This thankful season, children can read all about dinosaurs, crayons, and even turkeys enjoying food, fun, and family. But these titles also remind young readers that the holiday means different things to different people, whether it's the Filipino family celebrating Kamayan in Bunso Meets a Duwende or, in At Our Table, the group of First Americans visiting a statue of Wampanoag tribal chief Ousamequin, acknowledging that the concept of Thanksgiving is not universally celebrated, especially by Indigenous peoples. 

To share the spirit of the holiday, librarians and caregivers may ask young readers what they are thankful for and share their own answers.

Board Books

Duck, Duck, Gobble! by J.D Forester. illus. by Lydia Nichols. Grosset & Dunlap. ISBN 9780593755044. 
Toddler-PreS–This cute, easily interactive title brings levity to the Thanksgiving season. A little duck wreaks havoc as he waddles around the full Thanksgiving table. Other farm animals—a pig, horse, cow, and dog—chase him through and around the food, rendering the table a disaster. VERDICT A vivacious early literacy feast for toddlers, and a great interactive lap-sit book! Recommended.

Construction Site: A Thankful Night: A Thanksgiving L­­ift-the-Flap Book by Sherri Duskey Rinker. illus. by Helen Morgan­. Chronicle. ISBN 9781797226729. 
Baby-Toddler–Construction trucks share their gratitude and appreciation for what they do and what others do for them. Each truck is depicted carrying out its specific duty. Young readers will enjoy the autumn colors, the movable pop-up flaps, and the rhyming, especially in a read-aloud setting. VERDICT A good read at any time, but even better during the Thanksgiving season.

Thanksgiving Friends: A Touch-and-Feel Book of Thanksgiving and Friendship by Tammi Salzano. illus. by Seb Braun. Tiger Tales. ISBN 9781664351158. 
PreS–Adorable illustrations combined with lighthearted text highlight the important elements of Thanksgiving. As an added bonus, some pages offer special tactile opportunities for children. VERDICT Highly recommended for public and preschool libraries, this sweet holiday title is a perfect introduction for young children to Thanksgiving.

My First Dino-Thanksgiving by Lisa Wheeler. illus. by Barry Gott. Lerner/Carolrhoda. ISBN 9798765623107. 
PreS-K–The Dinos are back, this time preparing for and celebrating Thanksgiving. This book features the Dino pals cooking, playing games, watching football, and, of course, being thankful for a feast of meat and veggies! VERDICT This short, sweet snapshot into Thanksgiving for the Dino friends is perfect for young dinosaur enthusiasts.

Picture Books

No Thanks, Said Turkey by Jeffrey Burton. illus. by Florence Weiser. S & S/Little Simon. ISBN 9781665965996. 
PreS-Gr 1–Thanksgiving dinner is about to begin, and all the animals in the wood are looking for their friend, Turkey. Each in turn encounters Turkey in the wood and issues an invitation to dinner. Turkey’s response is always the same: a simple, “No thanks.” VERDICT A secondary purchase; this may make a good addition to a holiday collection that would benefit from a Thanksgiving holiday-themed board book.

The Crayons Give Thanks by Drew Daywalt. illus. by Oliver Jeffers. Philomel. ISBN 9780593690574. 
PreS-Gr 1–The newest addition to the series launched by the much loved The Day the Crayons Quit. Here, readers meet a number of the crayons as they express gratitude for the blessings they have in their colorful lives. VERDICT An excellent addition to an established series expands the journey of the beloved characters children know and love.

[Read: 5 Thanksgiving Books For Little Readers to Savor | Holiday Roundup]

 At Our Table by Patrick Hulse. illus. by Madelyn Goodnight. Little, Brown. ISBN 9780316537056.
K-Gr 3–Thanksgiving gets an equitable and diverse treatment in Hulse’s debut picture book. This is a thoughtful meditation on the holiday’s meaning for different families and discusses what they are thankful for. VERDICT A poignant debut, this book with diverse representation and wide appeal updates the holiday story.

Bunso Meets a Duwende by Rev Valdez. illus. by author. Paw Prints. ISBN 9781223188386; pap. $9.99. ISBN 9781223188393. 
K-Gr 3–Bunso’s father traditionally makes the family’s favorite food for their annual Filipino celebration of Thanksgiving, called Kamayan. This year, the festivities appear to be ruined as the ube halaya is missing from the table. Where has it gone? VERDICT Valdez continues to captivate youngsters with tales about Filipino culture and folklore.