Thanksgiving can be a challenge for teachers. Most want to ensure an even-handed, culturally sensitive approach. That’s why we’ve carefully chosen these Thanksgiving books for all grades and ages. They include selections by indigenous authors, a look at holiday traditions, and unique views on what it means to be thankful.
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Thanksgiving Books for Elementary School Students
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1. I Am Thankful by Sheri Wall
The sweet rhyming refrain reminds kids of all they have to be thankful for. “I am thankful. My heart grows. Love fills me from head to toes.” This will be one of the pre-K crowd’s favorite Thanksgiving books.
This Caldecott Honor book tells the story of Omu and her delectable stew. She shares it with the whole neighborhood, leaving none for herself. Fortunately, her neighbors return the favor and share in return.
4. Around the Table That Grandad Built by Melanie Heuiser Hill
A diverse group of family and friends gathers for a meal, and each person brings a contribution with special meaning. Though it’s not specifically about a Thanksgiving meal, this tale captures the spirit of the holiday.
This poetry collection explores what it means to be thankful. It’s not specifically a Thanksgiving book, but it’s perfect for this time of year. We love that it includes a wide variety of poetry styles.
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6. Giving Thanks: More Than 100 Ways To Say Thank You by Ellen Surrey
Kick off a conversation about gratitude with this ode to the many people, things, and experiences one boy is thankful for. This book includes directions for creating a gratitude jar and creative ideas for writing thank-you notes.
Each year, one group of family and friends treks into the woods to set up an outdoor Thanksgiving. This real-life story encourages kids to think about new ways to celebrate the holiday. It’s also a perfect holiday-themed mentor text for writing personal narratives.
Most students can relate to being a kid at a large family gathering, whether it’s Thanksgiving or not. If you can make it through the kissing, cheek-pinching “Hall of Aunts,” there is fun to be had!
America is made up of people from many cultures and traditions. While many of them celebrate Thanksgiving, they don’t all do it with turkey and pumpkin pie. This tale encourages kids to learn more about what Thanksgiving dinner looks like in households across the country.
Thanksgiving has ties to Harvest Home festivals, when people gave thanks for a bountiful harvest. This book captures that spirit, with catchy rhyming text and joyful illustrations that make it a great read-aloud.
11. Over the River and Through the Wood by L. Maria Child
Chances are this is one of those Thanksgiving books your students already know the words to! The lush and detailed illustrations make this version a lovely choice for story time.
Many people start Thanksgiving Day by watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. This fun book is rich in engaging images, telling the true story of Tony Sarg, puppeteer extraordinaire!
America harvests cranberries, pumpkins, and potatoes, but also so much more. This creatively illustrated collection of haiku about different crops includes accompanying informational facts for each.
Thanksgiving is a particularly great time to share books written by and about indigenous people. This reflection on the Cherokee tradition of gratitude is both fascinating and moving.
15. Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story by Kevin Noble Maillard
This story sparks relevant conversations about the relationships between food, family, tradition, and culture. A modern-day family prepares a food that’s steeped in Native American history.
16. Holidays Around the World: Celebrate Thanksgiving by Deborah Heiligman
National Geographic published this text that’s full of fascinating facts about Thanksgiving and its history. It highlights the connection to the National Day of Mourning and shows how families celebrate today.
17. Squanto’s Journey: The Story of the First Thanksgiving by Joseph Bruchac
If you want to be sure indigenous peoples’ stories are told well, choose books by indigenous authors. Bruchac, a member of the Abenaki tribe, delves into the story of Squanto, who features prominently in the story of the first Thanksgiving. The author tells the story from Squanto’s point of view, including his life before and after the arrival of the first Europeans.
18. Auntie Yang’s Great Soybean Picnic by Ginnie Lo
A family road trip, a big meal, a gaggle of aunts, uncles, and cousins—these are the elements of celebrations across many cultures. Learn about the birth of new traditions, even those that go against the norms of mainstream culture.
When a Jewish immigrant wins a turkey in a raffle at work, his family dreams of having an “American Thanksgiving” like all their neighbors. The prize doesn’t turn out as expected, so they create their own traditions instead.
20. 1621: A New Look at Thanksgiving by Catherine O’Neill Grace
National Geographic has published several Thanksgiving books, and this one is very popular for upper elementary and middle school. Check out the additional resources Plimoth Plantation offers for even more curriculum ideas.
21. The Boy Who Fell Off the Mayflower, or John Howland’s Good Fortune by P.J. Lynch
Not everyone aboard the Mayflower was a Pilgrim seeking religious freedom. John Howland boarded the ship as a teenage indentured servant. This tale brings the story of the first hard year at Plymouth to life.
22. Native American History for Kids by Karen Bush Gibson
November is Native American Heritage Month, so use this book as a starting point for exploration into their rich traditions and culture. It includes hands-on activities students will enjoy.
Moving to a country inn complicates Heath’s already difficult relationship with his alcoholic father. It also introduces him to a cast of unlikely new characters. The arrival of Thanksgiving gives Heath more to think about than ever before.
We’re often reminded that Pilgrims came to Plymouth as refugees seeking religious freedom. Thanksgiving is the ideal time to discover more refugee stories. Read about a German Jewish boy during World War II, a Cuban girl in 1994, and a Syrian boy in 2015.
25. Mayflower: Voyage, Community, War by Nathaniel Philbrick
This historical account of the Pilgrims’ arrival tells the good, bad, and ugly that followed. Painstakingly researched and told, this one goes far beyond questioning whether the first Thanksgiving meal actually included turkey.
If you’re using Thanksgiving as a springboard for conversations around the Native American experience, try this novel with your high school students. It follows 12 characters from native communities, making their way to the Big Oakland Powwow. Their stories are enlightening, heartbreaking, and sure to start a discussion in your classroom.
27. This Land Is Their Land: The Wampanoag Indians, Plymouth Colony, and the Troubled History of Thanksgiving by David J. Silverman
This “unsettling” history will challenge the way your students think about Thanksgiving, but that’s a good thing. They’ll develop a better understanding of the Wampanoag tribe and their lives before and after the arrival of the Mayflower.
Switch things up by reading this play aloud in class. It’s about a group of well-intentioned white teachers who want to put on a “woke” Thanksgiving pageant. Their own deep-seated prejudices cause unexpected problems. It’s funny and eye-opening all at the same time.
How do you approach this holiday in your classroom? What are your favorite Thanksgiving books to use? Come share on the WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook.
