Get your kids ready to give thanks with the 25 Best Thanksgiving Books for Kids! These Thanksgiving books for kids are great tools to teach your kids a little history of the holiday and that it’s not all about the turkey.
Best Thanksgiving Books for Kids
We’re smack in the middle of the holiday season. The Halloween costumes and decorations have been put away and replaced with leaves, pumpkin, and the warm colors of fall.
Just as decorations build excitement for the upcoming holiday, themed books also help make the day more exciting and easier for kids to relate. You might be at a loss on which Thanksgiving children’s books are even available. So, I created a quick roundup of 25 Thanksgiving Books for Kids to help get you started and celebrate Thanksgiving!
25 Thanksgiving Books for Kids
10 Fat Turkeys
10 Fat Turkeys by Tony Johnston
Age Range: 3-5 Years
Your kids will learn how to count backward with this fun rhyming story about ten turkeys. It’s an educational Thanksgiving book for kids.
Thanksgiving is for Giving Thanks
Thanksgiving is for Giving Thanks by Margaret Sutherland
Age Range: 3-5 Years
This book is filled with simple text and makes it one of the best Thanksgiving books for preschool. The illustrations are happy and colorful. It celebrates family, friends, and Thanksgiving.
Berenstain Bears Give Thanks
The Berenstain Bears Give Thanks by Jan Berenstain
Age range: 4-10 years old
I remember this series of books from when I was a kid, and they are still loved by children today. This time around you see the cubs in the first Thanksgiving book where they reenact the day complete with costumes, props, and a full Thanksgiving feast.
‘Twas Night Before Thanksgiving
‘Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving by Dav Pilkey
Age range: 3-5 Years
The author of Captain Underpants has created a really funny short story for preschoolers about Thanksgiving. The main characters are a group of children who visit a turkey farm and meet Farmer Mack Nuggett and his coop of cockerels: Ollie, Stanley, Larry, Moe, Wally, Beaver, Shemp, and Groucho.
An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Pie
I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Pie by Alison Jackson
Age range: 3-7 Years
I know an old lady who swallowed a pie, a Thanksgiving pie, which was really too dry.
And so starts a Thanksgiving-themed take on the classic “old lady who swallowed a fly.” This silly rhyming book is perfect for Thanksgiving read alouds in the classroom and for early readers because it is so easy to memorize.
The Night Before Thanksgiving
The Night Before Thanksgiving by Natasha Wing
Age Range: 4-8 Years
This book will build up the anticipation for the Thanksgiving holiday! Follow along as the meal is prepared, family is greeted, and everyone gathers around the table.
Pete The Cat Thanksgiving
Pete the Cat The First Thanksgiving by James Dean
Everyone loves Pete the Cat! Read along as he teaches them about the first Thanksgiving for kids on their level.
It’s Thanksgiving
It’s Thanksgiving by Jack Prelutsky
Age Range: 4-8 Years
If your child is still learning how to read, this is a great starter book. It has large print and small sentences. The theme is fun too.
Berenstain Bears: Thanksgiving All Around
The Berenstain Bears: Thanksgiving All Around by Mike Berenstain
Age Range: 4-10 Years
Yes, another Berenstain Bears book made the list! This one is a lift-the-flap book that shows off the beauty of the fall foliage.
Pinkalicious Thanksgiving
Pinkalicious: Thanksgiving Helper by Victoria Kann
Age Range: 4-8 Years
Do you know a Pinkalicious fan? These are a bit longer, so they are better for older readers. But the themes are incredibly relatable for children too.
Biscuit Is Thankful
Biscuit is Thankful by Alyssa Satin Capucilli
Age Range: 4-8 Years
This Thanksgiving picture book takes you through Biscuit’s playful holiday adventures. Because this is a board book this is one of the best Thanksgiving books for toddlers and babies.
Fancy Nancy’s Thanksgiving
Fancy Nancy: Our Thanksgiving Banquet by Jane O’Connor
Age Range: 4-8 Years
Even the Thanksgiving meal is fancier when you celebrate it with Fancy Nancy! Laugh and giggle as she experiences a Thanksgiving feast with her family.
Arthur’s Thanksgiving
Arthur’s Thanksgiving by Marc Brown
Age Range: 4-8 Years
In this Thanksgiving-themed book, Arthur is picked to direct his school play. But none of his friends want to play the Turkey – what will he do?
