A List of Amazing Thanksgiving Picture Books!

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Thanksgiving is such a wonderful time of the year. It is a time to give thanks and to show gratitude for all have blessed with. It is a national holiday with its origins tied to a 1621 harvest feast shared by Pilgrims and Wampanoag people. It is also a time to share wonderful food and spend time with family.

If you read aloud to your children or grandchildren reading seasonal books is such a fun way to help celebrate the season and/or holiday and to teach them the history and the meaning of each one. When my kids were growing up, I had a book basket in the living room and every season I would change the books out. I would have age-appropriate books int he basket for that time of their lives. I miss those days. I don’t have grandchildren yet but when I do, I will once again start this tradition.

I have put together a list so you and your children or grandchildren can enjoy them!

Amazing Thanksgiving Picture Books

Thankful by Eileen Spinelli

This book is written in poem form and is such a sweet reminder to young and old the many blessings of everyday life. It has rhyming text and I love that.

The Berenstain Bears Give Thanks by Jan Berenstain

Join the Berenstain Bears as they explore the first Thanksgiving! 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 Thanksgiving Blessings by Jan and Mike Berenstain

Join the Bear family as they celebrate the true meaning of Thanksgiving in The Berenstain Bears Thanksgiving Blessings. The cubs can’t wait for a big feast of turkey, pie, and all the trimmings—but Mama gently reminds them that there’s more to be thankful for than just the food. With Papa’s help, they learn about the generations of Bears who came before them and the blessings of faith, freedom, and family. This heartwarming story from the Living Lights™ series by Zonderkidz teaches children the importance of gratitude and how to share God’s goodness in everyday life.

Squanto’s Journey: The Story of the First Thanksgiving by Joseph Bruchac

We used this book in our homeschooling years. In 1620 an English ship called the Mayflower landed on the shores inhabited by the Pokanoket, and it was Squanto who welcomed the newcomers and taught them how to survive. When a good harvest was gathered, the people feasted together–a tradition that continues almost four hundred years later.

The Thanksgiving Story by Alice Dalgliesh

This was another one of our favorites while homeschooling. Giles, Constance and Damaris Hopkins are all passengers aboard the crowded Mayflower, journeying to the New World to start a new life. Things get a little more cramped when their baby brother Oceanus is born during the passage.

Thanksgiving at our House by P.K. Hallinan

Thanksgiving Day brings a flurry of activity to little P.K.’s house. His family and friends gather to watch parades, play football, and eat dinner — such fun that P.K. declares: From helping prepare the meal to counting blessings, children will identify with the familiar aspects of the holiday.

Squanto, Friend of the Pilgrims by Clyde Robert Bulla

Tells of the adventurous life of the Wampanoag Indian, Squanto.

Squanto tells everyone he meets, “I am going on the great ship across the sea.” “I wish you would not go,” his mother tells him. “It’s just for a little while,” says Squanto. “I will come back.” But before Squanto can return, many, many years go by…years full of adventure. And when Squanto does come back, his family is gone. His village has disappeared. New people have come…the Pilgrims.

The Thanksgiving Door by Debby Atwell

When Ed and Ann’s turkey dinner burns, they think their Thanksgiving is ruined. But what appears to be a disaster becomes a blessing in disguise when Ed and Ann unknowingly intrude on an immigrant family’s own Thanksgiving celebration at their new restaurant, The New World Café.

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Give Thanks to the Lord: Celebrating Psalm 92 by Karma Wilson

In this heartwarming story that references Psalm 92, award-winning children’s author Karma Wilson tells a story about the Thanksgiving holiday that hits just the right tone. Told from the point of view of one young member of an extended family, Give Thanks to the Lord celebrates all the joys of the autumn holiday, from the arrival of distant relatives to a cozy house filled with noisy good cheer to apple cider and the delicious smells of roasting turkey and baking pies.

Thanksgiving is for Giving Thanks by Margaret /Lamut Sutherland

This sweet picture book about being thankful is a great way to celebrate Thanksgiving with the youngest readers!

Thanksgiving is about pilgrims and history–and turkey, of course!–but most importantly, it’s a holiday all about everything that we are thankful for. Cheerful, colorful illustrations accompany the simple text in this celebration of family, friends, and the holiday that brings them all together.

Thanksgiving in the Woods by Phyllis Alsdurf

A true holiday classic, this cozy autumn story invites readers to join in an outdoor Thanksgiving feast, full of cheer and generosity of spirit

Every year a family and their friends gather in the woods to celebrate Thanksgiving among the trees. Everyone brings something to share and the day becomes a long celebration of family, faith, and friendship.

In November by Cynthia Rylant

Cynthia Rylant’s lyrical language and Jill Kastner’s rich, cozy paintings capture the cherished moments of this autumn month–the moments we spend together and the ones we witness in the world around us.

Little Critter: Just a little Thanksgiving by Mercer Mayer

In November, the air grows cold and the earth and all of its creatures prepare for winter. Animals seek food and shelter. And people gather together to celebrate their blessings with family and friends.
Cynthia Rylant’s lyrical language and Jill Kastner’s rich, cozy paintings capture the cherished moments of this autumn month–the moments we spend together and the ones we witness in the world around us.

How to Catch a Turkey by Adam Wallace

A turkey has escaped and is running wild through the school just before the big Thanksgiving play! Can you help catch it in time for the show to start? Join the students as they search every corner of the school, using clever ideas and creative traps in this funny, fast-paced story. With a surprise ending that keeps every turkey safe, this playful picture book mixes humor with STEAM-inspired fun—making it a great fall read or a perfect Thanksgiving gift for kids ages 4 and up.

God Gave Us Thankful Hearts by Lisa Tawn Bergren

Lil Pup isn’t too happy that hibernation season is almost here in the Great North Woods. Most of his friends will soon be settling in for the winter, leaving him all alone! But Mama gently reminds her curious little wolf that plenty of animals stay awake through the colder months—and that there’s still so much to enjoy right now. From leaping into piles of colorful leaves to munching on apple snacks, Lil Pup learns to appreciate the beauty and fun of autumn with the friends who remain.

Some Fun Additions

Gobble Gobble Mad Libs

Mad Libs is the world’s greatest word game and the perfect gift or activity for anyone who likes to laugh! Write in the missing words on each page to create your own hilariously funny stories all about Thanksgiving.

Gobble Gobble Mad Libs is on the NOUN at everyone’s Thanksgiving dinner! With 21 “fill-in-the-blank” stories about eating turkey, pilgrims, Thanksgiving traditions, and Black Friday shopping, it’s sure to keep everyone “gobble-gobbling” with laughter for hours. Play alone, in a group or at a huge parade! Mad Libs are a fun family activity recommended for ages 8 to NUMBER.

The Legend of Squanto (Radio Theater)by Paul McCusker

Discover the incredible story of one of American history’s least known, yet most compelling, figures as it unfolds in The Legend of Squanto. This Focus on the Family radio theatre drama is more than just a tale about an honest man who triumphed over tragedy. It is also a tribute to honor, integrity, and the God-given ability to look beyond the color of one’s skin . . . and into the heart.