Locker's rich and beautifully composed land- and seascapes provide a painterly backdrop to George's simple narrative, which successfully balances factual material with the symbolic significance of early events in our nation's history. The author-illustrator team has done full justice to the historical record while paying tribute to the dignity of the native peoples, the desperate plight of the Pilgrims, and the majesty of the New World. The book is sure to rank high on holiday shelves.

In a lucid, graceful narrative that begins with the arrival of Plymouth Rock (a unique European specimen left by a glacier In a time so long ago that only the rocks remember'') and that describes the Patuxets' settlement, its devastation by white men's disease, and Squanto's tragic captivity before going on to the Puritan venture, George returns—in specific, unsentimental detail—to the real historical events, quietly emphasizing the Native Americans' relationship with the land and the many things they taught the newcomers about using its bounty. Locker provides paintings in his usual lush, formal style; his elegant seascapes, landscapes, and sky have more drama than the small figures and limited action they dwarf, though a few scenes—e.g., the pilgrims' landing in araging current''—are more like true illustrations. Actually, these gorgeous set pieces are a fine complement to George's text, making an effective backdrop for her powerful account. Correcting misconceptions and clarifying contemporary attitudes (``The Pilgrims called the celebration a Harvest Feast. The Indians thought of it as a Green Corn Dance''), this beautiful book brings fresh insight and a fairer balance to the traditional story. (Nonfiction/Picture book. 5+)"

Gr 2-5-- George's consummate skill as a storyteller takes what could have been just another'' Thanksgiving book and raises it above the mundane. Beginningin a time so long ago that only the rocks remember,'' she focuses on Plymouth Rock, a 200-ton boulder of Dedham granite, as the loom upon which to weave the heroic and tragic tales of the people who settled this land. The storytelling is direct, filled with details, and firmly grounded in place and time. Quickly drawn but very effective portraits of the times and the people heighten the presentation. Squanto's tragedy is movingly sketched. Readers will not miss the ironic contrast between the fate of the native population and those who came seeking a freer, more tolerant life, but George does not belabor the point, letting the events of history subtly underscore the irony. Locker is at his best with panoramic landscapes--the icy desolation of the melting glaciers; the storm-tossed ship on the ocean voyage; and the isolation of the place where the Pilgrims must bury their dead under cover of darkness, lest the ``savages'' know how many of them died. For all their attractiveness, however, the illustrations fail to match George's strong narrative with equal visual strength. The panoramic view distances readers from the events, softening the impact of the physical hardships and emotional pain inherent in the story. Whatever its minor flaws, though, this is a book most libraries will want to add to their collections. --Linda Boyles, Alachua County Library District, Gainesville, FL