Berenstain Bears Thanksgiving Blessings
The Berenstain Bears Thanksgiving Blessings by Mike Berenstain
Age Range: 4-8 Years
This one of my favorite Thanksgiving books for kids and the 3rd Thanksgiving book by the Berenstain Bears to make the list. It’s just that great! This one needs to be in your collection because it’s a great Thanksgiving story for kids. And bonus, it comes with stickers!
The Best Thanksgiving Ever
The Best Thanksgiving Ever by Teddy Slater
Age Range: 4-8 Years
A family of turkeys shares what is most important in life: being thankful, and family. This is a really fun Thanksgiving story for preschoolers.
Happy Thanksgiving Biscuit
Happy Thanksgiving Biscuit by Alyssa Satin Capucilli
Age Range: 1-5
Another book about that super cute puppy, Biscuit. This one is a lift-the-flaps book with lots of fun surprises. And a great Thanksgiving baby picture book.
Twas the Day After Thanksgiving
Twas the Day after Thanksgiving by Mavis Smith
Age Range: 3-6 years
This is another lift-the-flap story that tells a tale about a story of mice and how they act after feasting on Thanksgiving.
The Great Thanksgiving Escape
The Great Thanksgiving Escape by Mark Fearing
Age Range: 5-8 Years
Follow Gavin and his cousin Rhonda at his grandmother’s house as they try to escape the house to the swingset outside.
Franklin’s Thanksgiving
Franklin’s Thanksgiving by Paulette Bourgeois
Age Range: 3-8 Years
What is Franklin’s favorite thing about Thanksgiving? Learn in his Thanksgiving story for children.
It’s Thanksgiving
It’s Thanksgiving by Jack Prelutsky
Age Range: 4-8 Years
Author Jack Prelutsky is a children’s poet. In his I Can Read level 3 book, he shares everything there is to love about Thanksgiving Day.
Amelia Bedelia Thanksgiving Book for Kids
Amelia Bedelia Talks Turkey by Herman Parish
Age Range: 4-8 Years
Amelia Bedelia has been making kids laugh for many years. This funny Thanksgiving book is packed with hilarity as Amelia Bedelia tries to make a Turkey feast.
I Am The Turkey
I Am the Turkey by Michele Sorbel Sprim
Age Range: 4-8 Years
Mark is super excited to be the Turkey in his school’s play….until he realizes what happened to the Turkey at the first Thanksgiving!
Turkey Trouble
Turkey Trouble by Wendi Silvano
Age Range: 3-7 Years
Grade Level: Preschool – 2nd grade
Oh no! The Turkey just realized it’s almost Thanksgiving and he’s the main course. He resorts to dressing up like a turkey in disguise to evade Thanksgiving dinner. Turkey Trouble read alouds were some of my daughters’ favorite memories of first grade!
Clifford’s Thanksgiving
Clifford’s Thanksgiving Visit by Norman Bridwell
Age Range: 5 and up
Grade Level: Preschool and up
Clifford, the big red dog and his best friend Emily share what they are Thankful for.
Just So Thankful
Just So Thankful by Mercer Mayer
Age Range: 5-6 Years
This is an adorable book in the Little Critter series and a great Thanksgiving book for kindergarten. It should be in every Thanksgiving book collection.
What are your favorite Thanksgiving books for kids?
More holiday book lists for kids:
- 10 Valentine’s Books for Kids
- 15 Easter Books for Kids
- 20 Best Halloween Books for Kids
- 20 Veteran’s Day Books for Kids
- 30 Best Christmas Books for Kids Under $5
Keep your little bookworm reading all winter long with the 30 Best Christmas books for kids under $5!
20bet
Thursday 28th of September 2023
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30 Best Christmas Books for Kids Under $5
Monday 11th of November 2019
[…] 25 Thanksgiving Books for Kids […]
Penelope
Tuesday 11th of November 2014
I love the Berenstain Bears! These are all great picks, and I'm in the mood to start picking up some Thanksgiving story books to read to my sons, so this is wonderfully timely...thanks for the recommendations!
Robin (Masshole Mommy)
Tuesday 11th of November 2014
We have a couple of these, but I want to get Amelia Bedelia Talks Turkey! I love Amelia Bedelia!!