These Thanksgiving books are amazing and a great way to spend time with your family retelling the Thanksgiving story in traditional and new ways. These stories for Thanksgiving are our favorite Thanksgiving books for kids that will teach them about the first Thanksgiving and beyond…

text: books about Thanksgiving - collage of Thanksgiving books for kids covers including the Night before Thanksgiving, Turkey trouble, 10 fat turkeys and more books for kids - Kids Activities Blog
Let’s read a Thanksgiving story!

Thanksgiving Story

The Thanksgiving story is such an important part of Thanksgiving. This list of great Thanksgiving books will keep your kids involved in the history of Thanksgiving.

Related: Fun Thanksgiving coloring pages

Kids Activities Blog loves reading with children…especially if it is part of the holiday celebration. Our kids love to read stories and I love helping them learn about one of my favorite holidays.

Best Thanksgiving Books for Kids

From history to silliness, all these Thanksgiving books are amazing fun! One of the character-traits that I especially want to cultivate in my children is a sense of contentment in what we have been given and gratitude for the little things around us.

Hopefully, these books can help your children be more thankful while educating them in the history of Thanksgiving and Thanksgiving traditions.

Favorite Thanksgiving Story Books

So without further adieu, these are our favorite Thanksgiving books for kids!

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Book cover of Natasha Wing's The Night before Thanksgiving with a family making Thanksgiving dinner prep in the kitchen
Let’s read a Thanksgiving Story!

1. The Night Before Thanksgiving by Natasha Wing

One of our family’s favorite things to do each Thanksgiving is to bake a bunch of different pies. That is why we love The Night Before Thanksgiving!

It is fun to read a book that has cute illustrations and mentions so many of the Thanksgiving traditions, from baking pies to watching the parades,   and of course lots of family feasting.

Book cover - The Littlest Pilgrim - Kids Activities Blog - little child drawing peeking through the fall hay
A pilgrim story is perfect for Thanksgiving!

2. The Littlest Pilgrim, by Brandi Dougherty   

I am sure my youngest children can relate with this story, The Littlest Pilgrim. They often want to “help” in the preparation of our Thanksgiving festivities – and too often they get in the way or make a mess.  

This is a cute book about a girl who has similar struggles and learns to have a friend through the process.

book cover: Turkey Trouble by Wendi Silvano - Kids Activities Blog - turkey looking shocked sitting on Thanksgiving dinner table all trimmed
Uh oh, this Thanksgiving book might have a frightening ending!

3. Turkey Trouble, by Wendy Silvano

Ever think about Thanksgiving from the perspective of a turkey? This book, Turkey Trouble, is super silly. It had my kids giggling as the turkey dresses up to avoid being “caught”.

It’s illustrated by one of my favorites, Lee Harper. We like his other book, Emperor’s Cool Clothes.

book cover: 10 Fat Turkeys by Tony Johnston - Scholastic - Kids Activities Blog - turkey flying over other turkeys
A Turkey Tale is the best Thanksgiving read!

4. 10 Fat Turkey’s, by Tony Johnson

This is a rendition of the 10 Little Indians, only it’s Turkeys, sitting on a fence. One thing I love about 10 Fat Turkeys is that it helps early readers with repetitive words and rhyming.

This is one of the more fun picture books that is simple to read that will keep young children entertained with 10 silly turkeys. What a perfect way to instill laughter into this national holiday.

book cover: Mary Pope Osborne Magic Tree House #27 Thanksgiving on Thursday - Kids Activities Blog - pilgrim children holding harvest baskets
This Magic Tree House book is a great Thanksgiving book for kids.

5. Thanksgiving on Thursday, by Mary Pope Osborne

We have several dozen of the Magic Tree House series of books. They are great for kids who are just starting chapter books.

Thanksgiving on Thursday follows Jack and Annie as they travel back and relive the first Thanksgiving.

Learn about the story of the first Thanksgiving as Jack and Annie prepare for Thanksgiving dinner with their new found friends.

