Keepunumuk: Weeâchumun's Thanksgiving Story

In this Wampanoag story told in a Native tradition, two kids from the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe learn the story of Weeâchumun (corn) and the first Thanksgiving.

Written and illustrated by four Indigenous creators, this picture book for 3-7-year-olds tells the story of the first Thanksgiving from a Native American perspective — reshaping the story and perhaps questioning how the United States sees itself.

The Thanksgiving story that most Americans know celebrates the Pilgrims. But without members of the Wampanoag tribe who already lived on the land, the Pilgrims would never have made it through their first winter. And without Weeâchumun (corn), the Native people wouldn't have helped.

Written by Danielle Greendeer (Mashpee Wampanoag), Anthony Perry (Chickasaw), Alexis Bunten (Unangan/Yup’ik), and beautifully illustrated by Garry Meeches Sr. (Anishinaabe), Keepunumuk is an important picture book honoring the history and traditions surrounding the story of the first Thanksgiving.

Reader Fit
Children ages 3–8, especially families, educators, and young readers interested in Indigenous history, cultural traditions, and the origins of Thanksgiving. An excellent choice for introducing children to a Wampanoag perspective on a familiar American holiday.

Why We Carry It
Keepunumuk retells the story of the first Thanksgiving through Wampanoag perspectives, celebrating Indigenous knowledge, generosity, and harvest traditions. Created by Indigenous authors and an Indigenous illustrator, this picture book invites young readers to look beyond familiar historical narratives and discover the people and cultures at the heart of the story.