, the first general manager of Disneyland valued money over art. As relations soured between Wood and the Disney brothers, Wood found creative ways to increase his income, leveraging his position for personal fame. Eventually, tensions at the Disney park reached a boiling point, with Walt demanding he be fired.In compelling detail, Three Years in Wonderland lays out the struggles and rewards of building the world's first cinematic theme park and convincing the American public that a $17 million amusement park was the ideal place for a family vacation. The early experience of Walt Disney, Roy Disney, and C. V. Wood is one of the most captivating untold stories in the history of Hollywood. Pierce interviewed dozens of individuals who enjoyed long careers at the Walt Disney Company as well as dozens of individuals who--like C. V. Wood--helped develop the park but then left the company for good once the park was finished. Through much research and many interviews, Three Years in Wonderland offers readers a rare opportunity to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the men and women who built the best-known theme park in the world.

    Love Tanya x'Tanya's Christmas is a pure celebration of the season. Within its pages, Tanya Burr shares everything you need to make the most of Christmas. From finding the perfect gift, decorating your home and hosting a party to remember, to cooking roast turkey with all the trimmings, baking indulgent festive treats and her own hair and make-up tips.Presented as a countdown to the main event and into the new year, this beautiful book has over 50 sumptuous recipes and thoughtful craft projects. At every step, bestselling author Tanya suggests easy ways for you, your family and friends to create special memories together that will last a lifetime.

    With enchanting photos and more than a dozen recipes, this great gift book captures the spirit of the season perfectly.After producing a hundred travel shows, Rick Steves and his public television crew finally went to Europe for Christmas. And the cameras were rolling. As only they can, Rick and his gang brought home a vivid and authentic portrait of how Europeans celebrate the holiday. This book is the companion to that PBS special.The Christmas we know today is a rich and fascinating mix of traditions that came over on the boat — an ancient celebration with pre-Christian roots. From Yule logs to mistletoe, from singing shepherds to the split personalities of Santa, from traditional recipes to the top ten ways to celebrate in Paris, you'll learn something new — or old — about Christmas.

    Pictures based on the DC Comics antihero team. Along with photos of the cast and crew, this lavish full-color official tie-in book will contain behind-the-scenes stories and images, removable items, and more, making it a must have keepsake for every fan!They are the worst of the worst, a task force of the most dangerous people on the planet—incarcerated Super Villains unleashed to do some good. Assembled by U.S. intelligence officer Amanda Waller and armed with the most powerful arsenal at the government’s disposal, the Squad is sent on a seemingly impossible top-secret mission: eradicate a powerful, enigmatic threat.But once they realize they weren’t picked to succeed but chosen for their patent culpability, will the members of the Suicide Squad choose to die trying—or decide it’s every man for himself?The blockbuster movie has a star-studded cast that includes Will Smith as Floyd Lawton/Deadshot, Jared Leto as The Joker, Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn, Joel Kinnaman as Rick Flag, Viola Davis as Amanda Walker, and many more.Special interactive and removable items in the book include a blueprint of Belle Reve prison, replicas of letters from Deadshot’s daughter to her father, a Joker playing card and Joker temporary tattoos, a poster of the Suicide Squad, 6 postcards, a 16-page dossier and much more.SUICIDE SQUAD and all related characters and elements © and TM DC Comics and Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (s16)

    So when editor Nancy Guthrie decided she wanted a reflective book of Advent readings by writers who held a high view of Scripture, she embarked on what she calls "a sacred adventure," putting together such a collection herself. This special volume draws from the works and sermons of classic theologians such as Whitefield, Luther, Spurgeon, and Augustine, and from leading contemporary communicators such as Skip Ryan, John Piper, Ligon Duncan, Randy Alcorn, John MacArthur, Francis Schaeffer, R. C. Sproul, and Joni Eareckson Tada to help readers enter into the wonder of Jesus' incarnation and birth. Each essay in this solidly biblical anthology expounds on a particular aspect of the Christmas story and includes the appropriate Scripture passage from the ESV Bible. It is sure to awaken people's longing and prepare their hearts for a fresh experience of the coming of Jesus each and every Christmas season.

