Best Thanksgiving Picture Books & Read Alouds for Christian Families
This post: simply a list of our favorite Thanksgiving picture books, chapter books, board books, etc.
Oddly enough (some might say), I celebrate everything with books. Got a problem, celebration, or event? Chances are, I’ve got a book for that.
That’s certainly true about the fall season and holidays like Thanksgiving. I just can’t think of a better way to engage with special days than to read stories + look at beautiful pictures.
Originally, I had a dozen Thanksgiving picture books to tell you about, but the list just keeps growing every year.
For this particular collection, I featured books with themes about gratitude, family traditions, and the historical significance of the pilgrims and Native Americans.
- BEAR SAYS THANK YOU
- THE STORY OF THANKSGIVING
- RICHARD SCARRY’S PLEASE AND THANK YOU BOOK
- GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD
- The Thanksgiving Story
- NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS
- THE BOY WHO FELL OFF THE MAYFLOWER
- VERY FIRST THANKSGIVING DAY
- SQUANTO’S JOURNEY
- Thanksgiving in the Woods
- SHARING THE BREAD: AN OLD-FASHIONED THANKSGIVING STORY
- OLD-FASHIONED THANKSGIVING
- THREE YOUNG PILGRIMS
- CRANBERRY THANKSGIVING
- I hope you enjoyed this list of Thanksgiving picture books.
- Your Turn
The books you'll see featured in my reading guides are ones we personally read + love. My children's book lists feature reads with whimsical, old-fashioned, or watercolor illustrations.
Hurry and grab a few of these titles from your local library, book store, or let the Amazon delivery man bring them to your door. *wink*
Thanks for clicking through the links on this post when you purchase from Amazon. xoxo
BEAR SAYS THANK YOU
My seven-year old son has adored this little board book ever since his preschool days. I’ve lost count of how many times we’ve sat down and read it to him (he can quote it!).
Bear Says Thank You is really just a simple celebration of creativity, love between a mama (bear) and baby (bear)… and old-fashioned manners.
THE STORY OF THANKSGIVING
Here’s another adorable board book for little ones.
The Story of Thanksgiving is an ideal introduction for toddlers and preschoolers to this significant season- one they can touch and enjoy as much as they like.
(Don’t you just love board books?)
RICHARD SCARRY’S PLEASE AND THANK YOU BOOK
I grew up enjoying the world of Richard Scarry, and this little “please and thank you” book is among my favorites.
My young kids always delighted in the antics of “Lowly Worm!” Another gentle book about manners, gratitude, and kindness.
GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD
Give Thanks To The Lord is a retelling of Psalm 92: It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O Most High.
I especially enjoy the warmly illustrated celebration of home and family life depicted in this book.
The Thanksgiving Story
Our family discovered this book (and several others in this list) when we were doing My Father’s World curriculum.
The Thanksgiving Story is a simple but beautifully illustrated paperback, perfect for a history read loud.
NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS
This inexpensive paperback is another great addition to your personal library- ideal for beefing up your history shelf or reading basket at Thanksgiving.
Check out North American Indians on Amazon.
THE BOY WHO FELL OFF THE MAYFLOWER
The Boy Who Fell Off the Mayflower is an adventure that your boys, especially, will enjoy.
The illustrations in this beautiful, hardback book are stunning.
VERY FIRST THANKSGIVING DAY
This charming picture book will delight your young school-age children!
This is the food, gathered and blessed,
the corn and sweet berries, and wild turkey dressed,
shared on the very first Thanksgiving Day.
SQUANTO’S JOURNEY
Squanto’s Journey is another book that retells and celebrates the roles of Native Americans in the Thanksgiving story.
Fabulously illustrated!
Thanksgiving in the Woods
Thanksgiving in the Woods is a new favorite for our family this year.
If you love traditions, nature, and simplicity- you’ll adore this book.
SHARING THE BREAD: AN OLD-FASHIONED THANKSGIVING STORY
Sharing the Bread is probably one of our best-loved picture books about Thanksgiving. Everything about this book is warm, engaging, and beautiful.
We will share the risen bread.
Our made-with-love Thanksgiving spread.
Grateful to be warm and fed. We will share the bread.
OLD-FASHIONED THANKSGIVING
If you’re a fan of Little Women, you need to get acquainted with this lesser-known story by Louisa May Alcott- Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving!
My girls and I enjoy watching the movie version of this story too.
THREE YOUNG PILGRIMS
Three Young Pilgrims is another beautiful addition to your history read aloud collection.
This book is engaging and richly illustrated.
CRANBERRY THANKSGIVING
This whimsical book by Wendy and Harry Devlin is one of my personal favorites. The characters are as endearing as the picturesque New England illustrations.
Reading Cranberry Thanksgiving is a yearly tradition at our house! I enjoyed this book so much that I purchased it’s companion, Cranberry Christmas.
I hope you enjoyed this list of Thanksgiving picture books.
Want to know what my biggest hope is?
That I’ve inspired you to create some space in your busy days for celebrating, cudding + reading with your kids.
Want more? Check out my reading guide, “50+ Cozy & Whimsical Autumn Books to Read to Your Kids.”
Your Turn
Do you love Thanksgiving picture books, too? Have a favorite to share?
Great read!! Thanks for sharing such a great blog, blog like these will surely help each and every homeschoolers in homeschooling children in best way.