23 Thanksgiving Picture Books Kids Will Love (2026)

Updated for 2026 with 6 new favorites!

With Thanksgiving around the corner, I’m sharing our favorite Thanksgiving picture books, now with six new titles we’ve loved this year. If you’re looking for Thanksgiving books to read with your kids, now is the time to put them on hold at the library or grab them from Amazon. I’ve sorted them into sections so you can easily find books on gratitude, Thanksgiving history, family and harvest, and a few just for giggles. Keep reading for brief summaries and teasers of each book.

21 Thanksgiving Picture Books for Kids

Gratitude and Thankfulness Picture Books

#1 Thank You, Omu!

We had this book from the library for two whole months because my 4-year-old refused to return it. You’ll experience the generosity and warmth of Omu as she shares her delicious stew with everyone in her neighborhood, teaching a valuable lesson about the power of kindness and community. Ultimately, the whole community shows up at her door with plenty of food to share. It’s a heartwarming story with the true spirit of Thanksgiving.

#2 Bear Says Thanks

Bear wants to host his friends but has nothing to offer. But in a twist to this heartwarming tale of gratitude, his friends come together, each bringing something to the table in their own unique way, showcasing the true meaning of Thanksgiving. Bear is grateful for the meal and for his friends. Karma Wilson’s books are written with simplicity, yet they have the sweetest lessons kids can take from them.

#3 Berenstain Bears Give Thanks

We love the Berenstain Bears, and I’m so glad they have one with the Thanksgiving story. The story begins with Papa Bear making a table set for Farmer Ben, who, in return, offers him a harvest from his farm and a big fattened turkey named Plymouth for Thanksgiving. Sister Bear does not like the idea of eating the turkey and begs Papa to keep him as a pet instead. The story continues with a Thanksgiving play written by Sister, a family gathering, and a pleasant surprise for Plymouth the turkey.

#4 A Very Thankful Prayer

Woodland animals thank God for everyday blessings and the joys of fall. This sweet rhyming book has lovely illustrations, and it encourages little ones to notice the good things around them and grow a thankful heart.

#5 The Humble Pie by Jory John

This book is part of the Food Group series. If you haven’t read The Bad Seed, The Good Egg, and the others in the series, you’re missing out! In this one, Humble Pie is happy to let his friend Jake the Cake take the spotlight. (As you can guess, pie is never the star of the dessert table.) But when a shared science project leaves Pie doing most of the work, he learns to speak up. This story is about friendship, fairness, and learning that being humble doesn’t mean ignoring your own needs.

Thanksgiving History Books for Kids

#6 Sarah Gives Thanks

I personally did not know this story myself. It is the inspiring true story of how Sarah Josepha Hale dedicated her life to making Thanksgiving an official national holiday. Her determination and vision helped shape one of America’s most cherished traditions. She went on to become a remarkably influential writer and editor.

#7 Thank You, Sarah: The Woman Who Saved Thanksgiving

Another wonderful book about Sarah Josepha Hale, the writer and editor who spent decades campaigning to make Thanksgiving a national holiday. She kept writing letters to presidents until Abraham Lincoln finally supported her cause. It’s a fun, spirited telling that kids love.

#8 Squanto’s Journey

This book tells the story of Squanto from the lens of the First Americans/Native Americans/Indigenous people. You can follow Squanto’s remarkable journey as he navigates various challenges in his encounter with European settlers and uses his experience to form crucial alliances with the Pilgrims, ultimately reshaping history. Squanto is vital in the story of Thanksgiving, and it is essential to read these stories to understand what truly happened during that first Thanksgiving celebration.

#9 Keepunumuk

The story of Thanksgiving is often told from the lens of the Pilgrims who arrived at Plymouth. However, the story would not be possible without the crucial role the Wampanoag tribe played, especially in growing crops and sharing their knowledge with the Pilgrims. This book is written by Indigenous authors, and you will get a new perspective and an inclusive account of the Thanksgiving story in reading it. Check out their website to learn more.

#10 Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy’s Parade

If you’re like me, you must love the magical Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. This fascinating and beautifully illustrated book takes you behind the scenes, introducing us to a man named Anthony Frederick Sarg, a talented puppeteer whose creativity brought the parade to life.

#11 Rettie and the Ragamuffin Parade

I never knew about the Ragamuffin Parade until I read this book. The author explains how it likely also led to the creation of the Macy’s Day Parade. The Ragamuffin Parade was a time when children dressed in beggar clothes and begged for pennies for Thanksgiving. Rettie, a 9-year-old girl, is looking forward to the Ragamuffin Parade so she can get some money to provide for her family. Unfortunately, the deadly influenza hits New York, and everyone needs to quarantine. This story is about how Rettie makes sure her family survives while her mom is sick in bed and her father is away at war.

Family and Harvest Thanksgiving Books

#12 Time for Cranberries

This book is a sweet and heartwarming story of a family that grows and harvests cranberries together. It beautifully walks through the process of how they harvest, involving their curious little son who eagerly joins in with Mom and Dad. Of course, the best part of it all is the delicious homemade cranberry pie, which means it’s Thanksgiving time!

