Squanto and the Miracle of Thanksgiving by Eric Metaxas

Squanto and the Miracle of Thanksgiving

A Harvest Story From Colonial America of How One Native American's Friendship Saved the Pilgrims

Eric Metaxas

Tommy Nelson · Print & ebook · July 15, 2025

Discover the amazing true story of how one Native American's suffering, generosity, and friendship led to the first Thanksgiving with the Pilgrims, by New York Times bestselling author Eric Metaxas.

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Who it’s for
Squanto’s biography traces his journey and the friendship that connected him with the Pilgrims at Plymouth.
Themes
Squanto's life and journey, Faith and providence, Friendship across communities
Genres
Thanksgiving, Historical Biographies for Kids, Native American Life (U.S.)

About this book

Discover the amazing true story of how one Native American's suffering, generosity, and friendship led to the first Thanksgiving with the Pilgrims, by New York Times bestselling author Eric Metaxas. In 1608, traders came to Massachusetts, captured a Patuxet boy named Squanto, and sold him into slavery. He was later cared for by Christians, taught faith in God, and learned to speak English.

Continue reading

Ten years after his capture, he returned to America and learned an epidemic had wiped out his entire village. Yet God had plans for Squanto. When the Pilgrims arrived at Plymouth Rock, Squanto had the ability to communicate with the new settlers. Imagine their surprise to find an indigenous man who spoke the same language as they did living in the exact place where they landed in a strange new world. Because of Squanto's help translating, the Pilgrims and the Native Americans lived together in friendship and celebrated the first Thanksgiving. This beautifully illustrated picture book for children 6 to 10 - tells the biography of Squanto, his journey to Europe and back, and his life-saving friendship to the new settlers at Plymouth; - shows that God can bring good things out of bad circumstances; - is the perfect blend of information and adventure; and - is a great addition to a Thanksgiving celebration, Sunday School class, family story time, homeschool unit, or fall bedtime routine. Learn about the people at the first Thanksgiving and how God can work miracles around the world.

Squanto at Plymouth

Squanto’s biography traces his journey and the friendship that connected him with the Pilgrims at Plymouth.

Come here for

  • Squanto’s journey from Patuxet to Europe and back
  • His role translating between the Pilgrims and Native Americans

Expect

  • A picture-book account for children ages 6 to 10
  • Faith, loss, and friendship in the story of the first Thanksgiving

Where it sits

Native American Life (U.S.)46%
Thanksgiving36%
Historical Biographies for Kids34%

Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.

Publisher categories

  • Native American Life (U.S.)
  • Colonial & Revolutionary U.S.
  • Thanksgiving
  • Diversity & Culture
Authors
Eric Metaxas
Publisher
Tommy Nelson
Published
July 15, 2025
Format
Print & ebook
Theme
Squanto's life and journey · Faith and providence · Friendship across communities
Reading lane
Native American Life (U.S.)