Nestled between a month of shopping for the perfect Halloween costumes and a month of fielding kids’ pleas for PS5 Pros, iPhone7s, and personal drones, sits Thanksgiving. These classic covers revolving around food, family, and togetherness illustrate the funny and sweet moments in the middle of America’s busiest holiday season.
Turkey Dreams
J.C. Leyendecker
November 24, 1917
On the night before Thanksgiving, visions of turkeys danced in their heads. Sugarplums come next month.
Pilgrim Stalking Tom
J.C. Leyendecker
November 23, 1907
Ready, steady, aim! This stealthy pilgrim is doing his best to bring home the turkey bacon.
Boy Watching Grandmother Trim Pie
J.C. Leyendecker
November, 21, 1908
Grandma’s hope is to pass down the art of pie making, but her grandson seems to be leaning more toward flavor taster than baker.
Thanksgiving Prayer
R.E. Miller
November 22, 1941
It’s hard to focus on the Thanksgiving prayer when the food is within an arm’s reach.
Thanksgiving Cherub Sharpening Knife
J.C. Leyendecker
November 13, 1909
Who gets to carve the still-steaming tom? Apparently this year, the honor goes to whoever looks best in an apron.
Thanksgiving Dinner 1919
J.C. Leyendecker
November 29, 1919
This young man’s eyes might actually be as big as his stomach.
Pilgrim Boy Carving Turkey
J.C. Leyendecker
November 12, 1910
Artist Leyendecker has done it again! Capturing the elation in that first bite of Thanksgiving dinner.
Prayer Before Cake
Henry J. Soulen
March 29, 1913
You can guess what he’s thinking: “Didn’t the prayer before dinner cover dessert?”
After Turkey Nap
J.C. Leyendecker
November 26, 1938
Ahhh, yes. The moment we all look forward to … the nap. This kid’s doing it right — tuckering out at the table.
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Comments
Please send me my copies I paid for. I moved in May of this year and the post office is not forwarding my magazines. My new address is 128 Michelle Street N.W., Hanceville, AL 35077. I enjoy reading your magazines.
Nice Thanksgiving cover selections, Ms. Goodman. No shortage of Leyendecker’s here, or hungry children chomping on the bit not to make a power play for the food.
The 1941 cover of the little girl (though a photo) has all the charm of artwork, not unlike so many of the later art covers that looked close to being photos. If I’m wrong on it being a photo, please advise.
Children need gifts that are age appropriate, safe and not that expensive. iphones, personal drones are kind of ridiculous. If they scream and carry on for gifts in a nasty, greedy manner the best thing you can do is tell them if they don’t stop, the only gifts you’ll be buying are for children that are poor and will appreciate them.
Furthermore, they’re going to wrap them and help hand them over to the clergy at the Mission Rescue Center happily and willingly or they’re not getting any Christmas presents; it’s their choice. That should work quite well.
It’s still great to have children being involved helping those less fortunate, regardless of positive or negative behavior otherwise. Sometimes it can turn those brats into actually wanting to help and developing an attitude of gratitude from then on in other areas of life. Ahhh, the guilt card. Priceless.