Pumpkins, feasts and family all together – Thanksgiving really is a fun holiday for kids! These Thanksgiving books are a great age-appropriate way to discuss gratitude, giving thanks, the importance of family and friends, and the history of the holiday itself.
What do you think your children are thankful for? Reading one of these books together can give you a fantastic insight into their true feelings. You could also try our gratitude scavenger hunt, which is really nice for getting them to seek out the things that make them feel happy and blessed, at the same time as having a bit of fun!
So, snuggle up and read one of these Thanksgiving books together – they make a great gift idea too!
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Thanksgiving Books for Kids
Thanks for Thanksgiving by Julie Markes

Thanksgiving is a time for giving thanks, and Thanks for Thanksgiving is a great introduction for younger readers.
Everyone knows that Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks – the question is, where to begin? From the turkey on the table to warm, cozy cuddles, life is full of small things and bigger pleasures. But what’s most important is being able to share them with family.
Julie Markes reminds kids and adults alike about the little details that make each day enjoyable, while Doris Barrette’s beautiful and striking illustrations bring her thoughtful words to life.
Perfectly in tune with what children are thankful for – such as a park, slides, and pets, and especially their family – this is a warm and genuine way to share the true Thanksgiving spirit.
Duck for Turkey Day by Jacqueline Jules

It’s almost Thanksgiving, and Tuyet is excited about the holiday and the vacation from school. There’s just one problem: her Vietnamese American family is having duck for Thanksgiving dinner – not turkey! Nobody has duck for Thanksgiving – what will her teacher and the other kids think?
To her surprise, Tuyet enjoys her yummy Thanksgiving dinner anyhow – and an even bigger surprise is waiting for her at school on Monday. Dinners from roast beef to lamb to enchiladas adorned the Thanksgiving tables of her classmates, but they all had something in common – family!
Kids from families with different traditions will enjoy Duck for Turkey Day, a warm story about the right way to celebrate an American holiday.
Turkey Trouble by Wendy Silvano

Turkey is in trouble. Bad trouble. The kind of trouble where it’s almost Thanksgiving…and you’re the main course. But Turkey has an idea – what if he doesn’t look like a turkey? What if he looks like another animal instead?
After many hilarious attempts, Turkey comes up with the perfect disguise to make this Thanksgiving the best ever!
Wendi Silvano’s comical Turkey Trouble story is perfectly matched by Lee Harper’s watercolours.
Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving by Dav Pilkey

From Dav Pilkey, creator of the New York Times bestselling Dog Man and Captain Underpants series, comes a charming story about eight children and eight turkeys on the night before Thanksgiving.
On the day before Thanksgiving, a group of children visit a turkey farm and meet Farmer Mack Nuggett and his coop of cockerels: Ollie, Stanley, Larry, Moe, Wally, Beaver, Shemp, and Groucho. The children and turkeys giggle and gobble, and everything is gravy. As the trip comes to an end, the children leave the farm with full hearts – and bulging bellies – reminding people and poultry alike that there is much to be thankful for.
Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving is a hysterical read-aloud book, and a real fan favourite.
I am Thankful by Sheri Wall

I Am Thankful is an adorable, rhyming storybook for kids aged 3 to 5 years that follows three different families as they celebrate the holiday with their own traditions, acts of kindness, and ways of giving back.
Kids will learn how to be thankful for the people and world around them as they delight in the sweet illustrations that show diverse families and exciting Thanksgiving adventures. This heartfelt, poetic story will show young ones the meaning of giving and sharing.
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving

Celebrate Thanksgiving with Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the rest of the Peanuts gang in, A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, a retelling of the beloved Thanksgiving TV special!
When Peppermint Patty invites herself (and most of her friends) to Charlie Brown’s house for Thanksgiving dinner, Charlie Brown reluctantly agrees to make a holiday feast even though he can barely make toast and cold cereal!
Can he pull together a memorable meal, or will he and his friends just be grateful when it’s over?
Gratitude is My Superpower by Alicia Ortega

Do you want to teach your children how to be grateful for the things they already have?
Little Betsy will learn that happiness is made up of simple things in life, both small and big. With the help of the magic stone, she will begin to feel gratitude for her parents, friends, and toys. But what happens when little Betsy forgets to use the magic of her stone? She will realize that the power of gratitude is hidden in her heart.
Gratitude is My Superpower will teach your little ones to appreciate the warmth of home, time spent playing with friends, and family relationships.
The Berenstain Bears Give Thanks

The Berenstain cubs act out the first Thanksgiving complete with costumes, props, and a full Thanksgiving feast. But will Sister Bear’s pet turkey play the part of dinner?
The Berenstain Bears Give Thanks teaches how God provided for the pilgrims and reminds children of God’s many blessings.
Run, Turkey, Run by Diane Mayr

