My mother is a teacher, so in my house there have always been plenty of Thanksgiving pictures books to go around. I love coming home from a semester at school and cracking them open and reading all the silly Thanksgiving stories that remind me of my childhood. Each book shares the same end lesson for children; Be grateful for what you have and enjoy the time you share with your family. Although this may be redundant each book is unique and each story is special. Each story can represent how each of our Thanksgivings are different but it's still special for everyone no matter how crazy their tradition is. I love being able to spend my Thanksgiving with my immediate and extended family, others prefer to go out to dinner or to only spend it with their friends. Just remember how special it is to have the company you have as well as the feast you prepare.
1. 'Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving by Dav Pilkey.
This is by far my favorite Thanksgiving book. These children go to a turkey farm with their class the day before Thanksgiving. They soon realize these turkeys will not make it passed Thanksgiving so they decide on a plan to help those turkeys. It is all to the rhyme of '"Twas the Night Before Christmas."
2. Thanksgiving at the Tappletons' by Eileen Spinelli.
This is another more silly book. If you think anything can go wrong on Thanksgiving it probably did to the Tappletons! A turkey sliding across the ice, no more pies at the bakery, but at the end of it all they still realize how it is more important to be with your family and the food is secondary.
3. A Turkey for Thanksgiving by Eve Bunting.
This is a beautifully illustrated book; Again, about helping out a turkey. In this book all the forest animals are invited to a Thanksgiving dinner, but when Turkey does not show some of the animals go looking for him. When they find him shaking they reassure Turkey that he was invited to join them at the table not be on the table.
4. Cranberry Thanksgiving by Wende and Harry Devlín.
Cranberry Thanksgiving is a classic Thanksgiving book that most kids probably have read along with their parents. This book is about a grandmother that allows her granddaughter (Maggie) to bring a guest to Thanksgiving. The grandmother would prefer that Maggie bring a poor or lonely person, but Maggie decides to bring a man who the grandmother thinks is a threat. The book also comes along with the secret recipe for the grandmother's cranberry bread!
5. The Thanksgiving Story by Alice Dalgliesh.
The Thanksgiving Story is another classic along with Cranberry Thanksgiving. This is a great depiction of the First Thanksgiving as well as making it enjoyable for children. It is nice to learn about our nation's history in a fun way.
6. A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving by Charles Schulz.
Is it really a holiday if there isn't Charlie Brown somewhere? I do not believe so. This is my final book choice since you at least have to watch the Charlie Brown Thanksgiving special. My favorite part of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is seeing the Peanuts balloon! No matter what character or how old I get I am still excited for that moment as well as reading this book.
All these are amazing books, and there are plenty left off this list. I hope these help remind you what to be thankful for. I am always thankful for the small stuff like these children's books, they remind me of a simpler time in my life as well as just bringing that child-like wonder back into this world that is in need of that!
