Thanksgiving Books for Children

This booklist was contributed by Appleton Public Library Children's Services Staff, 10/07 

Picture Books

1 2 3 Thanksgiving by W. Nikola-Lisa(1991)A Thanksgiving counting book depicting the numbers one through ten through scenes of the holiday.

Albert's Thanksgiving by Leslie Tryon(1994)Albert the duck helps the animal children of Pleasant Valley School prepare a Thanksgiving feast.

Alligator Arrived with Apples: a Potluck Alphabet Feast by Crescent Dragonwagon(1987)From Alligator's apples to Zebra's zucchini, a multitude of alphabetical animals and foods celebrate Thanksgiving with a grand feast.

Beauty and the Beaks: a Turkey's Cautionary Tale by Mary Jane Auch(2007)When Lance, a very pretentious turkey, arrives on the farm and boasts that he is the only bird invited to a special feast, no hen is impressed, but when Beauty learns that Lance is the main course, she convinces the others to save him.

The Berenstain Bears' Thanksgiving by Stan Berenstain(1997)Papa Bear thinks that Thanksgiving is the best holiday of all, but his overreaction to the cubs' report of seeing Bigpaw in the woods teaches him an important lesson about the meaning of the day.

The Can-Do Thanksgiving by Marion Hess Pomeranc(1998)Dee experiences excitement and satisfaction when she helps prepare and serve food for the needy at a church on Thanksgiving.

Coyote and Badger: Desert Hunters of the Southwest by Bruce Hiscock(2001)Describes in rhyme the activities of a young boy and his extended family as they share a special Thanksgiving.

Don't Eat Too Much Turkey by Miriam Cohen(1996)The first graders get tired of Anna Maria's bossy ways during the Thanksgiving preparations.

Fat Chance Thanksgiving by Pat Lakin(2001)When their apartment burns down and they move to a much smaller place, Mama tells Carla they can't have Thanksgiving, but Carla thinks about all the hardships the Pilgrims faced and figures out a way.

Give Thanks to the Lord : Celebrating Psalm 92 by Karma Wilson(2007)A boy gives thanks to the Lord for all that he has in this illustrated interpretation of Psalm XCII.

Gracias, the Thanksgiving Turkey by Joy Cowley(1996)Trouble ensues when Papa gets Miguel a turkey to fatten up for Thanksgiving and Miguel develops an attachment to it.

Gus the Pilgrim Turkey by Teresa Bateman(2008)Gus the turkey has loved growing up on a farm, but when the other animals tell him he will soon become Thanksgiving dinner, he decides to go south to find a place of safety.

Handtalk School(1991)Words and sign language depict a group of students involved in putting on a Thanksgiving play at a school for deaf children.

How many Days to America? A Thanksgiving Story by Eve Bunting(1988)Refugees from a Caribbean island embark on a dangerous boat trip to America where they have a special reason to celebrate Thanksgiving.

I Know an Old Lady who Swallowed a Pie by Alison Jackson(1997)A parody of the accumulative rhyme "There was an old lady who swallowed a fly" in which a guest at a Thanksgiving dinner eats everything in sight.

The Little Engine that Could Saves the Thanksgiving Day Parade by Watty Piper(2002)The Turkeyland Band is on its way to play in Gobbleville's Thanksgiving Day parade when a tire goes flat and they have no spare, but the Little Blue Engine comes by and thinks she can help.

The Memory Cupboard: a Thanksgiving Story by Charlotte Herman(2003)When Katie breaks a gravy boat at Thanksgiving dinner, her grandmother shows her that love is more important than objects.

Molly's Pilgrim by Barbara Cohen(1983)Told to make a doll like a pilgrim for the Thanksgiving display at school, Molly's Jewish mother dresses the doll as she herself dressed before leaving Russia to seek religious freedom--much to Molly's embarrassment.

The Night Before Thanksgiving by Natasha Wing(2001)Tells the story of one family's Thanksgiving Day celebration.

Nursery Crimes by Arthur Geisert(2001)For Thanksgiving Day, the fourteen pigs in the Jambonneau family trim their trees to look like turkeys, but wake up one morning to find they have all been stolen.

An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving by Louisa May Alcott(2005)This adaptation of the original story follows the activities of seven in children nineteenth-century New England as they prepare for the Thanksgiving holiday while Mother is away caring for Grandmother.

One is a Feast for Mouse: a Thanksgiving Tale by Judy Cox(2008)On Thanksgiving Day while everyone naps, Mouse spots one pea, a perfect feast, but he cannot help adding all of the fixings--until Cat spots him.

One Terrific Thanksgiving by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat(1985)1985Irving Morris Bear who loves to eat learns an important lesson about Thanksgiving from his friends.

An Outlaw Thanksgiving by Emily Arnold McCully(1998)While travelling with her mother cross-country by train in 1896, a young girl unexpectedly shares Thanksgiving dinner with the notorious outlaw, Butch Cassidy.

Over the River and Through the Wood by Lydia Child(1996)An illustrated version of the poem that became a well-known song about a journey through the snow to grandfather's house for Thanksgiving dinner.

Over the River: a Turkey's Tale by Derek Anderson(2005)Presents the words to the popular Thanksgiving song, with illustrations of a turkey family going to Grandma and Grandpa Turkey's house, pursued by a boy with a toy gun and a dog who are hunting for Thanksgiving dinner.

The Perfect Thanksgiving by Eileen Spinelli(2003)Two families--one that is perfect and one that is far from it--celebrate Thanksgiving in their own loving ways.

