Favorite Thanksgiving Children’s Books

As an avid book lover, it’s no secret that I love passing on the love of reading to my kids and one way that I do that is creating seasonal book baskets with books that relate specifically to that season. This past week I packed up my fall and Halloween books and unpacked all my favorite Thanksgiving children’s books.

Though my kids were sad to see a few favorite fall books go, and I hate to take books away too, they were excited to dig into some new books that I put in place of those books. In the past few days, we have dived into several fun books that share about Thanksgiving, Native Americans and even silly books about turkeys.

Some of these are books that I purchased and read to my former students while others are newer books that I have accumulated over the past few years of being a parent. Today I wanted to share with you some of our family’s beloved Thanksgiving children’s books. Some you may be familiar with while others may be new discoveries for you.

As always, it is my joy sharing books and recommendations with you, especially when it helps pass on the love of reading to our children and motivates us to spend countless hours reading and cuddling together!

Corduroy’s Thanksgiving by Lisa McCue

This sweet little board book is perfect for babies and toddlers, based on the classic Corduroy books.

Thanksgiving Mice! by Bethany Roberts

A fun story of the Thanksgiving mice putting on a play all about the history of Thanksgiving. The mice explain the basics of the first Thanksgiving in a way that helps introduce young children to the history of the holiday.

Thank You, Thanksgiving by David Milgrim

Help little ones get into the habit of giving thanks to their everyday blessings as the little girl in the story goes through her day saying thanks for all the many little blessings in her life.

Thanksgiving Is for Giving Thanks by Margaret Sutherland

Another book that helps teach children to give thanks for the blessings in their life. This one is a little bit more advanced than the one mentioned above but it is such a great way to share blessings every day with our kids.

One Little, Two Little, Three Little Pilgrims by B.G. Hennessy

A fun, rhyming counting book that teaches children about the history of the first Thanksgiving, including names of Native Americans and other Thanksgiving-related vocabulary words.

This First Thanksgiving Day: A Counting Story Laura Krauss Melmed

I love this counting book that teaches about the first Thanksgiving. While it’s an easy read with not many words, the vocabulary is geared towards children older than preschool.

‘Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving by Dav Pilkey

This book is hilarious! I loved reading this to my students and they loved it as well, and my son Silas LOVES this book as well. This is such a fun play off the famous “Night Before Christmas” poem where a group of school children takes a field trip to  a turkey farm the day before Thanksgiving. The story and words are fun, as well as the silly pictures. This is such a fun book.

A Plump And Perky Turkey by Teresa Bateman

Another fun story of a turkey trying to avoid his imminent capture for the Thanksgiving feast. It’s fun and silly and again, my son loves this one too. It is long, so don’t grab before bedtime if you’re super tired 😉 but it is adorable and fun.

The Berenstain Bears Give Thanks by Jan Berenstain

Who doesn’t love the Berenstain bears? I loved these books when I was a kid and am thrilled to see that their children are carrying on the stories after Stan and Jan have passed away. This special book reminds us why it’s important to give thanks as well as the importance of family and faith.

Thanksgiving: A Time to Remember Barbara Rainey

This is not a children’s book but it is a collection of recipes, traditions, stories and so much more to help make your family’s holiday traditions meaningful and special.

 What are some of your family’s treasured and favorite books about Thanksgiving?