Favorite Thanksgiving Books for Kids
Thanksgiving books are a fun way to incorporate learning with the holiday time. These Thanksgiving books for kids are a mix of classic picture books, living books, and new character favorites so there is plenty to choose from and add to your morning basket or read aloud time!
Before you head out to the library this week or fill your cart on Amazon, you’ll want to check out this great list of Thanksgiving books for kids. From classics to popular characters, you’ll find something they’ll like to read this month.
We always enjoy having a special book basket or space on our shelves for holiday or seasonal favorites. It’s especially fun this time of year when my girls are eagerly counting down the days to Christmas already! We don’t want to skip over Thanksgiving and its importance in the history of our country.
We’ve used several of these in Thanksgiving unit studies and as part of our Five in a Row reading.
You’ll want to check out these posts to see how we use these books with specific learning activities:
What to Include in a Thanksgiving Morning Basket
Our Christmas Homeschool Morning Basket
How to Use Story Baskets to Make Reading Come to Life (guest post on True Aim)
Thanksgiving Books for Kids
Little Critter: Just a Special Thanksgiving
From the school play to a surprise dinner for all of Critterville, celebrate along with Little Critter and his family as they give thanks this holiday. Starring Mercer Mayer’s classic, loveable character, this brand-new 8×8 storybook is perfect for story time and includes a sheet of stickers!
Pete the Cat: The First Thanksgiving
With more than ten flaps that open to reveal hidden surprises, Pete the Cat: The First Thanksgiving is sure to be a holiday hit and a favorite for Pete the Cat fans.
The Berenstain Bears Give Thanks
The Berenstain cubs act out the first Thanksgiving complete with costumes, props, and a full Thanksgiving feast. But will Sister Bear’s pet turkey play the part of dinner? The Berenstain Bears Give Thanks teaches how God provided for the pilgrims and reminds children of God’s many blessings.
The Berenstain Bears Thanksgiving Blessings
Yes, another Berenstain Bears Thanksgiving book. All three of my daughters have loved the Berenstain Bears so these books are always on our favorites list. Encourage children to be thankful for all the blessing in their lives in this heartwarming story from the Berenstain Bears Living Lights collection.
Everyone’s favorite fun-filled, family-filled, food-filled holiday is almost here! Follow along as the feast is prepared, cousins are greeted, and everyone gathers around the table, all with an extra helping of holiday fun.
Thanksgiving Is for Giving Thanks
Sure, Thanksgiving is about pilgrims and history–and turkey, of course!–but most importantly, it’s a holiday all about everything that we are thankful for. Cheerful, colorful illustrations accompany the simple text in this celebration of family, friends, and the holiday that brings them all together.
This one is a classic with lovely illustrations! From the dangerous voyage across the Atlantic to the first harsh winter to the delicious Thanksgiving feast, all the excitement and wonder of the Pilgrims’ first year in America is captured in this vivid retelling that is perfect for the youngest historians. A list of Thanksgiving books would not be complete without this one!
Another classic! In this festive Caldecott Honor–winning picture book, Alice Dalgiesh brings to life the origin of the Thanksgiving holiday for readers of all ages.
Everyone knows that Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks—the question is, where to begin? From the turkey on the table to warm, cozy cuddles, life is full of small things and bigger pleasures. But what’s most important is being able to share them with family!
Julie Markes reminds kids and adults alike about the little details that make each day enjoyable, while Doris Barrette’s beautiful and striking illustrations bring her thoughtful words to life.
Pinkalicious: Thanksgiving Helper
Okay, I have to include Pinkalicious just because my daughters like her. It’s Thanksgiving Day, and Pinkalicious and Peter decide to be Thanksgiving helpers!
The Pilgrims’ First Thanksgiving
The realistic illustrations and accurate account make this a living history book. Describes the voyage of the Mayflower and the difficulties encountered by the Pilgrims during their first year in the New World, and recounts how they celebrated their first harvest.
Another classic favorite. Grandmother certainly didn’t want to ask Mr. Whiskers for Thanksgiving dinner! She was very angry when Maggie asked him. She was even more angry when SOMEONE stole her favorite, secret recipe for cranberry bread! Was Mr. Whiskers the thief? One of our favorite Thanksgiving books when my daughters were little.
In this fourth and final book in Karel Hayes’s acclaimed Visitors series, the beloved family of bears gets in another round of adventures as they experience the full enjoyment of a New England autumn. First up the country fair–the bears sneak onto the midway after hours to play the games and be thrilled by the rides. Next comes Halloween, for which the bears all cleverly disguise themselves to gather a load of trick-or-treat candy. And finally there’s a big Thanksgiving feast for all the friends of the forest. As always, the bears manage to have all their fun while carefully avoiding detection.
Squanto’s Journey: The Story of the First Thanksgiving
Highly recommended! We read this one every year and everyone enjoys it. Remember that beautiful picture books can be enjoyed by all ages, not just the little ones!
In 1620 an English ship called the Mayflower landed on the shores inhabited by the Pokanoket, and it was Squanto who welcomed the newcomers and taught them how to survive. When a good harvest was gathered, the people feasted together–a tradition that continues almost four hundred years later.
