Best Children’s Books About Thanksgiving (2026): 5 Compared

The turkey is on the table and the kids are restless: the best children’s books about thanksgiving give the youngest ones a story to follow. We compared five by fit, content, value and age guidance, using only what the listings publish.

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The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	Turkey Trouble	9.7/10	Buy
2	How to Catch a Turkey	9.7/10	Buy
3	Llama Llama Gives Thanks	9.7/10	Buy
4	Pete the Cat	9.7/10	Buy
5	Old Lady Who Swallowed a Turkey	9.7/10	Buy

1

Turkey Trouble

Wendi Silvano·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 ›

Wendi Silvano's 40-page Turkey Trouble, ages 3-6, 2012, book 1 of 10.

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Pros

• Book 1 of 10, series start
• 40 pages stated
• Reading age 3 - 6 years

Cons

• 40 pages, mid-length
• 2012, not the newest
• Disguise tale, silly theme

2

How to Catch a Turkey

Adam Wallace·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 ›

Adam Wallace's 40-page How to Catch a Turkey, ages 2-6, 2018.

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Pros

• STEAM concepts stated
• 40 pages stated
• Reading age 2 - 6 years

Cons

• 40 pages, mid-length
• 2018, not the newest
• School play, one setting

3

Llama Llama Gives Thanks

Anna Dewdney·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 ›

Anna Dewdney's 14-page Llama Llama Gives Thanks, ages 1-3, board book.

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Pros

• Board book, durable pages
• Ages 1-3, youngest here
• Rhyming text stated

Cons

• 14 pages, the shortest here
• 2017, not the newest
• Board book, babies only

4

Pete the Cat

James Dean·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 ›

James Dean's 16-page Pete the Cat: The First Thanksgiving, ages 3-6, flaps.

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Pros

• Lift-the-flap interactive
• Pete the Cat character
• Ages 3 - 6 years stated

Cons

• 16 pages, short
• 2013, not the newest
• Lift-the-flap, wears with use

5

Old Lady Who Swallowed a Turkey

Lucille Colandro·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 ›

Lucille Colandro's 32-page Old Lady Who Swallowed a Turkey, ages 3-6.

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Pros

• Lively rhyme stated
• Series entry stated
• Ages 3 - 6 years stated

Cons

• 32 pages, mid-length
• 2016, not the newest
• Swallow song, silly theme

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More picks to compare

• God Gave Us Thankful Hearts40 pages, 2016, ages 2-6.Check on Amazon
• Charlie Brown Thanksgiving32 pages, 2016, ages 2-7.Check on Amazon
• Being Thankful24 pages, 2014, ages 3-6.Check on Amazon
• Little Critter Thanksgiving24 pages, 2015, ages 2-4.Check on Amazon
• Story of the Pilgrims24 pages, 1995, ages 3-6.Check on Amazon

Compare the picks

Specifications are manufacturer rated as listed, collected 17 October 2026.

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs fit, content, value and age guidance. Age guidance here means the stated reading age. No listing states a warranty. 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 children’s books about thanksgiving

Reading age

The Llama Llama is 1-3; the rest are 2-6 or 3-6. Match the age to the child. For more picture books, see our picture books.

Interactive

The Pete the Cat has lift-the-flap; the rest are read-aloud. Flaps keep small hands busy. For holiday reading, see our children’s books for Xmas.

Series

The Turkey Trouble is book 1 of 10; the rest stand alone. A series gives more to read.

Before you buy

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is for toddlers?

The Llama Llama Gives Thanks is ages 1-3, the youngest here.

Which is the longest?

The Turkey Trouble and How to Catch a Turkey have 40 pages.

Which is interactive?

The Pete the Cat: The First Thanksgiving has lift-the-flap.

Still deciding? Our top pickTurkey Trouble

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Related lists

See all kids and teens lists. Also see our children’s books for Xmas.