Thanksgiving Books For Kids

Happy November — the month that reminds us to be thankful for our many blessings in life. Having a grateful heart is key to living a happy and healthy life, not just in November, but throughout each and every year. Each of the suggestions for Thanksgiving books has themes that offer unique opportunities to pause and reflect on things that are important and really matter, a nice reminder for us all.

Thanksgiving Books For Preschoolers

Thanks from The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle (board book)

From the well-loved author of The Very Hungry Caterpillar, this new title is sure to be a household favorite. The beautiful illustrations and sparse text clearly conveys things we should all be thankful for, not just at Thanksgiving, but every day.

Five Little Thank-Yous by Cindy Jin and illustrated by Dawn Cardona

Preschoolers will love this hand-shaped book, and parents will love sharing the simple message of being thankful with their children. The five “thank you” messages are easily understood and can be catalysts for additional conversations about being grateful.

Happy Thanksgiving, Curious George by H. A. Rey

Curious George loves Thanksgiving, and is excited to experience all this day brings. Short poems in this tabbed-page board book document Curious George’s eventful day. Beginning with a wonderful parade replete with music, jugglers, and big balloons, and followed by enjoying a scrumptious meal with all the trimmings, young fans will enjoy following this lovable monkey as travels through his day in traditional Curious George fashion highlighted by his fun-loving antics.

Thanksgiving Books For Elementary Age

Earth: My First 4.54 Billion Years by Stacy McAnulty and illustrated by David Litchfield

Learn about Earth from the very beginning of her life in Triad author Stacy McAnulty’s charming, new book. In the story, Earth tells the story of her life from childhood 4.5 billion years ago to the present day. McAnulty shares important facts along with plenty of humor alongside beautiful illustrations, a perfect combination to encourage young readers to have fun while learning about our incredible planet.

Thanks for Thanksgiving by Julie Markes and illustrated by Doris Barrette

This wonderful picture book is the perfect vehicle to introduce the concept of gratitude to children. Warm illustrations and text depicts many things for which we should all be thankful, from the smallest of things to the largest. This “feel good” story is sure to hold a long-standing place on your children’s bookshelf.

The Mermaid by Jan Brett

The Mermaid is Jan Brett’s newest release and will surely become a classic. Brett’s trademark illustrative style coupled with her brilliant use of words makes for a lovely retelling of Goldilocks and The Three Bears from a mermaid’s perspective. The modern, “under the sea” version of this fairytale will delight young readers and adults alike. As with all of her books, readers will love the additional layer of storytelling nestled along the page borders throughout.

The World According to Humphrey — Betty G. Birney

Readers will fall in love with Humphrey after reading the first few pages of this book. This lovable hamster is the classroom pet in Room 26 and gets to visit a different student’s home every weekend. He has loads of friends and is probably the smartest hamster ever. He learns to read and write and exhibits other surprising skills when they are needed. This is the first in a fantastic series that young readers will enjoy reading again and again. Humphrey books are perfect read-aloud books for home or the classroom.

The Very Fairy Princess: Attitude of Gratitude by Julie Andrews & Emma Walton Hamilton

Young Gerry is looking forward to this day at school — it is Gratitude Day! On this day, everyone in school is encouraged to express their gratitude and kindness to others. Gerry is prepared with a vast supply of compliments to share with friends, a contribution to the food drive, and a donation of one of her paintings to the class art gallery. However, she discovers the real challenge to being grateful comes when times get tough… can she maintain an attitude of gratitude when things don’t go well? Mother-daughter duo, Julie Andrews and Emma Walton Hamilton have written a delightful story that illustrates what gratitude looks like for children, and how they can maintain that attitude even during challenging times.

Thanksgiving Books For Middle School

The War That Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

Set during WWII, 10-year-old Ada is kept inside her one-bedroom apartment by her mother because she is ashamed that her daughter has a twisted foot. When her brother leaves for London to escape the war, Ada decides to follow him and the two begin life anew away from their mother. Susan Smith ends up taking the children under her wing and develops a strong affinity for them. Ada learns many new things in this free state of life and begins to develop a trust in Susan. This is a story of surviving the odds and emerging triumphant. This title was awarded the prestigious Newberry Honor Book award in 2016.

Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage

This Newberry Honor Book features Moses LoBeau, called Mo for short, from the small town of Tupelo Landing, NC. She was named Moses after she washed ashore in a hurricane and brought home to live with the Colonel and Miss Lana. Mo and her best friend, Dale Earnhardt Johnson III, known as Dale, are driven to find answers about a mysterious murder in their town and save the only family Mo has ever known. This book has received multiple-starred reviews and is part of a popular series.

Because of Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea

This skillfully crafted story features 7 narrators, all students in Mr. Terupt’s 5th-grade class. Mr. Terupt is a new and insightful teacher who truly understands the children and what makes them “tick.” From the class bully to the class brain, each student offers a different perspective on their teacher and what makes him special. However, all changes one day after an unfortunate accident. This book offers a powerful message of forgiveness and lots of food for thought.

Thanksgiving Books For High Schoolers

A Dog’s Journey by Bruce Cameron

This book is the sequel to Cameron’s A Dog’s Purpose and is equally as entertaining and thought-provoking. The story features Buddy, the dog that searches for his purpose through several lifetimes full of fun and adventure. However, when he meets baby Clarity, he decides she needs a dog. Buddy’s next lifetime finds him adopted by the now-teenager Clarity. However, she is living a troubled life, and the two end up separated, leaving Buddy to worry about who will take care of the girl. As with A Dog’s Purpose, this book has a heart-felt storyline of love and loyalty that begs the question of whether pets take care of humans or the other way around. Buddy would bet on the former.

The Traitor’s Kiss by Erin Beaty

In the first in this fantasy trilogy, an apprentice to a matchmaker takes on the role of an army spy only to become mixed up in a romance with a soldier. The imaginary kingdom features war, spies, politics, espionage, and a heroine whom readers will love. Kirkus Reviews calls it a “complex characterization, deftly layered adventure story, and [a] balanced blend of political maneuvering, romantic interludes, and action scenes.”

The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch

How would you live your life if you knew it was going to end soon? What would you want your legacy to be? These are questions Randy Pausch pondered after being diagnosed with terminal, pancreatic cancer in September 2006. One of the things Pausch did was give a lecture to his class at Carnegie Mellon University called “The Last Lecture: Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams” on September 18, 2007. The video of his lecture was widely viewed online, and media appearances and a book by the same name soon followed. This book is a summation of all that he believed in and offers encouragement for all to live fully and embrace each moment of life. It truly is a “must-read” book.

Gratitude Books For Adults

A Man Called Ove, by Fredrik Backman

Beneath tough exteriors are often stories of sadness and pain. This is the case in A Man Called Ove. Ove is a grouchy man with a quick temper and a need for strict routines. When a young couple with two young daughters move in next door to him and then destroys his mailbox, the prospect of all involved finding friendship seems far removed. However, that is exactly what happens, albeit with funny and heartwarming steps along the way. This book is a perfect reminder for us to be thankful for our blessings and to always remember not to judge a book by its cover, which in this case, is Ove.

Rules of Civility by Amor Towles

From the author of A Gentleman in Moscow, this highly acclaimed novel is a reader’s favorite. In this story, Katey Kontent meets Tinker Grey, a handsome banker, in a Greenwich Village jazz bar one evening in 1937. This chance encounter catapults Katey into a life in New York’s high society where she has to trust her instincts and call on her calm reserve. Lovable characters, powerful imagery and thought-provoking themes help shape this well-loved book.

The Gratitude Diaries: How a Year Looking on the Bright Side Can Change Transform Your Life by Janice Kaplan

Journalist Janice Kaplan made a decision one New Year’s Eve that changed her life. She made a decision to be grateful and find the positive in every situation she faced. For the twelve months that followed, Kaplan discovered that her attitude and perspective on things made more of an impact in her life than the actual events she experienced. In fact, she realized that the simple act of being grateful transformed every aspect of her life. She documented her personal experiences and research she conducted on the subject in this book, which encourages readers to shift their attitude paradigm to one of gratitude and embrace the possibility of living a better life.

By Guest Blogger Ellen Lloyd

Ellen Bryant Lloyd is the author of FRECKLES and FRECKLES and The Great Beach Rescue. Please visit www.funwithfreckles.com and www.facebook.com/funwithfreckles to learn more about Freckles. Ellen writes a blog about her perspectives on life and parenting at www.mindfulmom.wordpress.com and tweets at @EllenBLloyd. She lives in Greensboro with her husband and two children.

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