20 Thanksgiving Books for Preschool Students

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and what better way to teach your little one about what it means to be thankful than through read-aloud books? I love celebrating Thanksgiving with my friends and family—especially by reading some of my favorite stories to my students, nieces, and nephews.

I’ve compiled 20 of my favorite books to teach your preschooler about gratitude. These preschool books will teach your children how to show appreciation and give thanks for their family and friends.

1. Around the Table That Grandad Built by Melanie Heuiser Hill
   
   “A beautifully illustrated celebration of bounty and gratitude, family and friendship, perfect for the holidays and every day.
   
   This is the table that Grandad built.
   These are the sunflowers picked by my cousins,
   set on the table that Grandad built.”

2. Auntie Yang’s Great Soybean Picnic by Ginnie Lo
   
   “When Jinyi and her family discover a soybean field, they begin a tradition that becomes a staple of the Chinese American community in the Midwest.
   
   Jinyi and her sister love visiting Auntie and Uncle Yang’s home, where they enjoy dumpling-eating contests and backyard adventures with their cousins. One weekend, on a Sunday drive among the cornfields near Chicago, Auntie Yang spots something she has never before seen in Illinois. Could it be one of their favorite Chinese foods—soybeans?!
   
   Excited by their discovery, the families have their very first soybean picnic. Every year after that, Auntie Yang invites more people to share the food and fun. Pretty soon more than two hundred friends and neighbors are gathering at the picnic to play games and eat soybeans together.”

3. Balloons Over Broadway by Melissa Sweet
   
   “Meet the master puppeteer who invented the first balloons for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Melissa Sweet brings to life the inspirational story of the puppeteer who invented the giant balloons floating in the sky during the annual parade celebrating Thanksgiving. The Caldecott Honor artist brilliantly captures the essence of Tony Sarg, a self-taught immigrant with a fascinating imagination.”
   

4. Five Little Thank-Yous by Cindy Jin
   
   “Shaped like a handprint turkey art craft, this colorful rhyming board book is all about the important things to be thankful for on Thanksgiving!
   
   Thank you for this food we share
   made with tender love and care.
   
   This Thanksgiving book of five important thank yous is the perfect way for parents to celebrate and share the meaning of the holiday with their child. Inspired by the construction paper Thanksgiving turkeys kids learn to draw with their hands, this novelty book has a collage art style that both adults and little ones will recognize and love!”
   

5. Fry Bread by Kevin Noble Maillard
   
   “Told in lively and powerful verse by debut author Kevin Noble Maillard, Fry Bread is an evocative depiction of a modern Native American family, vibrantly illustrated by Pura Belpre Award winner and Caldecott Honoree Juana Martinez-Neal.
   
   Fry bread is food.
   It is warm and delicious, piled high on a plate.
   
   Fry bread is time.
   It brings families together for meals and new memories.
   
   Fry bread is nation.
   It is shared by many, from coast to coast and beyond.
   
   Fry bread is us.
   It is a celebration of old and new, traditional and modern, similarity and difference.”
   

6. Gobble Wobble by Brick Puffinton
   
   “Get up and dance like a turkey with the featured turkey stuffed animal puppet! Gobble and wobble—then spin yourself around! Next, you’ll be asked to reach down and touch the ground. Spread your wings and hop and flap, just like turkeys do. Introduce your children and their little friends to the Thanksgiving holiday by reading the sweet Gobble Wobble rhyming story. Wiggle the plush turkey puppet to make it dance along with you! Fun fall entertainment!”
   

7. Gratitude is My Superpower: A children’s book about Giving Thanks and Practicing Positivity by Alicia Ortego
   
   “Little Betsy will learn that happiness is made up of simple things in life, both small and big. With the help of the magic stone, she will begin to feel gratitude for her parents, friends, and toys. But what happens when little Betsy forgets to use the magic of her stone? She will realize that the power of gratitude is hidden in her heart.
   
   Gratitude is My Superpower will teach your little ones to appreciate the warmth of home, time spent playing with friends, and family relationships.”

8. I Am Thankful by Sheri Wall

“Thanksgiving books for kids teach us about coming together with our loved ones and to give thanks for all that we have. I Am Thankful is an adorable, rhyming storybook that follows three different families as they celebrate the holiday with their own traditions, acts of kindness, and ways of giving back.

Kids will learn how to be thankful for the people and world around them as they delight in the sweet illustrations that show diverse families and exciting Thanksgiving adventures. This heartfelt, poetic story will show young ones the meaning of giving and sharing.”

