Thanksgiving Picture Books: Funny to Historically Accurate

Turkey Trouble by Wendi Silvano

This is one of those funny Thanksgiving books! This is about a turkey trying out different disguises to avoid being the main course.

Fancy Nancy: Our Thanksgiving Banquet by Jane O’Connor

Love Fancy Nancy books! You can’t go wrong with these books. Something I love about Fancy Nancy books is how many new vocabulary words are introduced.

The Littlest Pilgrim by Brandi Dougherty

This is about a little pilgrim, but the things she can do even though she is small. This made me think of my youngest because she is smaller than the rest of the family, but always finding her own way to contribute.

Give Thanks for Each Day by Steve Metzger

I love that this book focuses on all of the things we have to be thankful for daily. We naturally think about gratitude more at this time of year, but this book is a good reminder to be grateful all the time.

This First Thanksgiving Day: A Counting Story by Laura Krauss Melmed

This book counts up to 12. It talks about different things that would have happened on the first Thanksgiving day.

I Know An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Pie by Alison Jackson

This story is very funny and is sure to get giggles out of your children. This is a fun Thanksgiving read.

The Pilgrims Thanksgiving from A to Z by Laura Crawford

This book is full of information about Thanksgiving. It isn’t just a picture book with “P is for Pilgrim”. It has the letter, what it stands for, then at least a full paragraph elaborating on the item.

So you could focus on the letters with your little ones (young toddlers, pretoddlers, and babies), but also go into much more historical detail with your older children (toddlers, preschoolers, and children). I really like this book.

How to Catch a Turkey by Adam Wallace

This is a New York Times Bestseller and part of a larger series. This is a fun book about a turkey loose in a school. The book includes STEAM concepts and will have kids laughing.

Thanksgiving Day by Anne Rockwell

This is about children recounting what they learned about Thanksgiving Day. It has good historical information while still being interesting. This is a good one even for preschoolers.

The Thanksgiving Story by Alice Dalgliesh

This is a story that follows people on the Mayflower all the way to the New World. They face hardship and are helped by the Native Americans.

Thanksgiving Mice! by Bethany Roberts

A group of mice put on a play about the first Thanksgiving. This is a book staring the favorite mice seen in many picture books.

The Thanksgiving Surprise by Peggy Archer

Two brothers go looking for a turkey to eat on Thanksgiving. They end up coming home with a giant pumpkin instead. This is a fun story.

I’m A Turkey by Jim Arnosky

This is a fun turkey book to read. I would get this from the library, but probably not buy it.

I Am Thankful: A Thanksgiving Book for Kids by Sheri Wall

It is fun to read the funny books–that is definitely needed! But one of my favorite things about Thanksgiving is the natural way we can focus on gratitude. This book focuses on that. It is a rhyming book, too!

A Plump and Perky Turkey by Teresa Bateman

This is one of our favorite turkey books, and it is really is worth it to own this one. This is almost the go-to turkey book in my mind.

Thank You, Thanksgiving by David Milgrim

This is a great book to talk about being thankful for the little things.

Turk and Runt: A Thanksgiving Comedy by Lisa Wheeler

Every child loves to laugh, and this book will get you laughing.

Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy’s Parade by Melissa Sweet

If you are a lover of the Macey’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, you will love sharing this book with your child. This is a fun book that gives the backstory to the giant balloons in the parade. It is also an inspiring story of an imaginative inventor and is very inspiring!

The First Thanksgiving by Linda Hayward

This is a historically accurate Thanksgiving book that will teach your little one lots of facts.

The Pilgrim’s First Thanksgiving by Ann McGovern

This is another book with lots of facts in it.

The Very First Thanksgiving Day by Rhonda Gowler Greene

Yet another historically accurate book with lots of facts.

The Night Before Thanksgiving by Natasha Wing

This is a fun spoof off of the famous Christmas tale. This talks about all of the prep that goes into Thanksgiving. It has funny moments and good moments of reflection.

10 Fat Turkeys by Tony Johnston

This is a counting down book with turkeys on a fence doing all sorts of funny things. A good book to make your kiddo giggle.

Pete the Cat: The First Thanksgiving by James Dean

Pete the Cat is a favorite character, and it is always fun to find holiday books that star your child’s favorite character.

The Story of the Pilgrims by Katharine Ross

This is another historically accurate book. This covers crossing the Atlantic through the pilgrims’ first year.

Bear Says Thanks by Karma Wilson

Bear is another one of those favorite characters. These books are always sweet with good messages and morals to the story.

Gobble Gobble Mr. Wobble by Becky Cummings

This is a funny book about the turkey who was so excited that the farmer would be “having him for dinner.” It is fun to have a variety of book types in your collection and it is good to include funny Thanksgiving picture books.

Thanksgiving in the Woods by Phyllis Alsdurf

This book is based on the true story of a family who hosts Thanksgiving in the woods each year in Upstate New York.

There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Turkey! by Lucille Colandro

This is another hilarious “there was an old lady who…” books for Thanksgiving season. These are always funny books that leave kids giggling.

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving (Peanuts) by Daphne Pendergrass and Charles M. Schulz

For many people, Thanksgiving just isn’t Thanksgiving without some Charlie Brown. This is the same as the show.