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[Grades 3-5] Best Thanksgiving Books

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When leaves start turning red or yellow, the best season of the year is right around the corner. It's time to turn your pages and get ready to say THANK YOU! Books are ordered by reading levels.

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  • Amelia Bedelia Talks Turkey

    Herman Parish, Lynn Sweat

    Paperback (Green Willow Books, Aug. 25, 2009)
    When Amelia Bedelia helps out with the school Thanksgiving play, she causes quite a scene. Let's all give thanks for another funny new Amelia Bedelia story!
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  • Calendar Mysteries #11: November Night

    Ron Roy, John Steven Gurney

    Paperback (Random House Books for Young Readers, Aug. 26, 2014)
    Solve a new November mystery with the younger siblings of the A to Z Mysteries kids! November is for Night... It's November, and there's a new mystery to solve. 'The twins' new neighbors are up to something! It's Thanksgiving, and a mysterious couple has moved in next door. Bradley, Brian, Nate, and Lucy mustwork out the clues: The neighbors have built a tall wooden fence. They've bought some strange parts formaking . . . something. They've even put up a suspicious tent in their backyard, with a big, scary dog to guard it. What could they possibly be hiding?
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  • Judy Moody and Stink: The Wishbone Wish

    Megan McDonald, Peter H. Reynolds

    Hardcover (Candlewick, Sept. 8, 2015)
    On your mark, get set, Gobblers-a-Go-Go! Judy swears she’ll win the race for a Thanksgiving turkey (though Stink has his doubts) in this full-color Moody adventure.The town’s annual Turkey Trot race and festival is coming up, and Judy and Stink are training to win. Judy has decided that she is going to take home the big prize: a fat, juicy turkey. They can taste it already: the moist turkey, the hot gravy, the savory stuffing, the cranberry sauce! Beep! Beep! Beep! That’s the sound of Stink’s Rapidfire Ultra XE611M25 stopwatch going off as Judy and Stink hop, crawl, and climb toward race day. But what if they don’t win a mouthwatering bird? What then? Flying turkey gizzards! Will the Moody family end up starving on T-day, like ye pilgrims of olde, or will Grandma Lou cook up a tasty Franksgiving solution?
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  • Giving Thanks: A Native American Good Morning Message

    Chief Jake Swamp, Erwin Printup, Jr.

    Paperback (Lee & Low Books, July 1, 1997)
    Giving Thanks is a special children's version of the Thanksgiving Address, a message of gratitude that originated with the Native people of upstate New York and Canada and that is still spoken at ceremonial gatherings held by the Iroquois, or Six Nations. Full color.
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  • Junie B. Jones #28: Turkeys We Have Loved and Eaten

    Barbara Park, Denise Brunkus

    Paperback (Random House Books for Young Readers, Sept. 23, 2014)
    Meet the World's Funniest First Grader--Junie B. Jones! Gobble, gobble! With over 50 million books in print, Barbara Park's New York Times bestselling chapter book series, Junie B. Jones, is a classroom favorite and has been keeping kids laughing-and reading-for over 20 years! In the 28th Junie B. Jones book, Room One is getting ready for their very own Thanksgiving feast! There's even a contest to see which room can write the best thankful list. The winners will get a pumpkin pie! Only it turns out being thankful is harder than it looks. Because Junie B. is not actually thankful for Tattletale May. Or squash. Or scratchy pilgrim costumes. And pumpkin pie makes her vomit, anyway. Will Room One win the disgusting pie? Can May and Junie B. find common ground? Or will this Thanksgiving feast turn into a Turkey Day Disaster? USA TODAY: "Junie B. is the darling of the young-reader set." Publisher's Weekly: "Park convinces beginning readers that Junie B.-and reading-are lots of fun." Kirkus Reviews: "Junie's swarms of young fans will continue to delight in her unique take on the world....A hilarious, first-rate read-aloud." Time Magazine: "Junie B. Jones is a feisty six-year-old with an endearing penchant for honesty."
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  • Molly's Pilgrim

    Barbara Cohen

    Hardcover (HarperCollins, Oct. 14, 1998)
    A modern Thanksgiving classic about an immigrant girl who comes to identify with the story of the Pilgrims, as she seeks religious freedom and a home in a new land. As Molly nears her first Thanksgiving in the New World, she doesn't find much to be thankful for. Her classmates giggle at her Yiddish accent and make fun of her unfamiliarity with American ways.Molly's embarrassed when her mother helps with a class Thanksgiving project by making a little doll that looks more like a Russian refugee than a New England Pilgrim. But the tiny modern-day pilgrim just might help Molly to find a place for herself in America. The touching story tells how recent immigrant Molly leads her third-grade class to discover that it takes all kinds of pilgrims to make a Thanksgiving. Originally published in 1983, Molly's Pilgrim inspired the 1986 Academy Award-winning live-action short film.
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  • Fancy Nancy: Our Thanksgiving Banquet

