15 Turkey Books for Thanksgiving
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It’s almost Turkey Time and there’s lots to be thankful for! Looking for a way to get your kids in the mood for Thanksgiving Day? These 15 turkey books for kids make great read alouds at home or in the classroom, and are great to add to your collection of Thanksgiving books!
*Pair with our Thanksgiving Centers and Activities for Pre-K & Kindergarten!
Turkey Books for Toddlers and Preschoolers
Five Silly Turkeys – Author, Salina Yoon has created adorable turkeys for this silly, simple counting book. It’s perfect for toddlers or preschoolers.
10 Fat Turkeys – A funny counting book with engaging illustrations. The story counts down from ten as turkeys fall off a fence, one by one. Moreover, the rhyme and alliteration makes it an enjoyable read-aloud.
10 Turkeys in the Road – Another fun turkey counting book. This one takes place on a “hot and hazy day” rather than at Thanksgiving. Still, it would be a good reading mentor text for talking about problems and solutions.
Turkey Tot – This lively story is one of my favorites. A turkey wants blackberries that are growing out of reach. The other barnyard animals look askance, but he perseveres and invents a solution. Furthermore, it would be great for teaching grit!
A Plump and Perky Turkey – There are several books about turkeys hiding from people intending to eat them. This one is a lighthearted rhyme.
This Little Turkey – This brand new board book looks adorable. I haven’t gotten to see it in person yet, but it appears so promising I wanted to include it here.
Turkey Books for Preschool and Kindergarten
There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Turkey! – Just like the classic version about the old lady who swallows a fly, this rollicking, outlandish story is a lot of fun.
‘Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving – Dav Pilkey of Captain Underpants fame wrote this humorous takeoff of the classic “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.”
A Turkey for Thanksgiving – Mr. Moose and his friends search for a real turkey for their Thanksgiving table. It turns out they want him for a guest, rather than as an entrée.
The Very Stuffed Turkey – An adorably drawn turkey eats Thanksgiving dinners at the homes of five different friends. Great for teaching about some holiday traditions.
Turkey Books for Kindergarten and Early Elementary
Turkey Trouble – Turkey hilariously disguises himself as other animals in the barnyard to avoid the Thanksgiving table. This is the story that inspires all the disguised turkey crafts you may have seen on Pinterest.
Too Many Turkeys – Of all the stories on this list, this one is my favorite. A husband and wife adopt a wild turkey, and while the wife is away, an entire flock of turkeys arrives. It’s a longer picture book, with advanced vocabulary and inferencing required.
The Know-Nothings Talk Turkey – A silly, early chapter book about a family who confuses Thanksgiving traditions.
Turkey Trouble on the National Mall – This chapter book is part of the Capital Mysteries series. My son enthusiastically read these books when he was in first and second grade. It would be a fun November read aloud.
Not This Turkey! – I haven’t gotten my hands on this brand new book yet, but based on the preview, I’m excited to see it. I’m betting you will be too.
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