Whether it is crimping the edges of a pie crust or helping to set the dining room table, Thanksgiving is a beloved holiday for children because it allows them to participate. A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving is a delightful story of a child's take on this celebration of heritage, family and friendship. It aired November 20^th on ABC and is our Best of the Week.

"We've got another holiday to worry about; Thanksgiving Day is upon us" sighs Charlie Brown. He believes his Thanksgiving will entail the annual trip to his grandmother's house with the family until he receives a phone call from Peppermint Patty who invites herself to share Thanksgiving with the Browns. He no sooner explains the phone call to his sister, Sally, when the phone rings again and Peppermint Petty informs him that Marcie and Franklin will be joining them as well. Daunted by the prospect of cooking a dinner for the guests, Charlie laments, "I can't cook a Thanksgiving dinner. All I can make is cold cereal and maybe toast!" Linus offers to help him cook for the unexpected guests.

In the kitchen, Linus, Snoopy and Charlie Brown toast bread, pop popcorn and fill dessert dishes with jelly beans and pretzels. A table is set in the backyard for the guests who soon arrive. Before eating, Linus recalls the prayer that was recited at the first Thanksgiving. Snoopy serves the food as only a beagle can, and the kids tuck in.

Peppermint Patty is outraged at the food she is served. She demands to know where the traditional Thanksgiving food is and blasts Charlie accordingly. Feeling low, Charlie slumps away from the table. Marcie tells Peppermint Patty that for someone who invited herself over to dinner, she is being awfully ungrateful. Peppermint Patty then sends Marcie to apologize to Charlie. She explains that he shouldn't feel bad and that the point of Thanksgiving is to be thankful. Peppermint Patty then apologizes herself. Just then, the clock chimes. Realizing that they are running late, Charlie calls his grandmother and explains what is going on. Charlie's grandmother invites the entire gang to her place for Thanksgiving. They proceed to climb in the family station wagon and sing ‘Over the River and Through the Woods' along the way.

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving is heart-warming Thanksgiving tale for children everywhere. Reflecting on the Thanksgiving story gives children a sense of history while sharing in the cooking and entertaining helps them create traditions of their own. The innocence and precociousness of the Peanuts gang remains truly timeless and children will continue to enjoy sharing the holidays with them throughout the years.

Best TV Show of the Week

The Parents Television Council - www.parentstv.org