    Jane O'Connor, Robin Preiss Glasser

    Paperback (HarperFestival, Aug. 23, 2011)
    This is going to be the best Thanksgiving ever! There is a gigantic turkey, Grandma's secret stuffing, green beans, and authentic cranberry sauce, the kind that doesn't come out of a can. And desserts? There are almost too many to count.Join Nancy and her entire family as they celebrate Thanksgiving in this brand-new storybook, complete with more than thirty swanky stickers.
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  • Magic Tree House #27: Thanksgiving on Thursday

    Mary Pope Osborne, Sal Murdocca

    Library Binding (Random House Books for Young Readers, Oct. 8, 2002)
    The Magic Tree House whisks Jack and Annie back to the eve of the first Thanksgiving. There they meet the Pilgrims as well as Squanto, a Native American who helped them. The story offers an age-appropriate, in-depth picture of what life was really like for early settlers, as well as the usual Magic Tree House adventure and excitement.
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  • The Best Thanksgiving Ever!

    Teddy Slater, Ethan Long

    Paperback (Cartwheel Books, Oct. 1, 2007)
    A sweet story about the importance of family, being thankful, and love--as told by a family of turkeys, with a hilarious surprise at the end!"It's late in November, the blue sky is clear,and Thanksgiving Day is finally here.So many hugs and so many kisses.So many 'Happy Thanksgiving' wishes."A family gathers to celebrate all that they're grateful for. But wait, there's a twist! This funny, rhyming read-aloud story features turkeys who celebrate Thanksgiving! The Turkey clan arrives from all over the world, excited for their annual feast. But what will they eat?It turns out everyone is thankful . . . for Thanksgiving corn!
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  • Thank You, Mr. Falker

    Patricia Polacco

    Hardcover (Philomel Books, April 12, 2012)
    The real-life, classic story of a dyslexic girl and the teacher who would not let her fail. A perfect gift for teachers and for reading students of any age.Patricia Polacco is now one of America's most loved children's book creators, but once upon a time, she was a little girl named Trisha starting school. Trisha could paint and draw beautifully, but when she looked at words on a page, all she could see was jumble. It took a very special teacher to recognize little Trisha's dyslexia: Mr. Falker, who encouraged her to overcome her reading disability. Patricia Polacco will never forget him, and neither will we.This inspiring story is available in a deluxe slipcased edition, complete with a personal letter to readers from Patricia Polacco herself. Thank You, Mr. Falker will make a beautiful gift for the special child who needs encouragement&150or any special teacher who has made a difference in the child's life.
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  • Thank You, Stinky Face

    Lisa McCourt, Cyd Moore

    Board book (Cartwheel Books, Sept. 25, 2018)
    In this new, original Stinky Face story, Mama tells her little one that she's thankful for him. Stinky Face, of course, has a question. With greasy, taco-covered hands and face, he asks, Mama, are you thankful for me even right now?Being thankful is a perennial theme for this young age group. Learning to appreciate yourself, the people around you, and people's unique gifts and individuality is a lesson that is more crucial now than ever, and that is what is at the heart of this touching story. Author Lisa McCourt and illustrator Cyd Moore team up once again to bring us a truly endearing tale of mother and child that's perfect for the Thanksgiving holiday but can live all year round. This new story is the closest in feel and tone to the original, and with over one and a half million copies sold of I Love You, Stinky Face, we're confident this one will truly resonate with this audience.
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  • Thanksgiving Turkeys

    Patrick Merrick

    Library Binding (Child's World, Jan. 1, 2015)
    This book introduces the holiday of Thanksgiving, its origins, and explains how the turkey came to be a symbol of the day.
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  • Pilgrims: A Nonfiction Companion to Magic Tree House #27: Thanksgiving on Thursday

    Mary Pope Osborne, Natalie Pope Boyce, Sal Murdocca

    Paperback (Random House Books for Young Readers, Sept. 27, 2005)
    Learn the true story of Thanksgiving with the #1 bestselling chapter book series of all time, Magic Tree House! Track the facts with Jack and Annie in this nonfiction companion to Magic Tree House #27: Thanksgiving on Thursday! When Jack and Annie got back from their adventure in Magic Tree House #27: Thanksgiving on Thursday, they had lots of questions. What was it like to sail on the Mayflower? Why did the Pilgrims choose Plymouth? How did they survive in their new home? What did they really eat at the first Thanksgiving? Find out the answers to these questions and more as Jack and Annie track the facts. Filled with up-to-date information, photos, illustrations, and fun tidbits from Jack and Annie, the Magic Tree House Fact Trackers are the perfect way for kids to find out more about the topics they discovered in their favorite Magic Tree House adventures. And teachers can use Fact Trackers alongside their Magic Tree House fiction companions to meet common core text pairing needs. Did you know that there's a Magic Tree House book for every kid? Magic Tree House: Adventures with Jack and Annie, perfect for readers who are just beginning chapter books Merlin Missions: More challenging adventures for the experienced reader Super Edition: A longer and more dangerous adventure Fact Trackers: Nonfiction companions to your favorite Magic Tree House adventures Have more fun with Jack and Annie at MagicTreeHouse.com!
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  • The Great Thanksgiving Escape

