"America's REAL First Thanksgiving" is the first book in a new series. The story chronicles a little known fact that St. Augustine, Florida, is the site of the REAL first Thanksgiving, 56 years before the Pilgrims!

Did you know?

Admiral Pedro Menendez came to Florida in 1565 to protect the Spanish fleet from being robbed and to get rid of the French who wanted to lay claim to this part of the New World.

A hurricane hit and some of his galleons were lost.

He named the site where he landed, St. Augustine after a saint.

St. Augustine has survived over the centuries to become America’s oldest city.

The indigenous Timucua Indians participated in the first Thanksgiving meal.

The meal of the day was not turkey, but pork.

Alligators roamed the land.

Some of the pigs that the Spanish brought with them escaped into the woods. Wild pigs still live in the Florida woods today.

Mrs. Gioia at a book signing at Barnes & Noble

Readers Theater of America's REAL First Thanksgiving

Reviews:

Gioia's book, geared to fourth grade through middle school, sets the scene for today's young explorers of history by presenting an overview of the world in the 1560s. . . Colorfully illustrated throughout, the pages of America's REAL First Thanksgiving take young readers on a comprehensive and fascinating historical journey, complete with Timeline, Glossary and References.
- St. Augustine Record

Robyn Gioia's story gives us a delightful view of the first Thanksgiving, celebrated in Florida by Spaniards and Timucuans more than a half century before the one in Plymouth. Perhaps, even more so than the later one, this event symbolized a new chapter in history, one well worth keeping in mind as we continue to ponder what it means to be an "American."
- Dr. John McGrath, Boston University, History Channel Commentator

Extremely earnest about bringing attention to this seldom-explored historical topic.
- School Library Journal