When the fall air is crisp and cool, and Halloween has passed, it’s time to start planning lessons for Thanksgiving! I love Thanksgiving and teaching all about gratitude and thankfulness. This valuable topic is made simple and easy to teach with the use of great books. If you’d like to incorporate some new Thanksgiving stories in your lessons, but you’re not sure where to start, you’re in luck! Come along as I share a few of my favorite Thanksgiving picture books, perfect for teaching gratitude!

Thanks for Thanksgiving by Julie Markes

This sweet story is one of my all-time favorite Thanksgiving picture books. It’s filled with beautiful, vibrant pictures and explores all of the little things to be thankful for during this time of year. This book uses rich, sensory descriptions of the seasonal wonders present during Thanksgiving and paints a beautiful picture of the holiday.

I Am Thankful by Sherri Wall

This adorable Thanksgiving picture book uses rhyming text as it teaches children about coming together to be thankful for all that we have. I love the theme of deep gratitude throughout this story and kiddos always love the rhymes. This story will truly help students grasp the meaning of giving and sharing.

Thanksgiving Is… by Gail Gibbons

I absolutely LOVE all of Gail Gibbons’ books. Each of her books provides great detail and background on a subject in a relatable and easy-to-understand format.

This book is no exception! It covers an overview of where Thanksgiving originated, the traditions and celebrations that have evolved from the first Thanksgiving, and why we continue to celebrate it today. If you’re looking to give your students a comprehensive look at Thanksgiving, be sure to snag this book!

Bear Says Thanks by Karma Wilson 

This Thanksgiving picture book is a lighthearted story that follows a bear wanting to make a big feast for his family. This book is great for helping students see that acts of kindness are a great way to show our appreciation and gratitude for others.

Thankful by Eileen Spinelli

This book explores the little things in life to be thankful for and how there are many gifts among us each day. This book will help students see gratitude through the eyes of others as it explores the many different things people can be thankful for.

Gratitude is my Superpower by Alicia Ortego

Although this book isn’t directly tied to Thanksgiving, it presents a beautiful message on gratitude, so definitely consider reading it with your littles! The story follows a young girl as she discovers the many things in her life to be thankful for. This book helps children to appreciate what others do for them, practice gratitude for both small and big things, and discover true happiness in daily life.

Llama, Llama Gives Thanks by Anna Dewdney

If you’re a Llama, Llama fan, you’ll love this fall-themed book. This is a short and sweet Thanksgiving picture book, perfect for younger readers! I love the rhyming text in this story and the fun, colorful illustrations.

Thank you for the Little Things by Caryl Hart

This book asks children to explore the things that make them happy and reflect on those things when facing a bad day. I love that this story helps children to see they have the power to change the way they feel by simply choosing to focus on the good things in life! When reading this book with your kiddos, take some time to pause and ask what makes them happy.

I Am Thankful by Sonali Fry

This is another adorable, rhyming Thanksgiving picture book, perfect for fall! This Little Golden Book follows a classroom of children after their teacher asks what they are thankful for. This is a great one to read before opening the same discussion with your own students.

Thanksgiving In The Woods by Phyllis Alsdurf

This beautiful, Thanksgiving picture book tells the story of a family and how they celebrate. Each year they host a huge Thanksgiving feast outdoors every year in the woods. Everyone pitches in to help prepare for the big celebration. This is such a fun book to read to show different traditions and how some families celebrate the holiday.

More Thanksgiving Picture Books

If you’re anything like me, there is no such thing as too many books! I have a deep love for reading and children’s books will always have a special place in my heart. While the titles mentioned are a great start, don’t stop there! Check your local library for more fun Thanksgiving picture books and be sure to check out my Amazon faves for November if you’re looking for additional inspiration. There is so much to celebrate this time of year and books are a great way to help your students grasp the true meaning of Thanksgiving!

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