This is not only a story of the pilgrims, but the First Natives that were here too enjoying pumpkin pie, a little turkey, other different platters of delicious food, and friendship.

book cover: Cranberry Thanksgiving Wende and Harry Devlin - Kids Activities Blog - on the prairie with small sod house
Oh the fun we will read about on Thanksgiving.

6. Cranberry Thanksgiving, by Wende Devlin

This is a re-release of a classic story of a Grandma and her granddaughter.

Each Thanksgiving they invite someone who is lonely and/or poor over to share dinner with them.

This year Grandma almost loses her secret recipe for Cranberry bread, hence the name Cranberry Thanksgiving.

Thanks for Thanksgiving book cover by July Markes - Kids Activities Blog - cover shows kids playing in the fall with their dog
Let’s read the book, Thanks for Thanksgiving!

7. Thanks for Thanksgiving, by Julie Markes 

Being thankful for the little things is a great trait to have. Thanks For Thanksgiving focuses on all the blessing that we have.

The pictures are great for opening discussions of the things your child is thankful for, and there are blank pages so you and your child can list the things you are thankful for.

This could be a cute tradition, to add more items you are grateful for to the book each year.

book cover: The First Thanksgiving by Anne Kamma - Scholastic - Kids Activities Blog - the first Thanksgiving pictured at the table

8. If You Were at the First Thanksgiving, by Anne Kamma

Are your kids past storybooks but not quite ready for chapter books? If You Were At The First Thanksgiving is a great resource non-fiction book for your shelves.

It is part history book, part pretend-inspiration for a dramatic child.

The book asks what your life would be like if you lives in the era of the first Thanksgiving feast.

book cover: There was an old lady who swallowed a turkey - Kids Activities Blog
What did she swallow?

9. There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Turkey By Lucille Colandro

Who doesn’t love the series about the little old lady who swallows things.

There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Turkey is Thanksgiving themed and a ton of fun. Read it, sing it, it’s a great way to keep kids entertained this Thanksgiving.

book cover - Balloons over Broadway which shows the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
Let’s read about the Macy’s Thanksgiving parade!

10. Balloons over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy’s Parade By Melissa Sweet

Who doesn’t love the Macy’s parade during Thanksgiving? Now you can learn the True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy Parade!

The Macy’s Thanksgiving day parade was my favorite as a little girl, and so this had to be included in the list of Thanksgiving books for kids!

book cover: Llama Llama gives thanks by Anna Dewdney
Yay for Thanksgiving!

11. Llama Llama Gives Thanks By Anna Dewdney

If you haven’t checked out a Llama Llama book you’re missing out. There is a Llama Llama book for every holiday season.

And Thanksgiving is no different.

This sweet story is about Llama Llama being thankful and is so much fun for young readers. This is one of my little one’s favorite board books.

book cover: Little Critter: Just a Special Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving book party!

12. Little Critter: Just A Special Thanksgiving By Mercer Mayer

Who doesn’t remember Little Critter?! Little Critter used to be among my favorite books and they have the perfect book for this time of year!

Learn about Thanksgiving and being thankful with this book!

More Thanksgiving Fun from Kids Activities Blog

What was your favorite Thanksgiving book for kids? Did we miss something you traditionally read as a family each year?



Welcome to Kids Activities!

My name is Holly Homer & I am the Dallas mom of three boys…

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8 Comments

  1. I now know giving up smoking is almost impossible. I started tobacco while I was really young. It absolutely was the worst wrong move Ive made. Right now 20 years later and I have emphysema. I experimented with a pile of the quit smoking methods however not one thing helped me. My last hope is a electric cigarettes in the end.

  2. I don’t think I’ve even read any of these books myself … we’ll be hitting the library!

  3. Thanks for reminding me! I’ve been meaning to research best books for teaching my 3 year old about thanksgiving, now I don’t have to with this list! Thankyou 🙂