Kids Books and Activities for Thanksgiving

As you plan your Thanksgiving lesson plans and activities at home, here are a few Kids Books and Activities for Thanksgiving that will delight young readers. These books encourage celebrating a historically accurate holiday, teaching global harvest traditions from around the world, and getting us into turkey trouble!

• Kids Books and Activities for Thanksgiving •

HARVEST DAYS

Explore harvest festivals from around the globe! Lyrical, rhyming text and lush, detailed artwork from Italian artist Martina Peluso immerse young readers in some of the most ancient traditions in the world. Nine pages of rich, educational endnotes dive deep with more information about the 12 cultures explored in the book and invite young readers to ask questions about food and the labor that produces it.

HARVEST DAYS Written by Kate DePalma
Illustrated by Martina Peluso
Published by Barefoot Books

KEEPUNUMUK:

Weeâchumun’s Thanksgiving Story

In this Wampanoag story told in a Native tradition, two kids from the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe learn the story of Weeâchumun (corn) and the first Thanksgiving.
The Thanksgiving story that most Americans know celebrates the Pilgrims. But without members of the Wampanoag tribe who already lived on the land where the Pilgrims settled, the Pilgrims would never have made it through their first winter. And without Weeâchumun (corn), the Native people wouldn’t have helped.
An important picture book honoring both the history and tradition that surrounds the story of the first Thanksgiving.

KEEPUNUMUK: Weeâchumun’s Thanksgiving Story
Written by Danielle Greendeer, Anthony Perry, Alexis Bunten
Illustrated by Garry Meeches
Published by Charlesbridge Publishing

KEEPUNUMUK Activities

Nasamp, A Wampanoag recipe

KEEPUNUMUK Discussion Guide and Activity Kit

TURKEY TROUBLE

Turkey is in trouble. Bad trouble. The kind of trouble where it’s almost Thanksgiving…and you’re the main course. But Turkey has an idea–what if he doesn’t look like a turkey? What if he looks like another animal instead?After many hilarious attempts, Turkey comes up with the perfect disguise to make this Thanksgiving the best ever!

Wendi Silvano’s comical story is perfectly matched by Lee Harper’s watercolors.

TURKEY TROUBLE
Written by Wendi Silvano
Illustrated by Lee Harper
Published by Two Lions Publishing

Read Aloud and Activities for TURKEY TROUBLE

Teacher’s Guide Lesson Plan for Turkey Trouble

WE ARE GRATEFUL

The Cherokee community is grateful for blessings and challenges that each season brings. This is modern Native American life as told by an enrolled citizen of the Cherokee Nation.

The word otsaliheliga (oh-jah-LEE-hay-lee-gah) is used by members of the Cherokee Nation to express gratitude. Beginning in the fall with the new year and ending in summer, follow a full Cherokee year of celebrations and experiences. Written by a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, this look at one group of Native Americans is appended with a glossary and the complete Cherokee syllabary, originally created by Sequoyah.

WE ARE GRATEFUL
Written by Traci Sorell
Illustrated by Frane Lessac
Published by Charlesbridge Publishing

Read Aloud and Activities for WE ARE GRATEFUL

https://www.youtube.com/embed/qsIxsPDOVoA

WE ARE GRATEFUL Teacher’s Guide

Don’t miss these WE ARE GRATEFUL coloring pages

Bethany Edwards is an elementary educator as well as a reading and literacy
specialist. On Biracial Bookworms, she focuses on multiracial and multicultural resources for teaching literacy skills using reading, travel, and learning multiple languages. Additionally, she offers online and self-paced courses for parents and caregivers on Biracial Bookworms Academy.