My library is my favorite part of my room. I have invested a small fortune in books. If I’m being honest, I have zero regrets about spending my money in that way.
As I was putting away my Halloween books (you can read about my favorite Halloween picture books by clicking here.), I had to leave out a lot of pumpkin books to fill my shelf. I just did not have very many Thanksgiving books. I would assume that I’m not the outlier in this. Thanksgiving is often skipped over in mainstream media, and it’s easy to jump from Spooky Season to Merry Season.
But I didn’t want to just skip over Thanksgiving. So, I started with an online hunt looking for the best Thanksgiving books. I hit up my local library to review them all, and started purchasing my favorites to add to my collection. (Yes, I could just check them out from my local library, but I am the worst at returning library books on time and always end up with a huge amount of fines. Most of the time, it’s more cost effective for me to buy a book than “borrow” it, and an added perk is I get to reread it with my kids over and over again!)
Below is a list of my absolute favorites, and why I think they are a valuable addition to any classroom or home library!
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. By ordering through these links, I earn a small commission. All opinions are my own. You can click to purchase any of the books on Amazon by clicking the photo on each (just click outside of the "Pin It" button in the middle). 😀
1. Turkey Trouble by Wendi Silvano
This has been a classic favorite of mine for years! I love disguise a turkey activities, and this book is absolutely perfect for introducing that project! This is a must have for any primary teacher or parent of littles. It’s hilarious and book you will want to read over and over and over again! As a bonus, there are also 4 other Turkey books in this series!
2. The Very Stuffed Turkey by Katharine Kenah
Learning how to say no is a hard skill. Especially when we have to say no to things that we want to do! Poor turkey learns this lesson through the experience of overstuffing (literally) his Thanksgiving Day schedule. This funny story is sure to stick with the grown up s reading it in a completely different, but equal, way than it does with the kids listening to it!
3. How to Catch a Turkey by Adam Wallace
My kids can honestly not get enough of this series by Adam Wallace. They are all read over and over again! (Bonus, there are 14 books in the “How to Catch” series!). in this hilarious book a turkey is on the loose in the school and readers get to laugh at all the ways he is chased and escapes.
Grab How to Catch a Turkey on Amazon by clicking HERE!
4. T is for Turkey by Tanya Lee Stone
This is probably one fo the very first Thanksgiving books I ever added to my collection when I started teaching kindergarten over a decade ago. The illustrations in this book are just beautiful. Through an alphabet story, readers are introduced to various terms used at Thanksgiving. This book is great for little learners to expand their vocabulary with practical, seasonal terms.
Grab T is for Turkey on Amazon by clicking HERE!
5. Gobble, Gobble Mr. Wobble by Becky Cummings
Turkey is invited to Thanksgiving dinner. All the other animals on the farm seem to know what this means, but not Mr. Wobble. He is ecstatic to sit at Farmer Joe’s table, and works hard to look and be his best self for this holiday. As Thanksgiving dinner draws closer, the other animals are increasingly worried. This book is a cute way to introduce the idea that not everyone eats turkey for Thanksgiving, and is especially inclusive of any students who may be vegan or vegetarian to feel included in this holiday.
6. Balloons over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy's Parade by Melissa Sweet
Watching the Macy Thanksgiving Day Parade has always been a favorite holiday activity of mine. There is something, even as an adult, that is magical about those giant floats. This book introduces Tony Sarg, the original puppeteer whose talent, dedication, and creativity inspired the giant balloons that we still continue to enjoy almost a century later! The unique illustrations in this book are equally as captivating as the story within it. A fun, informative, unique read.
7. Squanto’s Journey: The Story of the First Thanksgiving by Joseph Bruchac
This book is a unique Thanksgiving story in that it is written from Squanto’s perspective, as opposed to the pilgrims. It does include some of the negative realities of the white mans treatment of natives (including selling Squanto in to slavery), while also not detailing the realities in a way that is too difficult for young minds. The storyline allows you to go into more detail or not, depending on the age and understanding of your reader. This book is a great introduction to teaching not only the highlights of thanksgiving, but also some of the bad things that were done.
8. A Little Thanksgiving SPOT by Diane Alber
Okay. Full disclosure, I LOVE Diane Alber. I have been following her on Instagram since she was just a tiny little account and I have loved everything she has created since! This book is a perfect reminder for kids and adults abut what is really important at Thanksgiving and is perfect for introducing any “thankful” activities. Bonus, there are a TON of SPOT books in her series, and every single one lives up to the hype!
9. The Leaf Thief by Alice Hemming
This is a newer book and has gained popularity rapidly, for good reason! The story is an absolutely adorable charming read for fall! Follow squirrel on an adventure as he learns about adapting to change. The book is also a great story to use when teaching about the changing seasons.
10. In November by Cynthia Rylant
I think this book is on my list mostly because the beautiful illustrations paint the most beautiful imagery in my mind. The sweet story perfectly compliments the illustrations and this book creates a sense of peace, both visually and emotionally, to readers.
You can access all of these books by clicking the links below each book description, or by visiting my Amazon storefront HERE.
I'm always on the hunt for great books. Are there any Thanksgiving books that I don't have on my list that you love?
As always, I would love for you to help me spread the word about these amazing books by re-pinning the image below. 😀