    Pre-order now! All Tog wants to do is work in Santa's workshop and one wonderful day, the letter from Santa arrives: Tog has been selected as an apprentice elf! Making toys is a lot more technical and a lot less fun than Tog had imagined, and even though his new friend Holly tries to help him, he's quickly relegated to cleaning out the reindeer stables. But someone has been stealing the presents from the workshop and a case of mistaken identity finds Tog accused of being the culprit! Can Tog use his special Christmas magic to discover the real thief and save all the presents before Christmas Eve is over? A funny and heartwarming story about the true meaning of gift giving, from the King of Christmas, Ben Miller – the perfect stocking filler for all the family!    Praise for BookTrust pick The Night I Met Father Christmas:'A gorgeous tale brimming with the magic of Christmas. A sheer delight for all kids both big AND small' Ruth Jones 'Bubbles with warmth and mischievous humour . . . irresistible' Alexander Armstrong 'A fire-side gem of a story' Abi Elphinstone, bestselling author of Sky Song and Everdark 'Enchanting, funny and intriguing in equal measure' Philip Ardagh

    Almost anything you do on paper or canvas, you can do on a rock. Rock Art Handbook will show you how, with more than 30 step-by-step tutorials featuring dot painting, marbling, embellishments, and much more. It's the perfect opportunity to use your favorite craft supplies, from nail polish to puff paint to gelly roll pens, or to try something new. There are plenty of kid-friendly options--like chalk, washi tape, and glitter glue--too. And what do you do with the rocks when they're finished? Author Samantha Sarles, who blogs at ColorMadeHappy.com, has plenty of ideas!

    Some howled in protest at this criticism of their hero, but they failed to see that Mr. Schickel's book acknowledged Disney's profound influence on American popular culture. The Disney Version takes us from Walt's wandering youth through the desperate gamble of opening his own animation studio, his daring decision to crash Hollywood, the sudden and inspired invention of Mickey Mouse - and on to the creation of a multimillion-dollar international entertainment empire. Throughout, Mr. Schickel asks penetrating questions about Disney's achievements and shortcomings, and about the enormous popularity of the "Disney version."

    He saw this project as a way to influence the public's expectations about city life, in the same way his earlier work had redefined what it meant to watch an animated film or visit an amusement park. Walt and the Promise of Progress City is a personal journey that explores the process through which meaningful and functional spaces have been created by Walt Disney and his artists as well as how guests understand and experience those spaces.

    The first comprehensive biography of the writer/director of the Academy Award-winning "Pulp Fiction" who, in only a few short years, took the film industry by storm and became a critical and commercial phenomenon.

    Rowling’s script for Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them to the screen.  Explore the realm of fantastical creatures that roam the wizarding world and discover the magical cast of characters in pursuit of them.Officially licensed by Warner Bros. Consumer Products, and designed by MinaLima, designers of the graphic props for the Harry Potter films as well as Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, The Case of Beasts delivers an enchanting interactive experience by sharing filmmaking secrets, film photography and artwork, and behind-the-scenes stories from cast and crew. Full of removable, facsimile reproductions of props and paper ephemera from the movie, along with some very special effects, this collectible volume offers a unique look from the talented group who created this movie magic.

    Nick’s on the go: the new Uncle John's Bathroom Reader Christmas Collection. Stuffed like a Christmas goose, this book is packed with fun facts and merry myths about Santa himself, the tradition of Christmas stockings, the Red Nosed Reindeer’s original name (Rollo!), and where St. Nicholas’s fingers are on display (Antalya, Turkey). Those seeking relief from endless holiday festivities can revel in tales of rampaging Santas, the myth of “No assembly required,” Christmas disasters, and lutefisk. Articles include Why Do They Spell It X-mas?, Christmas World Records, Best Ways to Keep Your Christmas Politically Correct, Celebrity Christmas Present Wish List, and more.

    They arrive from Vermont the day after Thanksgiving and leave just in time to make it home for Christmas morning—and for a few weeks they transform a corner of the Big Apple into a Frank Capra-esque small town alive with heartwarming holiday spirit.Christmas on Jane Street is about the transformative power of love—love of parent and child, of merchant and customer, of stranger and neighbor. The ideal Christmas story, it is about the lasting and profound difference that one person can make to a family and one family can make to a community.

    Each day, families can read the provided Scripture passage (in connection with the original book), engage with a specially written devotion to help children of all ages understand the Advent theme for the day, and participate in suggested activities to apply the theme.This special edition is beautifully illustrated. It can serve as a precious guide to help recapture the sacredness of the Advent season and to help the entire family understand and celebrate the epic pageantry of humankind from Adam to the Messiah.