Make Bread with Children While Reading, “Sharing the Bread: An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving Story” by Pat Zietlow Miller

To help prepare for Thanksgiving read, “Sharing the Bread: An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving Story” by Pat Zietlow Miller and then extend the story’s themes of teamwork and gratitude through a fun, sensory activity of baking bread that encourages cooperation, fine motor skills, and patience with the children in your care.

“Sharing the Bread: An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving Story” is a warm, rhythmic picture book that celebrates family, teamwork, and gratitude through the simple act of preparing a Thanksgiving meal. Written by Pat Zietlow Miller and beautifully illustrated by Jill McElmurry, the story follows a 19th-century family as they work together — from the mother stirring the soup to the sister kneading the dough — to make a feast they’ll share around the table.

The rhyming text has a lovely, sing-song quality that makes it enjoyable to read aloud, especially with young children. Each page highlights a different family member’s role, reinforcing the themes of cooperation, family traditions, and thankfulness. The illustrations are rich with warm colors and cozy details, helping children imagine life in an earlier time while still connecting to familiar family routines.

This book is perfect for preschool and early elementary children (ages 3–7). It invites conversation about helping, gratitude, and how each person contributes to making a holiday special.

Project: Baking Bread with Children

You Will Need:

Mixing Bowls
Measuring Cups
Child-Safe Utensils
Wooden Spoon or Dough Whisk
2 Loaf Pans
Aprons
5 cups All-Purpose Flour
2 tablespoons Yeast (or 2 x 7g pkts)
2 teaspoons Sugar
1 teaspoon Salt
2 cups Very Warm Water
1⁄4 cup Cooking Oil
Honey or Jam for Serving, Optional

What to Do:

Story Time: Read “Sharing the Bread” together. Discuss how each family member helped make the meal.

Talk About Bread: Ask the children what kinds of bread they like. Explain how bread has been a staple food for families for generations.

Hands-On Baking: Let children help measure ingredients and pour them into a bowl.

1. Put 4 cups of the flour, yeast, sugar, and salt into large bowl.

2. Pour in very warm water and oil and mix until combined — it will be sticky.

3. Add the remaining flour in increments until dough is no longer sticky.

4. Knead for about 5 minutes until dough is elastic and smooth.

5. Place dough back into bowl and cover with a damp teatowel and let it rise until double its size — about 1/2 hour.

6. Punch it down and divide dough into two pieces.

7. Roll pieces long enough to fill two well oiled loaf pans and leave to rise until dough has reached the rim of the pan.

8. Bake at 400F for 40 minutes.

9. Rub hot breads with water and wrap in a tea towel to “sweat’ to soften the crust.

10. Once baked, let the bread cool and then enjoy it together. Talk about gratitude — who helped, and how everyone contributed.

Learning Outcomes:

• Builds fine motor skills and early math (measuring, counting).

• Encourages teamwork and sharing.

• Provides a sensory experience (texture, smell, taste).

• Reinforces themes of family and thankfulness from the book.

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References:

“Sharing the Bread: An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving Story” by Pat Zietlow Miller

Quick Yeast Bread Recipe

Photos by Stephanie Felzenberg