Best Picture Books for Thanksgiving: 5 Books Compared

Finding the best picture books for thanksgiving gets easier once you know the reader: a preschooler who wants a funny turkey, or a young reader ready for the true story of the parade. We compared five picture books by listed reading age, grade level, print length and what each description says, so you can match the book to the child.

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The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	Balloons Over Broadway by Sweet	9.7/10	Buy
2	Night Before Thanksgiving by Pilkey	9.7/10	Buy
3	A Plump and Perky Turkey by Bateman	9.6/10	Buy
4	A Turkey for Thanksgiving by Bunting	9.6/10	Buy
5	In November by Rylant	9.6/10	Buy

1

Balloons Over Broadway by Sweet

Melissa Sweet·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A 40-page nonfiction picture book about the puppeteer behind the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade balloons, with a listed reading age of 5 to 8 years.

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Pros

• 40 pages; the longest book here
• Nonfiction: the true story of the parade balloons
• Reading age 5 to 8 and grade Preschool to 3 both stated

Cons

• Reading age marked as from customers, not the publisher
• 2011 publication; the oldest here
• Parade theme suits Thanksgiving week more than the whole season

2

Night Before Thanksgiving by Pilkey

Dav Pilkey·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A 32-page rhyming read-aloud about kids who rescue turkeys the day before Thanksgiving, with a listed reading age of 3 to 7 years.

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Pros

• Rhyming read-aloud text built for reading together
• Reading age 3 to 7 and grade Preschool to 3 both stated
• 32 pages from Scholastic, published 2020

Cons

• Reading age marked as from customers
• Plot centers on turkeys avoiding dinner; preview for sensitive readers
• Turkey-rescue humor may not suit every family

3

A Plump and Perky Turkey by Bateman

Teresa Bateman·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A 32-page funny story about a too-clever turkey outsmarting a town's feast plans, with a listed reading age of 2 to 7 years.

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Pros

• Silly turkey-outsmarts-the-town plot for young listeners
• Reading age 2 to 7, the widest low end here
• Grade Preschool to 3 stated

Cons

• Reading age marked as from customers
• Turkey-as-dinner plot; preview for sensitive readers
• No publisher stated in the listing

4

A Turkey for Thanksgiving by Bunting

Eve Bunting·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A 32-page gentle story about animal friends inviting Turkey to dinner, with a listed reading age of 3 to 7 years.

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Pros

• Gentle friendship story with a funny misunderstanding
• Reading age 3 to 7 and grade Preschool to 3 both stated
• Clarion Books, illustrated edition

Cons

• Reading age marked as from customers
• 1995 publication; older illustrations than the rest
• Turkey fears becoming dinner; preview for sensitive readers

5

In November by Rylant

Cynthia Rylant·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A 26-page lyrical look at November's family gatherings and autumn changes, with a listed reading age of 3 to 8 years.

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Pros

• Lyrical autumn text beyond just Thanksgiving day
• Reading age 3 to 8 and grade Preschool to 3 both stated
• Clarion Books reprint edition

Cons

• 26 pages; the shortest here
• Reading age marked as from customers
• More about November than Thanksgiving itself

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More picks to compare

• The Great Thanksgiving Escape by Fearing32 pages, ages 4 to 8, about a funny family gathering.Check on Amazon
• The Crayons Give Thanks by Daywalt32-page mini hardcover on gratitude, ages 3 to 7.Check on Amazon
• Turkeys in Disguise by Platt32 pages, ages 4 to 8, about kids saving turkeys.Check on Amazon

Compare the picks

Book details as published on each listing, collected 19 October 2026.

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs fit for the reader, contents and edition, value, and the listed reading age or level where one is given. All five listings give a reading age, marked by Amazon as from customers, and all five give a grade level. How we pick explains the weights.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each book’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Reading age or level counts on a list where at least one listing gives one, and a book whose listing gives none then scores zero on it. Where no listing gives one, the score is taken over the other 85 points. Books carry no warranty, so warranty is not scored.

How to choose the best picture books for thanksgiving

Match the age on the listing, then the mood

The listed reading ages run from 2 to 7 years up to 5 to 8 years, all marked as from customers, with grade levels of Preschool to 3. A funny turkey story like A Plump and Perky Turkey suits a wiggly listener, while Balloons Over Broadway suits a slightly older child ready for a true story. For the wider shelf, browse every best picture books for thanksgiving list.

Check the length for read-aloud time

These run from 26 to 40 pages, so any of them fits a single sitting. The 40-page Balloons Over Broadway gives the most story per reading, while the 26-page In November is the quickest. If you want more holiday choices, see our Best Books for Kids About Thanksgiving (2026): 5 Compared list.

Before you buy

• Check the format: the listings here are illustrated editions and reprints; confirm the edition on the listing.
• Compare the listed reading age with your reader: all five give a reading age marked as from customers, plus a grade level.
• Read the description for the turkey plot: several of these center on turkeys avoiding dinner.

Frequently Asked Questions

What age are these Thanksgiving picture books for?

The listings give reading ages from 2 to 7 years up to 5 to 8 years, all marked as from customers, with grade levels of Preschool to 3.

Which book here is nonfiction?

Balloons Over Broadway tells the true story of the puppeteer behind the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade balloons. The other four are fiction.

Which is the longest book here?

Balloons Over Broadway at 40 pages. The shortest is In November at 26 pages.

Still deciding? Our top pickBalloons Over Broadway by Sweet

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Related lists

See every picture books list and all kids and teens lists. Also see our Best Books for Kids About Thanksgiving (2026): 5 Compared.

More lists: picture books for winter, kindergarten read aloud and books for preschoolers.