Molly's Pilgrim

A young Russian-Jewish immigrant girl in the early years of the twentieth century must contend with bullying and the ridicule of her peers when her family moves away from New York City to a smaller town. Here, at the school in Winter Hill, Molly's differences really stand out, especially when the mean Elizabeth is always there to comment on them. When her teacher gives her class an assignment to make little doll-sized Pilgrims or Indians, to be included in the model they are building of the First Thanksgiving, Molly shares the task with her mother. Called upon to explain what Pilgrims are, she describes them as people who "came to this country from the other side," looking for "religious freedom...so they could worship God as they show more pleased." Molly's mother identifies strongly with this description, and makes a doll that looks just like her, when she was a little girl. For her part, Molly is dismayed, sure that her "Pilgrim" will not find favor with her class and teacher. Fortunately, her teacher, Miss Stickley, uses the incident to explore what it really means to be a Pilgrim, and draws a parallel between the American holiday of Thanksgiving, and the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles, or Sukkoth....

First published in 1983, Molly's Pilgrim is probably one of author Barbara Cohen's most well-known books, and has remained constantly in print since it was first released. I believe that a new edition, with new cover art, was just released earlier this year (2018). That said, although long aware of it, and although a fan of some of Cohen's other books - notably, her Seven Daughters and Seven Sons, which is a particular favorite of mine - I never happened to pick it up before now. A brief thirty pages, it is neither a picture-book (too much text, and too few illustrations), nor a beginning chapter-book (too short, no chapters), but something in between. It is really an illustrated short story, in book format. Its narrative addresses issues of bullying, immigration, social inclusion, cultural knowledge, and religious freedom, using the traditional Thanksgiving story to highlight the message that (as Miss Stickley says), Pilgrims are still coming to America. I found the story here quite moving, even tearing up at a few points, and think that it could be used as a starting point for classroom discussion of so many themes, from bullying and how to deal with it, to the ways in which "history" (even if highly mythologized history, like the "First Thanksgiving" story) has so many parallels in contemporary events. Recommended to anyone looking for children's stories about Thanksgiving, and the meaning it may have for a diverse range of people, but most especially, for new immigrants to America. show less

I remember reading this as a kid; this version says text copyright 1983, illustrations copyright 1998. This cover doesn't look familiar, but the illustrations do, so it may be the same version. Regardless, it holds up well; a Russian Jewish immigrant, Molly, is being made fun of at school for her accent, appearance, and lack of American cultural knowledge. Though her classmate Elizabeth is mean, Molly's teacher is kind; she explains Thanksgiving to Molly. For homework, the children are supposed to make a pilgrim or Indian doll. Each child makes their doll with the traditional costume, but Molly's mother helps her make a doll that looks like her - after all, Molly's mother reasons after Molly tells her about the Pilgrims, "A Pilgrim is show more someone who came here from the other side to find freedom. That's me, Molly. I'm a Pilgrim!" Elizabeth, of course, makes fun of Molly's different doll, but Miss Stickley defends her; she puts Molly's doll on her desk where everyone can see, saying "It will remind us all that Pilgrims are still coming to America." show less

Cohen, Barbara. Molly’s pilgrim. (1988). New York: Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Books.

Molly is a Jewish girl in third grade at a school in Winter Hill. Her family recently moved from Russia to escape persecution of Jews there. There is a girl in school, Elizabeth, who makes fun of Molly because her English isn’t perfect yet. Elizabeth’s friends join in and make Molly feel miserable. She tells her mom who offers to go to school to talk to their teacher. Molly doesn’t want her to go the school because she doesn’t speak like the other mothers do; she knows very little English. At Thanksgiving time, Miss Stickley, Molly’s teacher, assigns the students to make pilgrim dolls. Molly’s mother offers to make one for Molly after Molly show more explains that a pilgrim is a person who came here to find religious freedom. The doll she makes is beautiful – and it looks like and is dressed like Molly’s mother. Elizabeth makes fun of the doll in class in front of Miss Stickley and all the children, saying it doesn’t look like a pilgrim because it looks Russian or Polish. Miss Stickley gives Elizabeth a lesson in where the Pilgrims got the idea for Thanksgiving – from the Jewish harvest holiday of Tabernacles. So, Miss Stickley explains to Elizabeth, the idea for Thanksgiving came from Jews like Molly and her mother. Miss Stickley asks Molly if she can display her doll on her desk and tells the class it will serve as a reminder that pilgrims are still coming to America. When Miss Stickley asks Molly to invite her mother to visit after school some day, Molly thinks it will be all right for her mother to come to school after all.

