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Thanksgiving is just around the corner! We love Thanksgiving and all things fall! One of our favorite ways to celebrate Thanksgiving is by reading Thanksgiving picture books. We read a couple of books each night leading up to Thanksgiving Day.
The list of 40+ Thanksgiving Picture Books are perfect for read-alouds. They are also great for budding readers who are just beginning to practice reading on their own or with someone. The books are about Thanksgiving themes. Some of the books have the added bonus of including the alphabet, or counting. And a few even give a brief history of Thanksgiving.
40+ Thanksgiving Picture Books
Sometimes It’s Turkey, Sometimes It’s Feathers by Lorna Balian – When Mrs. Gumm finds a turkey egg she decides to raise it for Thanksgiving dinner, but things do not go according to plan. Preschool & up
Alligator Arrived With Apples: A Potluck Alphabet Feast by Crescent Dragonwagon – From Alligator’s apples to Zebra’s zucchini, a multitude of alphabetical animals and foods celebrate Thanksgiving with a grand feast. Kindergarten – 3rd Grade
I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Pie by Alison Jackson – Hilarity ensues as two children watch with amusement as a relative swallows more and more of the Thanksgiving feast. Preschool – 2nd Grade
This Is the Turkey by Abby Levine – Max’s family and friends gather together to celebrate Thanksgiving. But when the turkey accidentally ends up in the fish tank will Thanksgiving be ruined? Preschool – 2nd Grade
Turk and Runt A Thanksgiving Comedy by Lisa Wheeler – Runt the turkey is much smaller than his brother Turk, but his intelligence keeps his family from becoming Thanksgiving Day dinner. Preschool – 2nd Grade
I Am the Turkey by Michele Sobel Spirn – Mark does not want to play the turkey in the second grade Thanksgiving play, but then he ends up saving the day. Kindergarten – 2nd Grade
The Ugly Pumpkin by Dave Horowitz – A lonely, oddly-shaped pumpkin is sad that no one chose him for a Halloween jack-o’-lantern, but by Thanksgiving he has discovered where he belongs. Kindergarten – 2nd Grade
Over the River A Turkey’s Tale adapted by Derek Anderson – The popular Thanksgiving song but of a turkey family going to Grandma and Grandpa Turkey’s house. They are chased by a boy with a toy gun and a dog who are hunting for Thanksgiving dinner. Preschool – 3rd Grade
Amelia Bedelia Talks Turkey by Herman Parish – Hilarity ensues when Amelia Bedelia volunteers to fill in as director of a third-grade Thanksgiving play. Of course in her ditzy way, she misunderstands everything but all is well in the end. Kindergarten – 4th Grade
Gus, the Pilgrim Turkey by Teresa Bateman – Gus loved being a turkey until the other animals tell him he will soon become Thanksgiving dinner. To save himself he decides to go south to find a place of safety. Kindergarten – 3rd Grade
10 Fat Turkeys by Tony Johnston – A fun rhyming and counting backwards story about ten turkeys sitting on a fence. Preschool – Kindergarten
Turkey Trouble by Wendi Silvano – With Thanksgiving Day approaching, Turkey decides to disguising himself as other farm animals in hopes that he can avoid being served as Thanksgiving dinner. Preschool – 2nd Grade
Junie B., First Grader Turkeys We Have Loved and Eaten (and Other Thankful Stuff) by Barbara Park – To celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday, Mr. Scary’s class prepares a Thankful List for the school contest, but Junie B. Jones finds it hard to be grateful for squash or Tattletale May. 1st – 4th Grade
The Very Stuffed Turkey by Katharine Kenah – Turkey got invited to all of his friends’ houses for Thanksgiving. Can Turkey survive 5 Thanksgiving dinners? Preschool – Kindergarten
There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Turkey! by Lucille Colandro – You won’t believe why this old lady swallowed a turkey, a ball, a hat, a balloon, a boat, some wheels, and a horn of plenty! Preschool – 1st Grade
T is for Turkey: A True Thanksgiving Story by Tanya Lee Stone – A fun rhyming alphabet book that helps kids celebrate everything from Harvest to Pilgrims to Turkey. Preschool – Kindergarten
The Night Before Thanksgiving by Natasha Wing – A Thanksgiving spin on ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas follow along as the feast is prepared and everyone gathers together. Preschool – 3rd Grade
The Very Fairy Princess: Attitude of Gratitude by Julie Andrews & Emma Walton Hamilton – Gerry, the very fairy princess, learns the importance of gratitude even in the face of disappointment over the course of Gratitude Day at school. Preschool – Kindergarten
One Is a Feast for Mouse: A Thanksgiving Tale by Judy Cox – After the Thanksgiving Day feast, Mouse spots one pea, the perfect feast for one mouse. But Mouse cannot help adding all of the fixings–until Cat spots him. Preschool – 1st Grade
Fancy Nancy: Our Thanksgiving Banquet by Jane O’Connor – Nancy and her family prepare for and celebrate Thanksgiving. Preschool – 2nd Grade
Frog and Friends Celebrate Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve by Eve Bunting – Frog and his friends share a Thanksgiving feast, celebrate Christmas, and ring in the New Year with a twist on tradition. 1st – 2nd Grade