Rivka's First Thanksgiving by Elsa Rael(2001)Having heard about Thanksgiving in school, nine-year-old Rivka tries to convince her immigrant family and her Rabbi that it is a holiday for all Americans, Jews and non-Jews alike.

Round the Turkey: a Grateful Thanksgiving by Leslie Kimmelman(2002)As they gather to celebrate Thanksgiving Day, members of an extended family take turns describing, in rhyme, the things that make them feel grateful.

Setting the Turkeys Free by W Nikola-Lisa(2004)When a sly, hungry fox threatens a flock of turkeys, the young artist who drew the birds must find a way to save them.

Sometimes Its Turkey, Sometimes Its Feathers by Lorna Balian(1973)When she finds a turkey egg, Mrs. Gumm decides to hatch it and have a turkey for Thanksgiving dinner.

The Squirrels' Thanksgiving by Steven Kroll(1991)A brother and sister squirrel appreciate each other more after being exposed to their really naughty cousins at Thanksgiving dinner.

Thank you, Thanksgiving by David Milgrim(2003)While on a Thanksgiving Day errand for her mother, a girl says thank you to all the things around her.

Thanksgiving at our House by P.K. Hallinan(2006)Rhyming text reveals the many blessings a child counts on Thanksgiving day.

Thanksgiving at our House by Wendy Watson(1991)The family busily prepares for Thanksgiving and has a grand feast with visiting relatives. Includes Thanksgiving poems.

Thanksgiving at the Tappletons by Eileen Spinelli(1992)When calamity stalks every step of the preparations for the Tappletons' Thanksgiving dinner, they realize that there is more to Thanksgiving than turkey and trimmings.

Thanksgiving Bowl by Virginia L Kroll(2007)Each member of a family writes an anonymous "I'm thankful for" note and places it in the Thanksgiving bowl, but after the family guesses who wrote each note, the bowl is accidentally left outside, where it rolls off on a year-long series of adventures.

The Thanksgiving Door by Debby Atwell(2003)After burning their Thanksgiving dinner, Ann and Ed head for the local cafe, where they are welcomed by an immigrant family into an unusual celebration that gives everyone cause to be thankful.

Thanksgiving in the White House by Gary Hines(2003)Young Tad Lincoln is excited about the new national holiday until he learns that the cook plans to serve Jack the turkey as the main course for Thanksgiving dinner.

Thanksgiving is Here by Diane Goode(2003)A family gathers to celebrate Thanksgiving at Grandma's house.

Thanksgiving Mice by Bethany Roberts(2001)A group of mice have some problems when they put on a play to commemorate the first Thanksgiving, but everything works out all right in the end.

Thanksgiving on Plymouth Plantation by Diane Stanley(2004)Twins Liz and Lenny, along with their time-traveling grandmother, visit Plymouth Plantation to see how the Pilgrims lived and to celebrate a big feast with the Pilgrims and Native Americans.

Thanksgiving Treat by Catherine Stock(1990)There seems to be no place for the smallest child in a family's busy preparations for Thanksgiving, until Grandpa steps in and they perform a vital task everyone else has forgotten.

Thanksgiving with Me by Margaret Willey(1998)As a young girl waits for her six uncles to arrive for Thanksgiving, she asks her mother to describe life with these brothers on past Thanksgivings.

Thanksgiving: What Makes it Special by Harold Lawrence Myra(2002)As they prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving Day, Todd and his family discuss the meaning of the holiday and its relationship to their Christian beliefs.

Thelonius Turkey Lives on Felicia Ferguson's Farm by Lynn Rowe Reed(2005)As Thanksgiving Day approaches, Thelonius Turkey becomes worried when Felicia the farmer starts to fatten him up and pluck his feathers.

This is the Feast by Diane ZuHone Shore(2008)A heartwarming first Thanksgiving story depicts the celebration of friendship between the Pilgrims and their neighbors, the Indians.

This is the Turkey by Abby Levine(2000)Describes in rhyme the activities of a young boy and his extended family as they share a special Thanksgiving.

Tiny Turtle's Thanksgiving by Dave Ross(1986)Tired of being a turtle, Tiny Turtle decides to try to be an eagle one Thanksgiving Day, but decides it isn't much fun.

The Truth About Cousin Ernie's Head by Matthew McElligott(1996)A colorful family's Thanksgiving arguments are ended by the viewing of an old home movie, which seems to leave no topics for further discussion.

Turk and Runt by Lisa Wheeler(2002)Runt the turkey is much smaller than his brother, but his intelligence keeps his family from becoming Thanksgiving Day dinner.

A Turkey for Thanksgiving by Eve Bunting(1991)Mr. and Mrs. Moose try to invite a turkey to their Thanksgiving feast.

Turkey Pox by Laurie Halse Anderson

Charity has chicken pox, there's a terrible snowstorm outside, and it looks like the Chatfields will have to spend Thanksgiving without Nana and her wonderful roast turkey, stuffing, and cranberries.

Turkey Surprise by Peggy Archer(2005)A turkey hides from two brothers looking for food for Thanksgiving Day, and they end up finding something better to eat.

Turkey Trouble by Wendi J. Silvano(2009)As Thanksgiving Day approaches, Turkey nervously makes a series of costumes, disguising himself as other farm animals in hopes that he can avoid being served as Thanksgiving dinner.

'Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving by Dav Pilkey(1990)School 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."

The Ugly Pumpkin by Dave Horowitz(2005)A lonely, oddly-shaped pumpkin is sad that no one chose him for Halloween, but by Thanksgiving he has discovered where he belongs.

The Very First Thanksgiving Day by Rhonda Gowler Greene(2002)Rhyming verses trace the events leading up to the first Thanksgiving Day.