#13 Harvest Days

While America’s story of Thanksgiving is unique, Thanksgiving is observed and celebrated worldwide in many different ways, all giving thanks for the harvest and provision. This book takes you across many countries and cultures and briefly explains each celebration.

#14 Thanksgiving in the Woods

This book follows a family’s unique and heartwarming Thanksgiving tradition set amid the tranquility of the outdoors. The illustrations are stunning, and the build-up to the big night truly takes you along with them as they prepare for a feast, celebration, food, music, and lots more.

#15 Over the River and Through the Wood

Based on the classic song, this charming rhyming tale follows a family traveling through the snow in a horse-drawn sleigh to Grandma’s house for Thanksgiving. With its cozy winter scenes, it has a beautifully Christmassy feeling, too. There are so many versions of this book with different illustrations.

#16 The Thanksgiving Door

When an elderly couple accidentally burns their Thanksgiving dinner, they decide to eat out instead. They stumble into what they think is an open restaurant, but it turns out to be a family’s private celebration. Welcomed with open arms, they share food, laughter, and new traditions, reminding us that Thanksgiving is truly about community and kindness.

#17 Thanksgiving Is Here!

This story recounts the bustling events of Thanksgiving Day at Grandma’s house, starting with the golden turkey going into the oven, followed by family members trickling in with hugs and laughter. Everyone joins in to help get the food ready and the table set, and finally, it’s time to eat! Before they know it, Thanksgiving is over, and it’s time to head home. This is the perfect cozy book to relive a picture-perfect Thanksgiving Day with family.

#18 A Turkey for Thanksgiving

A sweet and charming moose couple is preparing for Thanksgiving with their friends, and Mrs. Moose wishes they could have turkey for Thanksgiving. Mr. Moose embarks on a lively quest to find the perfect holiday bird, resulting in an unexpected twist (you must read it to find out!) and a heartwarming conclusion.

#19 Sharing the Bread: An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving Story

This is a traditional, old-fashioned Thanksgiving story. Everyone has a part to play as the family prepares Thanksgiving dinner. The book uses rhythmic, rhyming text to follow the preparations before everyone gathers around the table. It is a cozy read reminding us that Thanksgiving is a time of gathering and celebration.

#20 A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving

The holiday reading lists are not complete without a Charlie Brown book. In this story, Peppermint Patty invites herself and her friends to Thanksgiving dinner at Charlie Brown’s place. However, he already has plans to go to his grandmother’s house. He now finds himself hosting a feast he has no idea how to cook! But thanks to his friends Snoopy and the gang, he serves an unusual meal and at the end they all appreciate the effort and have a good Thanksgiving.

Funny Thanksgiving Books for Little Kids

#21 There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Turkey!

If you haven’t read the Old Lady books, go find one at the library! In this one, the old lady is back, swallowing a turkey and an increasingly ridiculous assortment of objects, including a balloon, a boat, and some wheels. The repeating rhymes are so fun to read aloud, and the story builds up to a Thanksgiving surprise. See if your kids can remember the rhymes as you repeat them over and over.

#22 Pete the Cat: The First Thanksgiving

Even cool, confident Pete gets nervous about starring in his school’s Thanksgiving play. As the show unfolds, children follow along with the Thanksgiving story and lift flaps to discover surprises along the way. These Pete the Cat flap books are interactive and so much fun to read with little kids.

#23 Turk and Runt

This is a fun and clever book about two brothers. Turk is the biggest, strongest turkey on the farm, and his parents are sure he’s destined for greatness. His little brother, Runt, is the only one who realizes that being chosen at Thanksgiving means becoming dinner! Unfortunately, nobody listens to him until the end. It’s a funny story about two very different brothers and a clever little turkey determined to keep his family safe.

Making Thanksgiving Meaningful With Books

I hope you enjoyed these Thanksgiving picture book recommendations. While I love all of these books, a few of our favorites are Thank You, Omu!, Keepunumuk, Balloons Over Broadway, Rettie and the Ragamuffin Parade, and Thanksgiving Is Here!

Now it’s your turn. What is your favorite Thanksgiving book? Leave a comment below and let me know.

Christmas Picture Books to Read Next

Once the Thanksgiving leftovers are gone, it’s time to pull out the Christmas books! Here are our favorite Christmas picture book lists to get you ready for the season:

• 60 Christmas Books for Kids: Santa, Faith, Traditions & More is our big list of family favorites.
• 12 Picture Books About the Origins of Christmas Traditions shares the stories behind candy canes, stockings, poinsettias, and more.
• The First Christmas Children’s Books features beautiful picture books that tell the story of Jesus’ birth.
• 10 Best Advent Calendars for Kids will help you count down to Christmas.

For books to enjoy throughout the year, browse our 20 must-read picture books your child will love. And if you’re still in a fall mood, try our gentle fall and Halloween books for kids.

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