Sharing the Bread: An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving Story by Pat Zietlow Miller – Set at the turn of the twentieth century, a large family works together to celebrate food and family. Preschool – 3rd Grade
It’s Thanksgiving by Jack Prelutsky – 12 poems about Thanksgiving. Kindergarten – 3rd Grade
Arthur’s Thanksgiving by Marc Brown – As director of the Thanksgiving play Arthur finds it difficult because none of his friends will agree to play the turkey. Preschool – 3rd Grade
Bear Says Thanks by Karma Wilson – Bear throws a feast only to realize he has nothing to bring but he learns he has something to share anyway. Preschool – 3rd Grade
The Thanksgiving Story by Alice Dalgliesh – The story about one family’s first Thanksgiving in the Plymouth Colony. 1st – 3rd Grade
Thanksgiving at the Tappletons’ by Eileen Spinelli – Calamity strikes as the Tappletons’ prepare for Thanksgiving dinner but they realize that there is more to Thanksgiving than the food. Preschool – 3rd Grade
‘Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving by Dav Pilkey – Children on a field trip to Mack Nugget’s farm save the lives of eight turkeys in this poem based on “The Night Before Christmas.” Preschool – Kindergarten
Thanksgiving by Miriam Nerlove – A brief overview of the first Thanksgiving and a family shares Thanksgiving dinner. Preschool – 1st Grade
The First Thanksgiving by Linda Hayward – A retelling of the first Thanksgiving but for beginning readers. 1st – 3rd Grade
Thanksgiving Treat by Catherine Stock – The youngest child cannot find a way to contribute to the family’s Thanksgiving preparations, until Grandpa helps him with a forgotten task. Preschool – 1st Grade
A Turkey for Thanksgiving by Eve Bunting – Mr. & Mrs. Moose invite their friends for dinner but Turkey doesn’t show because he’s afraid he will be dinner. Preschool – Kindergarten
Clifford’s Thanksgiving Visit by Norman Bridwell – Clifford shares Thanksgiving with his mom and then Emily Elizabeth. Preschool – 3rd Grade
Thanksgiving Is for Giving Thanks by Margaret Sutherland – Celebrating all the things we are thankful for especially at Thanksgiving. Preschool – Kindergarten
Franklin’s Thanksgiving by Paulette Bourgeois and Brenda Clark – Franklin is disappointed that his grandparents are not coming for Thanksgiving. He invites some friends and so do his parents and now there are too many to fit in the house. Preschool – 2nd Grade
This First Thanksgiving Day: A Counting Story by Laura Krauss Melmed – 12 counting poems about the first Thanksgiving. Preschool – 3rd Grade
Thanksgiving Day by Anne Rockwell – The preschool class learns about Thanksgiving and puts on a play. Preschool
Spot’s Thanksgiving by Eric Hill – Spot’s family celebrates Thanksgiving. Preschool
Thanksgiving Is Here! by Diane Goode – An entertaining family gathers at the grandparents house to celebrate Thanksgiving. Preschool – 3rd Grade
The Perfect Thanksgiving by Eileen Spinelli – Two very different families celebrate Thanksgiving in their own loving ways. Preschool – 2nd Grade
Thanks for Thanksgiving by Julie Markes – Children express their gratitude for everything from the people to the food in their lives. Preschool – 3rd Grade
The Firefighters’ Thanksgiving by Maribeth Boelts – Between calls to fires, an injured friend, and cooking disasters it looks like the firefighters will not get to enjoy Thanksgiving dinner. Preschool – 3rd Grade
Thanksgiving on Plymouth Plantation by Diane Stanley – Time-traveling twins visit Plymouth Plantation in 1621 to celebrate what would become the Thanksgiving holiday with the Pilgrims and Native Americans. Kindergarten – 4th Grade
Why We Have Thanksgiving by Margaret Hillert – A beginning-to-read fictional retelling of the Pilgrims journey to America and the first Thanksgiving. Kindergarten – 2nd Grade
Thanksgiving Turkey Trouble by Abby Klein – Freddy is playing the turkey in the Thanksgiving Day play and has to find a way to play it with the other kids making fun of him. Kindergarten – 3rd Grade
The Great Thanksgiving Escape by Mark Fearing – Two kids try to make a break for it but are met with numerous obstacles trying to escape everyone at Grandma’s house in order to have some fun outside before Thanksgiving dinner. Kindergarten – 3rd Grade
Thanksgiving Mice! by Bethany Roberts – Four mice put on a Thanksgiving Day play for their friends. Preschool – Kindergarten
Thanksgiving Rules by Laurie Friedman – Percy Isaac Gifford shares his list of ten rules for getting the most out of Thanksgiving Day, mostly from the food. Kindergarten – 2nd Grade
Turkey Monster Thanksgiving by Anne Warren Smith – After hearing about others plans for an elaborate Thanksgiving dinner, Katie begins to wonder if her family’s usual relaxed day means they are not a “real” family. 2nd – 5th Grade
Be sure to stop by my Homeschool Book List page where I will be linking all our books and other resources. And if you are looking for more homeschool activities, make sure you check out my Homeschool page which contains links to our sensory bins, crafts, and math & science pages.
Do you have any fun Thanksgiving picture books to recommend to us for next time? Share them in the comments below!
Have a great day!
Brandi
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