The happy-pilgrims-and-Indians narrative common in preschool Thanksgiving books really bothers me, for a lot of reasons—here’s a start on some of them. I don’t want to hand this myth down to my kids. But if you celebrate Thanksgiving, books about the people we love, the bounty in our lives, and our gratitude for what’s going right are a joy to share with children. Here are some board books that might suit the occasion… (updated 11/22/2019)
Feast for 10 (Amazon | Indiebound) is a counting book about making dinner with five kids, parents, and grandparents, starting at the grocery store and with everyone involved in the process.
Thanks for Thanksgiving ( Amazon | Indiebound) Goes through a series of things small children may be thankful for, including fall, school, and family, with a blustery outside setting and cozy, chaotic interiors.
The Thankful Book (Amazon | Indiebound) Todd Parr’s books are energetic and kind and enthusiastic and funny and real, and listing the things kids can be thankful for makes a fun read.
Thankful (Amazon | Indiebound) This picture-book conversion has an almost proverb-like quality to it: “The doctor is thankful when patients get well. The traveler, for a cozy hotel.” The perspectives of a number of people are acted out in pretend play by a white brother and sister (aged maybe 4-6).
Ten Fat Turkeys (Amazon | Indiebound) Might want to watch out for fatphobia here, I have not seen the whole text and can’t vouch for it. The rhyming countdown has a “gobble gobble wibble wobble” refrain and some very silly antics from turkeys dressed in everything from roller skates to a tailcoat.
This Little Turkey (Amazon | Indiebound) Follows the theme of “This little piggy,” but with Thanksgiving meal prep tasks; has an appealing sort of midcentury vibe to the illustrations.
Five Silly Turkeys (Amazon | Indiebound) This is a shaped, sparkly, crinkly riff off “Five little monkeys” and just silly fun.
Ladybug Girl Gives Thanks (Amazon | Indiebound) Superhero Ladybug Girl is grateful for her dog, her friends, trees, books. Simple and straightforward, part of a series.
Want more? The Twelve Days of Thanksgiving isn’t a board book (yet?) but I really like the fun, diverse family that the illustrations depict, and the text is amenable to the littlest readers—”twelve cousins giggling, eleven hot pies cooling, ten uncles baking,” etc.
Better yet, here’s an amazing roundup of #ownvoices picture books by Native authors!