Winning Kids: Thanksgiving Picture Books

Family Read Aloud:
My Top 5 Favorite Thanksgiving Picture Books

by Shannon

Here is a great read aloud list for Thanksgiving. We have some favorites we check out every year around this time. I thought for November's Read Aloud I would share them with you, hopefully soon enough for you to check some out from your local library.


Saying Grace: A Prayer of Thanksgiving by Virginia Kroll; illustrated by Timothy Ladwig

Grace is worried about the coming winter, but happily it proves to be mild, and the next fall when Thanksgiving is celebrated, she starts a tradition of giving blessings to God before the meal. Includes author's note about the history of saying grace and suggested activities.

Mary's First Thanksgiving: An Inspirational Story of Gratefulness by Kathy-Jo Wargin; illustrated by Robert Papp

Papp's endearing paintings complement Wargin's beautifully told story of how a modern Pilgrim girl and her family make the difficult transition from their home in Ireland to America. Through the story of the first Thanksgiving, she recognizes her blessings

The Thanksgiving Bowl by Virginia Kroll; illustrated by Philomena O'Neill

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.

Give Thanks to the Lord: Celebrating Psalm 92 by Karma Wilson ; illustrated by Amy Bates

Give Thanks to the Lord celebrates Joy of all kinds, from the arrival of distant relatives to a cozy house already filled with merriment, to apple cider and the delicious smells of roasting turkey and baking pies.

Off to Plymouth Rock! by Dandi Daley Mackall; illustrations by Gene Barretta

Told with the whimsical verse of Dandi Mackall, children will love to hear the story of the Pilgrims' voyage and the Native Americans' guidance that culminated in the first Thanksgiving. Gene Barretta's warm, harvest tones and lively characters add the perfect touch to this story of discovery, compassion, and faith.

BONUS:  Two older kids books that are great for Thanksgiving time:

A Journey to the New World by Kathyrn Lasky

Twelve-year-old Remember Patience Whipple ("Mem" for short) has just arrived in the New World with her parents after a grueling 65-day journey on the Mayflower. Mem has an irrepressible spirit, and leaps headfirst into life in her new home. Despite harsh conditions, Mem is fearless. She helps to care for the sick and wants more than anything to meet and befriend a Native American. Her wish comes true when she meets Squanto, who helps Mem and her family face a year of trial, tragedy, and thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving on Thursday by Mary Pope Osborne; illustrated by Sal Murdocca

The Magic Tree House whisks Jack and Annie back to the eve of the first Thanksgiving. There they meet the Pilgrims as well as Squanto, a Native American who helped them. The story offers an age-appropriate, in-depth picture of what life was really like for early settlers, as well as the usual Magic Tree House adventure and excitement.

And a great research companion to go with the Magic Tree House book:

Pilgrims: A Nonfiction Companion to Thanksgiving on Thursday by Mary Pope Osborne and Natalie Pope Boyce; illustrated by Sal Murdocca.

What was it like to be a passenger on the Mayflower? How many people survived the first harsh winter in the New World? How did Pilgrim children spend their days? Find out the answers to these questions and more in this Magic Tree House Research Guide: Pilgrims. Includes fun facts from Jack and Annie, fantastic photos and illustrations, and a guide to doing further research.

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~Shannon, aka Gidget and Froggi's Mom, blogs over at Welcome To Our Wonderland, where you'll find lots of book-related activities and book reviews.

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