The Best Thanksgiving Books for Kids of All Ages

Board books are great for little ones and this Llama Llama book helps children learn to recognize the details and the blessings in their lives. It also helps them to learn to be thankful for these things. Plus, the rhyming makes this book fun for both parents and kids to read!

Best for toddlers and preschoolers

We all can use a little reminder about the true meaning of Thanksgiving.  Thanksgiving is about giving thanks! It is in the name after all. The illustrations and simple text in this book are perfect for kids!

Best for toddlers and preschool

Okay, this isn't actually a Thanksgiving book, however, it is a lovely book about a family shopping, cooking, and eating a big dinner together. This book focuses on the family working together and counting ingredients.

Best for toddlers and preschool

Five Silly Turkey's is another excellent counting board book for Thanksgiving!

The charming illustrations and rhymes bring to life this heartwarming story about friendship and the value of each member of the community. Young children will enjoy participating in the giving of thanks as it repeats throughout the book.

Best for preschooler and early elementary

The Thankful Book is full of colorful illustrations that will encourage kids to practice thankfulness and to appreciate the little things in their lives. Our favorite thing about this book is that because it isn't specific to Thanksgiving, it is great option for kids to read year-round.

Best for preschool and early elementary

Thanksgiving has been going strong for hundreds of years!  Help your children to understand the history of Thanksgiving from Native Americans.

Best for preschool and early elementary

Not everyone eats turkey on Thanksgiving. This book helps kids understand that there is no right way to have a special Thanksgiving.

Best for preschool and early elementary

Rather than being about American Thanksgiving, this book focuses on the Cherokee word otsaliheliga, which is used to give thanks. The book follows a traditional Cherokee year, beginning in the fall. It's a great look at modern Native American life and the tribe's longstanding traditions of gratitude.

Best for preschool and early elementary

This book is a bit of a throwback that some parents may remember reading as kids, but its messages of not judging others by their appearance and practicing forgiveness are timeless and perfect for this time of year. As an added bonus, you'll find the cranberry bread recipe "hidden" in the book.

Best for preschool and early elementary

Do you know the story of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade balloons?  You will after you and the kids read this beautifully illustrated book. If you spend time watching the parade with your family on Thanksgiving, this is a great chance to learn all about it.

Best for early elementary

Set at the turn of the 20th century, and told in rhythmic verse with beautiful illustrations, this sweet story celebrates a traditional Thanksgiving.

Best for early elementary

A collection of poems written all about gratitude and thankfulness fills this book.  It's a great reminder for us all.

Best for all elementary grades

This is book #27 in the Magic Tree House Series, and while we recommend you read them ALL, they can easily be enjoyed out of order. Travel with siblings Jack and Annie back to the first Thanksgiving for an in-depth and exciting look at what life was really like for early settlers.

Best for grades 1-4

For young readers who want to learn even more, we suggest the non-fiction companion Thanksgiving on Thursday, the Magic Tree House Fact Tracker all about Pilgrims.

In order to learn the true history of Thanksgiving, we need to learn the true history of the Native American people that inhabited New England in the 1600s.  This book is a true story look at the culture and history of the Wampanoag people who the pilgrims likely encountered.

Best for grades 3-5

The "What Was/Who Was/Where Is" series is full of great books that provide kids with a wonderful introduction to non-fiction topics with just the right balance of illustrations, stories, and facts. In this book about the first Thanksgiving, the history of the feast really comes to life.

Best for grades 3-7