This is an excellent realistic fiction book. It effectively shows young children the pain and difficulty of being new to a school and of being new to a country. Children can relate to Molly’s feeling of embarrassment over being laughed at for being different. Children whose parents are different from the other children’s parents can relate to the way Molly loves her mother but doesn’t feel comfortable with her coming to school because she dresses and speaks differently from the other parents. Elizabeth and her followers are like real children the young readers know. Elizabeth’s giggling at Molly in class and the way she and her friend Hilda follow Molly on her way home singing a song that mocks Molly’s appearance are the kinds of things bullies typically do. The song refers to Molly having small eyes and a tall nose. This may be a bigoted way to mock her for being Jewish. Such bigotry still happens among children; this is another element that adds to the characters’ realism. The author shows that Molly and her mother are Jewish, but doesn’t use stereotypes to do so. This book does an excellent job of helping children appreciate the difficulties children who are new to the country face.

The illustrations are detailed black and white drawings that add to children’s understanding of the story by showing the cruel, mocking expressions on Elizabeth and her friends’ faces. They also show Molly’s expressions of fear, embarrassment, and pain. The illustrations do a good job of showing children how different Molly’s mother looks from Miss Stickley in the way they dress and wear their hair. show less

I liked this book because it had a good plot that many students can understand and relate to. The conflict was that this girl had come from a different country was getting bullied in class because she didn't know English very well and didn't know much about holidays celebrated in America. She is Jewish and did not know about Thanksgiving. The bully was constantly picking on her. Molly, the main character, cries to her mom and wants to move back to NYC and even back to their home country. Finally, when the students had to make their own Pilgrims for class, Molly's looked different because it looked like her mom. The bully made fun of her but the teacher stood up for Molly and said hers was the best one. Bullying is common in school show more especially for students who have come from another country because they have different customs and traditions. This pushes readers to think about the different point of view of the new student who is scared to come to school because he or she is different or can't speak English well. The big idea of this book is about being kind to others and everyone has their own customs and should not be ashamed of it. show less

In my opinion this is a good children's book. Like many others, it talks about a serious topic in a child friendly and almost lighthearted way. The main characters mom moved to America from Russia. The book doesn't really state the reason for her move but WW2 would have been going on during that time in history. Instead the book focuses on Molly bringing a doll dressed in Russian clothes to her classroom for an assignment. Her classmates were mean to her and she felt embarrassed of her mother and the culture that surrounds her at home. Students can relate to this no matter if they are the different student or the main group of students, kids can tell when people stand out. In the end, the girl in the book finds pride within herself show more through the help of her family. She also discovers that their are many different types of pilgrims that all can contribute to the Thanksgiving holiday. I like that this is a multicultural thanksgiving book, because there aren't many of those. The moral of this story is to be proud of your heritage. show less

This is a story of a young Jewish girl that moves to America and is treated very badly by her classmates. Her classmates make fun of her for the way she talks and for the things she does not know about American History. One day the class is studying about Thanksgiving and the students are instructed to make dolls to resemble the pilgrims. Molly’s doll looks just like her, not the typical Pilgrim and her classmates pick on her endlessly. But when Molly explains, that she and her momma are pilgrims because they came to this country to seek religious freedom just like the Pilgrims at Plymouth many years ago, the students see things differently.

Personal Reflection: What a great story on diversity in the classroom and learning to accept show more others for the richness of their culture. I loved the way Molly’s momma was able to show her that she was just like the original pilgrims that came to America to give Molly more a since of belonging here in America. Molly realized she belonged here. I like the way the teacher made Molly’s pilgrim the center of the attention by putting it on her desk so the other children could be reminded that there are many pilgrims among our midst. Having moved around a lot as a kid I could empathize with Molly that it is very hard to make new friends in new places.

Classroom Extension: (minimum of 2)
1. This is a great book to use in teaching a lesson on cultural diversity. I think it would be a great idea to do a family tree with the various countries displayed on the tree representing you family lineage.
2. This would be a great book to read during thanksgiving and then to have a “traditional” thanksgiving meal where each student brings a dish that is traditional in their household. You could also select a country and bring a dish from that country or ask parents to make things that are native to their heritage to share with the class. show less

For a book with a lesson, it's pretty good. The original illustrations are fine, with a retro feel that totally fits the plot and the setting. I do like how the teacher isn't perfect, but finally in November she realizes how to make Molly feel safer and more a part of the community of the classroom.