Preschool Storytime: Thanksgiving Books for Children

Take time to read a variety of books with your students during your preschool storytime. Books can help children to learn about their world, visit new places, and practice skills needed for future learning.

This article will discuss the different kinds of books you can be reading with your group and suggested titles for Thanksgiving.

Traditional Children's Books

Think about fairy tales, folk tales, fables, myths, and legends from around the world and across the ages of time. Through these beloved stories, children become familiar with many different times, cultures, and traditions. Here are some Thanksgiving favorites.

A Turkey for Thanksgiving by Eve Bunting [Sandpiper]

Cranberry Thanksgiving by Harry Devlin

Thanksgiving at the Tappletons' by Eileen Spinelli [HarperColins]

Over the River and Through the Woods by John Steven Gurney [Cartwheel]

My First Thanksgiving by Tomie dePaola [Putnam]

Concept Books

These books teach skills, such as counting, colors, and shapes. They may teach about things big and little or opposites like in and out. Many themes are taught in books where children can experience the farm, learn about animals, transportation, food, families, and feelings.

Thanksgiving Day by Gail Gibbons [Holiday House]

The Story of the Pilgrims by Katharine Ross [Random House]

10 Fat Turkeys by Tony Johnston [Cartwheel]

Repetition and Pattern Story Books

Books with a 'catchy' phrase that is repeated become favorites with young children. They will pick-up the pattern and may be able to "read along." This lets them experience the joys of reading.

I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Pie by Alison Jackson [Puffin]

Rhyming Books

These books often include rhymes and repeated verses, which is why they are easy to remember and recite. These are especially appealing to young children.

'Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving by Dav Pilkey [Scholastic]

Turkeys Never Gobble by Joan Holub [HarperFestival]

Books About Different Cultures

These books have characters and situations both similar and different to those in the children's lives so they can learn about the world.

Gracias, the Thanksgiving Turkey by Joy Cowley [Scholastic]

How Many Days to America? A Thanksgiving Story by Eve Bunting [Sandpiper]

Thanksgiving at Obaachan's by Janet Mitsui Brown [Polychrome]

Squanto and the Miracle of Thanksgiving by Eric Metaxas [Thomas Nelson]

Books and stories open the world of learning to children. Enjoy preschool storytime daily with your group and this month concentrate on Thanksgiving with an assortment of holiday titles.

Read more Preschool Storytime articles:
From Head to Toe by Eric Carle
Frederick by Leo Lionni
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown

Book selections should be available from your local library, favorite bookstore, and on Amazon.com.