‘Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving
On the night before Thanksgiving, a group of children visit a turkey farm and meet Farmer Mack Nuggett and his coop of cockerels: Ollie, Stanley, Larry, Moe, Wally, Beaver, Shemp, and Groucho. The children and turkeys giggle and gobble, and everything is gravy. As the trip comes to an end, the children leave the farm with full hearts — and bulging bellies — reminding people and poultry alike that there is much to be thankful for.
One Little, Two Little, Three Little Pilgrims
Ten little Pilgrims and ten little Wampanoag boys and girls are getting ready for the harvest feast. In colonial Plimoth, the Pilgrims hunt ducks and geese and dig up turnips and carrots. In a nearby village, the Wampanoag dig for clams, fish for cod, and gather nuts and berries. Finally it’s time for the meal. First everyone gives thanks, then it’s time to eat and celebrate. The simple rhythmic text and autumn-colored illustrations are just right for practicing counting and sharing the history and fun of Thanksgiving with young children.
Good ole Amelia Bedelia! She was one of my favorites when I first learned to read and I’ve had fun sharing her stories with my daughters. My youngest daughter learned to read with Amelia Bedelia stories because they were her favorites, too.
When Amelia Bedelia helps out with the school Thanksgiving play, she causes quite a scene. Let’s all give thanks for another funny new Amelia Bedelia story!
Mr. and Mrs. Moose invite all their animal friends for Thanksgiving dinner and the only one missing is Turkey. When they set out to find him, Turkey is quaking with fear because he doesn’t realize that his hosts want him at their table, not on it.
Fancy Nancy: Our Thanksgiving Banquet
Enjoy the holiday with Fancy Nancy and her charming vocabulary.
This is going to be the best Thanksgiving ever! There is a gigantic turkey, Grandma’s secret stuffing, green beans, and authentic cranberry sauce, the kind that doesn’t come out of a can. And desserts? There are almost too many to count.
The Berenstain Bears: Thanksgiving All Around
I get the feeling the Berenstain Bears like Thanksgiving, don’t you? This is a newer one by Stan and Jan’s son, Mike.
Young readers will experience the joys of fall in Bear Country with this brand-new Berenstain Bears storybook. A lift-the-flap format invites children to discover fall foliage, red apples, round pumpkins, and of course, a fine turkey alongside the beloved Bear family. In this exciting addition to the classic New York Times bestselling Berenstain property, Thanksgiving really is all around!
Who doesn’t enjoy a good I Spy book? Easy-to-read riddles by Jean Marzollo are paired with Walter Wick’s fun photographs culled from previously published I Spy books to create this I Spy easy reader that’s perfect for Thanksgiving!
Turkeys around Squawk Valley just don’t jump into pots anymore—they are way too smart for that. So the townspeople hatch a clever plan. They host a turkey-themed arts and crafts fair and lure a vain bird into town by advertising for an artist’s model. Peter the Turkey, proud of his well-stuffed form, takes the bait but doesn’t fall for the trap.
A sweet story about the importance of family, being thankful, and love–as told by a family of turkeys, with a hilarious surprise at the end!
It’s time for turkey! The parade is about to start. The pumpkin pie is in the oven. The whole family is gathered around the table. And everybody wants to pull the wishbone! From Children’s Poet Laureate Jack Prelutsky comes a scrumptious helping of twelve Thanksgiving poems to enjoy every day of the year!
When Arthur is picked to direct his school’s Thanksgiving play, all his friends beg him for the lead role. But not everyone can be the star, and someone has to be the turkey! Can Arthur find the perfect lead, the perfect turkey, and save the day?
The perfect picture book for the holiday, this hilarious twist on the traditional Thanksgiving feast features Turkey as he hops from hiding place to hiding place to avoid ending up as the main course.
In this Franklin Classic Storybook, our young hero likes everything about Thanksgiving, from eating pumpkin-fly pie to making cornucopias. But what he likes best is having his Grandma and Grandpa share the holiday with him and his family. This year, however, his grandparents are traveling abroad. Thanksgiving just won’t be the same without guests around the table, so Franklin decides to invite some friends for dinner. What a nice surprise it will be for his parents. Only Franklin’s mother and father have the same idea, and on Thanksgiving Day all their friends show up for the festivities! With no more room in the house, where will the holiday meal take place?
As soon as Maggie’s grandma and grandpa get the turkey in the oven, bright and early on Thanksgiving morning, the guests arrive and the commotion begins: glamorous aunts, crying babies, acrobatic cousins, strange dogs, mysterious gifts, romance, friendships, “yackety-yak”ing and, of course, lots of wonderful food and fun.
Celebrate Thanksgiving with Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the rest of the Peanuts gang in this retelling of the beloved Thanksgiving TV special!
Katie Saves Thanksgiving (Katie Woo)
Pedro’s and JoJo’s families are on their way to Katie’s house for Thanksgiving dinner. But they get stuck in a snowstorm, and the Woos’ oven suddenly breaks. Katie wonders what kind of Thanksgiving it will be without sweet potatoes, pie, and most of all, friends.
Celebrate everyday blessings, practice thankfulness, and observe the wonderful acts of service that keep us going each and every day. Eileen Spinelli, bestselling and award-winning children’s author, charms with rhymes and whimsy in Thankful, perfect for any young reader and their family.
What are your favorite Thanksgiving books?
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