Thanksgiving children's books can reach a wide range of topics from historical and serious to light and fluffy. This list includes Thanksgiving Children's Books for a variety of Thanksgiving themes.
Thanksgiving Children's books can be a complicated space to navigate. There's the classic light and fluffy ones that talk about turkeys dodging farmers. There are serious books that open up conversations about what it was really like to be a native person at that time. Then there are the books that talk about the beauty of gathering with family and the magic of fall.
I personally think that all of these types of Thanksgiving Children's Books have their time and space, and that they can all be a great way to talk about and celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday. I'm the type of parent that really likes to teach my children about the truth and meaning behind the traditions we celebrate, while also enjoying the fun that comes along with holidays as well.
If you're in the market for Thanksgiving Children's Books that hit all the different nuances of Thanksgiving day, I've broken this list up into a variety of categories to help you find your favorite titles.
Thanksgiving Children's Books
Historically Based Pilgrims/Native American Books
The Very First Americans: I think it's so important to teach our kids about who really lived in this land first. This book tells about the native tribes from coast to coast and what their lives were like before we got here.
Squanto's Journey: The Story of the First Thanksgiving: This book tells of Squanto who first greeted the pilgrims when they got to America. It does a really good job of accurately telling what this moment was like, and will lead to deep conversations about this time with your children.
The First Thanksgiving Day: A Counting Story: This fun picture book takes you through the preparations that the Indians and Pilgrims went through to prepare the first Thanksgiving feast. It has a warm message of working together and loving your neighbor despite differences.
The First Thanksgiving Day: This fun counting book tells the story of the first Thanksgiving for young readers in a fun a fast paced story. This is one we started reading with the kids years ago and it's still a favorite.
The Story of the Pilgrims: This book tells about the journey of the Pilgrims on the Mayflower and their first harsh winter in America and the help they received from the Native people.
The First Thanksgiving: A Lift The Flap Book: This super simple board book is a great and colorful way to talk about Thanksgiving with your smallest children.
Sarah Gives Thanks: How Thanksgiving Became A National Holiday: This book tells the story of Sarah Hale and the work she did to get Thanksgiving recognized as a national holiday.
The Littlest Pilgrim: This cute book talks about a little pilgrim who finds herself unable to help with many of the chores because she is too small. But she's never to small to make a special friend.
If You Were at The First Thanksgiving: This book tells the tale of the first Thanksgiving written from the perspective of a child. I love the way it tells the story of this time, and it has some serisouly beautiful illustrations.
Thanksgiving Children's Books About Family Feasts
Over the River and Through the Wood: This picture book has beautiful illustrations to the poem we all know, and sung as a child. Although I was shocked to see that the book said, "to grandfather's house we go...", I could have sworn it was grandmother's my entire life.
One is a Feast for Mouse: Mouse peeks out of his hole after Thanksgiving dinner and sees one little pea on the kitchen table... along with a ton of other leftovers. Can he get them all back to his hole without getting caught?
Thanksgiving in the Woods: This story is about a family who takes a journey into the woods each year t eat Thanksgiving in nature, just like how the original holiday started.
Thanksgiving Children's Books About Turkeys:
Run, Turkey, Run!: It's almost Thanksgiving and everyone on the farm is getting ready and excited for the big day... everyone except for Turkey that is. Can he escape the Farmer in time, or will he become dinner?
Turkey Trouble: This book is about a turkey that comes up with a lot of different disguises so that he doesn't become Thanksgiving dinner. The end result is quite funny and one the kids will love.
The Plump and Perky Turkey: The townspeople try to lure the birds to their homes by hosting an arts and crafts show just for turkeys. They get the turkeys to come, but the turkeys outsmart them as the last minute.
10 Fat Turkeys: This fun story teaches kids to count backwards from 10 while having a fun rhyming rhythm about fun turkey antics and a grumpy farmer.
The Great Turkey Race: All the turkeys want to be the Thanksgiving turkey, but only one can be it, so they hold a race. You'll have to pick up a copy to see how this tale gobbles out.
There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Turkey: My kids have adored this series for years, but we've never read the Thanksgiving version. This is one we'll have to add to the library this year.
More Thanksgiving Titles:
Balloons Over Broadway: Being from New York I loved this book that told the history of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (which I knew none of until I read this). The pictures are beautiful, the historical events are told in simple ways for young readers, and I even welled up a few tears as I was reading this to Jay. There aren't any sad parts... I think it was just "I miss New York in the fall".
Arthur's Thanksgiving: Arthur is assigned to be the director of the school's Thanksgiving play, but what is he to do when no one wants to play the most important role of the Thanksgiving turkey?
The Night Before Thanksgiving: You guys all knew this book from Natasha Wing was going to be on here right? The only book I purchased this month and it found it's home next to the rest of the collection on our bookshelf.
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cool! I like your post!
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These are cute books! I love going to the bookstore and finding illustrators that I like now for children's books.
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