Run, Turkey, Run is the perfect picture book for the holiday – this hilarious twist on the traditional Thanksgiving feast features Turkey as he hops from hiding place to hiding place to avoid ending up as the main course.
With Thanksgiving only one day away, can Turkey find a place to hide from the farmer who’s looking for a plump bird for his family feast? Maybe he can hide with the pigs…or the ducks…or the horses…
Uh-oh! Here comes the farmer! Run, Turkey, run!
Don’t Miss…
These great Thanksgiving colouring pages are a fun way to pass the time while waiting for Thanksgiving dinner to cook, or to entertain the children over the holiday weekend. Get those colours ready, then print your favourite pages and start colouring!
Peyton Picks the Perfect Pie by America’s Test Kitchen

Peyton Picks the Perfect Pie is a humorous and heart-warming story that celebrates the love of cooking and helps children overcome their fear of trying new foods – plus it includes an ATK recipe for the perfect pie.
Peyton is particular. But she’s not picky. Grownups use that word a lot. Picky. Picky. Picky. It’s never a good thing. And it’s not fair. Peyton likes dogs and cats, scooters and bikes, pools and beaches. And Peyton likes to try new things.
But Peyton is particular when it comes to food. Peyton doesn’t like it when two foods touch on her plate. Peyton doesn’t like green foods. Or orange foods. Or red foods. Peyton doesn’t like foods that are gooey or gummy, sticky or slimy, frosted or flaky. And Peyton most definitely doesn’t like chunky or lumpy foods.
Thanksgiving is our most universal holiday, beloved by adults and children. But Thanksgiving can also be a challenge for young eaters who struggle with new tastes and new experiences. Peyton is the hero of this food lover’s tale and she is determined to confront her fear of new foods by finding a Thanksgiving pie she truly likes, even if it’s flaky, lumpy, or chunky.
The Night Before Thanksgiving by Natasha Wing

Everyone’s favourite fun-filled, family-filled, food-filled holiday is almost here!
In The Night Before Thanksgiving, follow along as the feast is prepared, cousins are greeted, and everyone gathers around the table, all with an extra helping of holiday fun.
How to Catch a Turkey by Adam Wallace

A New York Times Bestseller! From the bestselling How to Catch series comes a festive turkey tale and Thanksgiving book for kids!
A turkey is running loose in a school right before a Thanksgiving play. Can YOU help catch it so the show can go on? Follow along as students turn their school upside down trying to catch the turkey, ending with a twist that ensures no turkeys are harmed (or eaten!).
How to Catch a Turkey is a hilariously zany children’s picture book that combines STEAM concepts and traps with a silly story and fun illustrations, perfect for starting a new fall family tradition this autumn or giving as a Thanksgiving gift for kids ages 4 and up!
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From leaf crafts and scavenger hunts to scarecrows, spooky haunts and gingerbread fun, don’t miss these 50 awesome Autumn activities for kids – and parents!
Thank You, Omu by Oge Mora

A generous woman is rewarded by her community in this remarkable author-illustrator debut that’s perfect for the Thanksgiving season.
Everyone in the neighbourhood dreams of a taste of Omu’s delicious stew! One by one, they follow their noses toward the scrumptious scent. And one by one, Omu offers a portion of her meal. Soon the pot is empty. Has she been so generous that she has nothing left for herself?
Thank You, Omu is a heartwarming story of sharing and community to life in colourful cut-paper designs as luscious as Omu’s stew, with an extra serving of love. An author’s note explains that “Omu” (pronounced AH-moo) means “queen” in the Igbo language of her parents, but growing up, she used it to mean “Grandma”.
Five Silly Turkeys by Salina Yoon

Toddlers will love the silly Thanksgiving turkeys in this fun counting book full of silly turkeys doing very silly things! From twirling on a dance floor to being chased by a bee to tanning in the sun, these are no ordinary Thanksgiving turkeys.
Five Silly Turkeys is a rhyming adventure that makes for a fun read-aloud, and the tail feathers add a sensory element to the book as they crinkle when touched and are easy to grab for tiny hands turning pages. This shiny fabric-tabbed book is a holiday treat that is sure to be gobbled up quickly!
I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Pie by Alison Jackson

I know an old lady who swallowed a pie, a Thanksgiving pie, which was really too dry.
And with that the feast begins! After the pie, the old lady swallows a whole squash, all of the salad, and the entire turkey! As Mother and Father watch in shock, the two children are delighted to see the old lady growing fatter and fatter. And, in the end, the old lady makes a surprising and humorous contribution to the holiday festivities.
I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Pie follows the familiar rhyming that kids will love.
