With Thanksgiving around the corner, I thought it would be fun to share a round-up of Thanksgiving children's books. Pick-up a few and transform your family storytime to one about turkeys, harvest and gratitude!
The Best of Thanksgiving Children's Books:
Little Critter: Just a Special Thanksgiving
Pete the Cat: The First Thanksgiving
The Berenstain Bears Give Thanks
The Berenstain Bears Thanksgiving Blessings
Thanksgiving Is for Giving Thanks
Pinkalicious: Thanksgiving Helper
The Pilgrims' First Thanksgiving
Squanto's Journey: The Story of the First Thanksgiving
‘Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving
One Little, Two Little, Three Little Pilgrims
Fancy Nancy: Our Thanksgiving Banquet
The Berenstain Bears: Thanksgiving All Around
Scooby-Doo and the Thanksgiving Terror
Katie Saves Thanksgiving (Katie Woo)
What are your favorite Thanksgiving children's books?
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Hey Jessica,
I want to preface this by saying I love you, and your blog, so please take this comment in that vein! I have not read all of the books listed above, but in this case I am going to judge a few of them “by their covers”, and get on my soapbox for a moment. I love Thanksgiving, it is a time that my family always makes an effort to get together and celebrate the bounty of blessings we have received during the year. However, because of my heritage and background, I am also incredibly sensitive to the “truth” of the “first Thanksgiving” and the treatment of indigenous populations in the US, both past and present. Because of this I would love to take a moment and urge both you and your readers to be thoughtful about the ways in which Native Americans are portrayed in literature read both at home and school, and in the activities surrounding this holiday. And to use this time as a springboard to meaningful, age appropriate discussion. I’m linking to a couple of resources, but their are a ton out there! So yes, celebrate, eat, be thankful, but perhaps also take a moment to reflect on the complexity of our nation’s past as well. For discussion: http://offbeathome.com/2011/11/lets-use-thanksgiving-to-talk-about-native-american-history-with-our-children and for additional reading resources: http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2013/11/19/beyond-so-called-first-thanksgiving-5-childrens-books-set-record-straight-152337?fb_action_ids=10152079447222146&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_source=other_multiline&action_object_map=%5B429012343892896%255
And also, please forgive that atrocious misuse of “their” vs “there”! Yikes!
I posted on this just recently, too! You should check out Balloons Over Broadway (about the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade) and Thank You, Sarah. Both are excellent Thanksgiving books for kids!
Fun, I definitely will!
What a sweet collection of books – I hope you’re enjoying your preparations for the season!