9. I Love to Gobble You Up! by Sandra Magsamen
   
   “If kisses were gobbles, I’d gobble you up! I’d gobble your nose, I’d gobble your toes! The just-right book for a Thanksgiving cuddle, this gently refreshed Sandra Magsamen title is perfect for reminding your little turkey just how loved they are. Features sturdy board pages and soft, tactile turkey “feathers” made of real felt. Sandra Magsamen is the bestselling creator of over 30 baby and toddler books, with sales of over 3 million copies worldwide.”
   

10. Llama Llama Gives Thanks by Anna Dewdney
    
    “In Llama Llama Gives Thanks, it’s Thanksgiving time for Llama Llama and his family! That means yummy foods and autumn leaves and being thankful for everything from pumpkin pies to blue skies. Thanksgiving may only come once a year, but in Llama’s family, giving thanks is always here! With short and simple rhyming text, the Llama Llama board books introduce Llama Llama to babies and toddlers before they’re ready for longer full-length stories. And their small size and durable pages are perfect for little hands.”
    

11. Not This Turkey! by Jessica Steinberg
    
    “Although Mel and his family have lived in America for several years, they have never celebrated Thanksgiving, just the Jewish holidays. But this year, after Papa wins a live turkey at work and brings it home on the subway, Mama invites all their relatives to their Brooklyn tenement for dinner. There’s just one thing―Mel has a soft spot for the turkey!”
    

12. T is for Thanks (and Turkey!) by Melina Lee Rathjen
    
    “This zany group of animal friends models positive behaviors in stories that will have little ones giggling and joining in to “read” along. Each book focuses on a single letter of the alphabet and uses repetition and humor to explore concepts such as love, gratitude, and patience.
    
    In T Is for Thanks (and Turkey!), an interjecting turkey and his friends exhibit helpful behavior and gratitude in the midst of some rather unusual situations. The humorous series of events is conveyed through simple text that builds upon itself with each new T word: “T is for Thanks and Tacos and Trampoline.” Children will enjoy predicting the repeating elements and recognizing the letter T as they learn about thankfulness with these adorably hip animal friends.”
    

13. Taylor the Thankful Turkey by Sonica Ellis
    
    “Taylor the Thankful Turkey is an easy-to-read children’s book about giving thanks and being grateful. The goal of this book is to teach kids that being thankful is more than just being grateful for what you have, but also showing others your appreciation. This helps to build self-esteem and confidence, and makes you a positive and uplifting person.
    
    After all, gratitude is the best attitude, and there is always something to be thankful for.”
    

14. Thank You, Omu! by Oge Mora
    
    “Everyone in the neighborhood dreams of a taste of Omu’s delicious stew! One by one, they follow their noses toward the scrumptious scent. And one by one, Omu offers a portion of her meal. Soon the pot is empty. Has she been so generous that she has nothing left for herself?”
    

15. Thanks for Thanksgiving by Julie Markes
    
    “Everyone knows that Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks—the question is, where to begin? From the turkey on the table to warm, cozy cuddles, life is full of small things and bigger pleasures. But what’s most important is being able to share them with family.”
    

16. The Great Turkey Race by Steve Metzger
    
    “Cassie, Wing, and Ollie all want to be the Thanksgiving Turkey! They decide to have a contest to see which of them Farmer Joe should pick. Is it going to be a happy Thanksgiving for all?”
    

17. The Thankful Book by Todd Parr
    
    “I am thankful for music because it makes me want to dance.
    I am thankful for my feet because they help me run and play.
    I am thankful for kisses because they make me feel loved.
    
    Todd Parr’s bestselling books have taught kids about unconditional love, respecting the earth, facing fears, and more, all with his signature blend of playfulness and sensitivity. Now, The Thankful Book celebrates all the little things children can give thanks for. From everyday activities like reading and bathtime to big family meals together and special alone time between parent and child, Todd inspires readers to remember all of life’s special moments. The perfect book to treasure and share, around the holidays and throughout the year.”
    

18. We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga by Traci Sorell
    
    “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.”
    

19. We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom
    
    “Water is the first medicine.
    It affects and connects us all…
    
    When a black snake threatens to destroy the Earth
    And poison her people’s water, one young water protector
    Takes a stand to defend Earth’s most sacred resource.”
    

20. Yum! ¡MMMM! ¡Qué Rico! by Pat Mora
    
    “Peanuts, blueberries, corn, potatoes, tomatoes, and more-here is a luscious collection of haiku celebrating foods native to the Americas. Brimming with imagination and fun, these poems capture the tasty essence of foods that have delighted, united, and enriched our lives for centuries. Exuberant illustrations bring to life the delicious spirit of the haiku, making Yum! ¡Mmm! ¡Qué Rico! America’s Sproutings an eye-popping, mouth-watering treat. Open it and dig in!”

I hope your little one enjoys these books as much as our Playgarden Prep students do! To hear these books and more read aloud, sign up for your free 15 day trial with Playgarden Online today.