In addition to your favorite Thanksgiving picture books, try out some Thanksgiving chapter books this year. Here are a few that are great to read aloud and provide the kids an entertainment alternative to football on the big day.
All of these are early chapter books, appropriate for ages 5-10, depending on reading level. Most of them contain a lot of humor and all will get your kids talking about Thanksgiving traditions and ways of celebrating the holiday. I wasn’t able to find very many Thanksgiving chapter books with diverse characters, so if you have any to recommend, please leave a comment. I even included a joyous collection of Thanksgiving poetry. {Note: Book titles and covers are affiliate links.}
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Thanksgiving-themed Chapter Books for Kids
Zack and the Turkey Attack! by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor. Is this book about Thanksgiving? Not unless you think turkey = Thanksgiving. But it is lots of fun. When a turkey attacks Zack, he decides to build a contraption to keep the bird away from him. But his invention causes further complications and and lots of laughs.
The Hoboken Chicken Emergency by Daniel Pinkwater. T Arthur’s mom sends him out to find a turkey for Thanksgiving dinner. When no turkey are to be found, brings home a 200-lb live chicken. Hijinks ensue.Besides being a bit on the totally hilarious side, this is a story of loyalty and friendship.
Turkey Monster Thanksgiving by Anne Warren Smith. Katie lives with her single dad and younger brother. Usually they have pizza for Thanksgiving but this year Katie is determined to have a “real” Thanksgiving with a turkey, homemade decorations and a few guests.
Katie Woo Saves Thanksgiving by Fran Manushkin. This is a very easy to read chapter book series, suitable for independent reading for children ages 5 and up. First grader Katie comes to the rescue when it seems like Thanksgiving will be missing several important ingredients—and people!
Gooney Bird and the Room Mother. Newbery medal winner Lois Lowry’s Gooney Bird Greene wants to play Squanto in her second grade class play. This is a great early chapter book series to check out.
Amber Brown Is Feeling Blue by Paula Danziger. Amber needs to decide if she is going to spend Thanksgiving with her mom in Washington or her dad in New York City. Bonus: her new friend is named “Kelly Green.” How can you not love that?
Nate the Great Talks Turkey by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat. This is really an easy reader series so it’s a great short Thanksgiving for very early readers, or kids in kindergarten through third grade. Perennial favorite, Nate the Great is on the case of a giant turkey.
The Wishbone Wish by Megan McDonald. Stink and his older sister Judy each have their own chapter book series, as well as this series which features both siblings. In this installment, the pair are training to race in the annual Turkey Trot in order to win a large, juicy turkey for their holiday dinner.
Thanksgiving Poetry
It’s Thanksgiving! by Jack Prelutsky, illustrated by Marylin Hafner. I adore Prelutsky’s humorous poetry. This collecction is packaged as an easy reader. Read some aloud while you are making pie.
More autumn and Thanksgiving reading:
Multicultural Thanksgiving picture books
Favorite fall family read alouds
Picture books about gratitude (coming soon!)
mamasmilesblog says
Molly’s Pilgrim sounds amazing. I’ll be looking for some of your other recommendations, as well.
Even in Australia says
Along the lines of Molly’s Pilgrim I’d recommend Rifka’s First Thanksgiving and Hannah’s Way. THe latter is not explicitly a Thanksgiving book but is about an Orthodox Jewish girl in the midwest and how her classmates help her.
Mom and Kiddo says
I reviews Rivka over at Storied Cities, but I don’t think I’ve read Hannah’s Way. Thanks.
Natalie says
Dang, I forgot about Molly’s Pilgrim. I brought it over from the library earlier in the year and decided to bring it back before Thanksgiving. It’s a good book! Turkey Monster Thanksgiving sounds intriguing, I’ll be checking it out for the next year (if I don’t forget, that is)
Kim Vij (@EducatorsSpin) says
Erica you are such a rockstart with recommending books, I am so thankful for this! You’ve been featured on our After School Thanksgiving Roundup of Activities for School Aged Kids this week. This Chapter Book lists looks like so much fun for the kids to read and enjoy. Just want to tell you that we are so thankful for you and your blog! Happy Thanksgiving! http://theeducatorsspinonit.blogspot.com/2013/11/thanksgiving-activities-for-school-aged.html
Erica MomandKiddo says
Thank you, Kim. That means so much coming from an educator! I don’t have a teaching background, I just love books!