14 Best Thanksgiving Books For Kids For a Beautiful Holiday
As the leaves start to change color and the temperature gets a little colder, it is the perfect time to read Thanksgiving books. The holiday of Thanksgiving is so much more than food and football. It is a time to think about family and gratitude.
We put together a list of Thanksgiving books for kids that includes preschool and toddler Thanksgiving books as well. These are the perfect way to discuss family traditions and practice the tradition of being thankful as well.
*Thanksgiving Books Post contains affiliate links. Purchases made through links result in a small commission to us at no cost to you. Some books have been gifted. All opinions are our own.
Toddler Thanksgiving Books
10 Fat Turkeys by Tony Johnston
This is a silly and funny book that is not only a counting and rhyming book but an adorable pick from toddler Thanksgiving books.
As these silly turkeys gobble gobble wibble wobble, they slowly lose one turkey at a time. Your toddler will laugh at this beautifully illustrated pick.
Llama Gives Thanks by Anna Dewdney
We love Llama Llama books. He is always a perfect way to introduce new ideas and concepts. In this sweet rhyming pick from preschool Thanksgiving books, Llama learns to celebrate and give thanks on this special day.
Pookie’s First Thanksgiving by Sandra Boynton
Sandra Boynton books were always a huge hit in our house. In this sweet toddler Thanksgiving book, Pookie is helping make Thanksgiving dinner. I love it when the family lists all the things that they are thankful for. It is so sweet!
Be Thankful Pout-Pout Fish by Deborah Diesen
Pout Pout Fish is learning about Thanksgiving, gratitude, and caring as all the sea creatures father at Mr. Fish’s table. There is always room for everyone. We love this pick from Thanksgiving books for kids.
Happy Thanksgiving Curious George by Cynthia Platt
In this pick from toddler Thanksgiving books, each page tells a different story. Curious George will set the table, go to a parade, and make Thanksgiving crafts. This book is perfect for when you have a few minutes for a quick story.
Preschool Thanksgiving Books
Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story by Kevin Noble Mallard
This book is the winner of the 2020 Robert F. Silbert International Book Metal and the 2020 American Indian Youth Literature Picture Book Honor Winner.
This pick from PReschool Thanksgiving books is a multisensory depiction of Fry bread and what it means to the Native American families who eat it and the way that it brings families together.
I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Pie by Alison Jackson
The original song and story of the Old Lady always freaked me out. This story, on the other hand, is adorable! The old lady swallows all the Thanksgiving food until she is full. But wait to see what happens at the end of this Thanksgiving picture book.
Pete the Cat: The First Thanksgiving by James Dean and Kimberly Dean
This is a sweet pick from Thanksgiving books for preschool kids. It tells the story of the first Thanksgiving story that kids will love. We love some of the details like how long the trip took and the crops that the Native Americans taught the pilgrims to harvest.
Thanksgiving Books Thanksgiving Books for Kids
Turkey Trouble by Wendi Silvano
If you have ever had a child think about how the turkey feels on Thanksgiving, this is the perfect book for them. This is the perfect pick from Thanksgiving books for kids if you want a happy ending for the turkey. This is such a cute Thanksgiving book!
How to Catch a Turkey by Adam Wallace
The turkey escaped right before the Thanksgiving play and the kids are trying to catch him. This pick from Thanksgiving books for kids is not only an adorable rhyming book, but it is introduced from STEAM concepts as the turkey runs wild through the building.
Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy’s Parade by Melissa Sweet
If, like me, your family eagerly watches the Thanksgiving Day Parade, this is the book for you! This non-fiction picture book tells the story of Tony Sarg, his imagination, and how he created
Macy’s famed parade.
Your children will love the colorful illustrations and clever story – forgetting they are learning the origins of a tradition as they read. This is a perfect Thanksgiving picture book.
Thanksgiving at the Tappletons by Eileen Spinelli
This comedic story about the meaning of Thanksgiving is quite funny. Through a series of events, each family member’s dish goes awry but they never tell anyone. When the extended family shows up for dinner, they realize they have nothing to eat! So instead, they say grace, give thanks for having each other, and head to the fridge to make sandwiches for dessert
Keepunumuk: Weeâchumun’s Thanksgiving Story by Daniel Greendeer, Anthony Perry, and Alexis Bunten
This is a beautiful Thanksgiving picture book that tells the story of Thanksgiving from the point of view of members of the Wampanoag tribe who lived on the land when the Pilgrims arrived. Without the help of the Native people, the pilgrims would not have survived the first winter. This is one of the Thanksgiving books for kids that is told in the native tradition!
What are your favorite Thanksgiving books for kids?
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