The Best Turkey Books for Kindergarten, PreK, and First Grade

It’s that time of year again when pumpkin pie is on every menu, wild turkeys wander into classroom crafts, and your students can’t stop talking about their Thanksgiving dinner. Thanksgiving is a favorite holiday for me and I’m sure many of you and your students too! If you’re teaching prek, kindergarten, or first grade, it’s the perfect time to gather a cozy stack of turkey books that blend hilarious stories, sweet lessons, and beautiful illustrations about Thanksgiving traditions.

Whether you’re prepping for turkey time, teaching about the story of the first Thanksgiving, or simply want to fill your November book basket with fun books your young readers will love, this list is your perfect addition. These picture books are so much fun. I definitely consider them the best Thanksgiving books out there. You can pair some of these with the story of the pilgrims, but make sure you are sensitive when teaching students about that part of our history. Turns out it wasn’t as easy or peaceful as some of our previous studies would have had us believe!

November can be a whirlwind for teachers. Between class feasts, family traditions, and thanksgiving crafts, it’s easy to let your book lists fall to the bottom of your to-do list. You want great books that engage young kids, introduce holiday traditions, and maybe even teach an attitude of gratitude but who has time to scroll through endless children’s books on Amazon?

That’s where this post comes in. I’ve rounded up my favorite Thanksgiving books from silly turkeys to sweet stories that your students will beg to read again and again.

Here are my top picks for the best turkey books for kindergarten, each one classroom-tested, laugh-approved, and sure to spark thanksgiving story magic in your students.

1. Turkey Trouble by Wendi Silvano

If there’s one great book every classroom should have this season, it’s Turkey Trouble. This vain bird is determined not to become the main course at the Thanksgiving banquet. His hilarious attempts to find the perfect disguise from a little piggy to a cow have kids giggling nonstop.

It’s a fun book that’s also a great way to talk about problem-solving and creative thinking with young children.

Activity idea: After reading, let your students design their own perfect disguise for Turkey using craft paper and feathers.

2. 10 Fat Turkeys by Tony Johnston

A silly rhyming book full of counting fun, 10 Fat Turkeys is perfect for early readers. The simple text and repetitive pattern make it easy for prek and kindergarteners to join in.

This book captures the joy and chaos of silly turkeys on a turkey farm doing all sorts of silly things. It’s much fun for circle time or a quick turkey day laugh before lunch!

3. The Plump and Perky Turkey by Teresa Bateman

Welcome to Squawk Valley, where the townspeople hatch a clever plan to lure a turkey to their Thanksgiving meal—by hosting a turkey-themed arts contest! This great story is full of silly things, beautiful illustrations, and a turkey who might just outsmart everyone. My students always have a great time listening to this one about the well-stuffed form!

A perfect way to spark a writing prompt: “What would you do if you were the Perky Turkey?”

4. The Night Before Thanksgiving by Natasha Wing

This sweet book is a heartwarming story about family traditions and holiday traditions at the Thanksgiving table. Inspired by ’Twas the Night Before Christmas, it follows a little girl and little boy “helping” their parents prepare the big meal. The kids will really laugh when they see what happens to the entire turkey!

It’s the perfect addition to your bedtime read-alouds or calm-down corner during the month of November.

5. A Turkey for Thanksgiving by Eve Bunting

Our favorite and best one! This sweet story by Eve Bunting (illustrated by Dav Pilkey) flips the usual Thanksgiving turkey tale. Mrs. Moose wants a turkey for their Thanksgiving dinner, but not as the main course. At the end, the readers discover that Mr. Moose and Mrs. Moose just want turkey as a guest! The kids love this one. I had it in my stack of preschool Thanksgiving books.

It’s a great read for teaching young kids about kindness, gratitude, and inclusion. Plus, it’s filled with beautiful illustrations and different animals gathering for a special thanksgiving.

6. Turkeys: An Incredible Picture Book for Children (Nonfiction)

Balance your fiction with some nonfiction books! This new book includes real photos of wild turkeys. I think pairing this text with writing is a great way to discuss different things like turkey habitats, native Americans, and the history of Thanksgiving.

Use it to pair with your field trip to a farm or as part of a mini Thanksgiving rules science unit.

7. The Crayons Give Thanks by Drew Daywalt

From the creators of The Day the Crayons Quit, this cute story is a perfect way to celebrate gratitude in your classroom. The Crayons express thanks for the little things—like their artist’s model, their new things, and all the different animalsthey color.

Pair it with The Day the Crayons Quit for a colorful attitude of gratitude mini-lesson!

8. Llama Llama Gives Thanks by Anna Dewdney

Llama Llama celebrates Thanksgiving Day by helping Mama prepare their delicious meal. It’s a sweet book with simple text, a perfect way to teach young children about gratitude and holiday traditions.

9. There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Turkey by Lucille Colandro

It wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without the Old Lady! In this hilarious story, she swallows a turkey, a balloon, and even a hat! The silly repetition keeps young kids engaged—and ties in nicely with sequencing and rhyming activities.

10. Balloons Over Broadway by Melissa Sweet

This true story of the puppeteer of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade introduces Tony Sarg, the artist who brought the giant balloons to life. With beautiful illustrations and historical connections, it’s a great way to explore art, engineering, and the national holiday.

11. Just a Special Thanksgiving by Mercer Mayer (Little Critter)

Little Critter is back—helping with Thanksgiving rules like setting the table, making pumpkin pie, and showing an attitude of gratitude. It’s a cute story for young readers learning about helping others and family traditions.

12. November by Cynthia Rylant

This beautifully written and lyrical story by Cynthia Rylant captures the cozy spirit of the month of November. It’s not strictly about turkey day, but it’s a great read to start discussions on seasonal change, gratitude, and noticing the little things.

13. How to Catch a Turkey by Adam Wallace

From the creators of How to Catch an Elf, this fun book features a little turkey running wild in the school just before the Thanksgiving play! It’s packed with rhyming text, silly things, and lots of laughter. The perfect addition for your humor-loving students.

Bonus Ideas: Turkey-Themed Classroom Fun

Once your book basket is bursting with these favorite books, sprinkle in some hands-on learning to keep your young readers engaged all November long:

Turkey disguise writing project (tie-in with Turkey Trouble)
Crayon gratitude cards (The Crayons Give Thanks)
Story sequencing (The Plump and Perky Turkey)
Create a class Thanksgiving meal display using food drawings
“Thankful feathers” craft where each child writes one little thing they’re grateful for
Macy’s Parade STEM Activity: After reading Balloons Over Broadway, have students design their own balloon float using tissue paper.
Sequencing Story Map: Use There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Turkey to practice retelling.
Gratitude Art Station: Combine The Crayons Give Thanks and Llama Llama Gives Thanks for a “Thankful Crayon” craft.

Ready to stock your shelves for turkey time? Use these Amazon affiliate links to grab your favorites (I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you!).

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Happy Teaching & Parenting this week, friends!