    Mark Fearing

    Hardcover (Candlewick, Sept. 9, 2014)
    A hilarious, kid-friendly take on Thanksgiving — full of family, food, and lots of fun!It’s another Thanksgiving at Grandma’s. Gavin expects a long day of boredom and being pestered by distantly related toddlers, but his cousin Rhonda has a different idea: make a break for it — out of the kids’ room to the swing set in the backyard! Gavin isn’t so sure, especially when they encounter vicious guard dogs (in homemade sweaters), a hallway full of overly affectionate aunts, and worse yet, the great wall of butts! Will they manage to avoid the obstacles and find some fun before turkey time? Or will they be captured before they’ve had a taste of freedom?
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  • Squanto and the First Thanksgiving

    Joyce K. Kessel, Lisa Donze

    Paperback (First Avenue Editions TM, Aug. 1, 2003)
    When the Pilgrims landed near Plymouth, Massachusetts, in 1620 they were unprepared for the challenges they would face. Many Pilgrims died until Squanto, a Patuxet Indian, taught them how to survive. To give thanks for a good year, the Pilgrims threw a huge feast, later called Thanksgiving.
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  • Pete the Cat: The First Thanksgiving

    James Dean, Kimberly Dean

    Paperback (HarperFestival, Oct. 1, 2013)
    New York Times bestselling author and artist James Dean celebrates the true meaning of Thanksgiving with our favorite groovy cat—Pete!Starring in your school’s Thanksgiving play would make even the coolest cat nervous, including Pete the Cat! But the show must go on….With more than ten flaps that open to reveal hidden surprises, Pete the Cat: The First Thanksgiving is sure to be a holiday hit and a favorite for Pete the Cat fans.
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  • Thanksgiving Turkey Trouble

    Abby Klein, John McKinley

    Paperback (The Blue Sky Press, Sept. 1, 2008)
    With more than two million copies sold, READY, FREDDY! is a huge success with first-grade readers!It's a Thanksgiving disaster for Freddy Thresher! When his first-grade class begins planning the annual Thanksgiving play, everyone will have a role. Freddy's friends are all happy to be Pilgrims and Indians, but there is one part that nobody wants to be-the turkey! Freddy hopes he won't get the part, but-you guessed it-he gets the unlucky role. Now Freddy has to find a way to play the turkey while everyone is laughing at him.
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  • The Berenstain Bears Give Thanks

    Jan Berenstain, Mike Berenstain

    Paperback (Zonderkidz, July 13, 2009)
    The Berenstain cubs act out the first Thanksgiving complete with costumes, props, and a full Thanksgiving feast. But will Sister Bear’s pet turkey play the part of dinner? The Berenstain Bears Give Thanks teaches how God provided for the pilgrims and reminds children of God’s many blessings.
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  • The Pilgrims' First Thanksgiving

    Ann McGovern, Elroy Freem

    School & Library Binding (Turtleback, Oct. 1, 1993)
    FOR USE IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ONLY. Describes the voyage of the Mayflower, the difficulties encountered by the Pilgrims during their first year in the New World, and recounts how they celebrated their first harvest.
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  • Thank You, Omu!

    Oge Mora

    Hardcover (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, Oct. 2, 2018)
    In this remarkable author-illustrator debut that's perfect for fans of Last Stop on Market Street and Extra Yarn, a generous woman is rewarded by her community. Everyone in the neighborhood dreams of a taste of Omu's delicious stew! One by one, they follow their noses toward the scrumptious scent. And one by one, Omu offers a portion of her meal. Soon the pot is empty. Has she been so generous that she has nothing left for herself? Debut author-illustrator Oge Mora brings to life a heartwarming story of sharing and community in colorful cut-paper designs as luscious as Omu's stew, with an extra serving of love. An author's note explains that "Omu" (pronounced AH-moo) means "queen" in the Igbo language of her parents, but growing up, she used it to mean "Grandma." This book was inspired by the strong female role models in Oge Mora's life.
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  • T is for Turkey: A True Thanksgiving Story

    Tanya Lee Stone, Gerald Kelley

    Paperback (Price Stern Sloan, Aug. 20, 2009)
    Little ones will love learning about Thanksgiving in Tanya Lee Stone's newest shaped alphabet book. Join in as the elementary school puts on a play that tells the true story of the first Thanksgiving. Rhyming couplets that flow through the alphabet help kids celebrate everything from Harvest to Pilgrims to Turkey.
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  • Thanksgiving on Plymouth Plantation

    Diane Stanley, Holly Berry

    Hardcover (HarperCollins, Aug. 17, 2004)
    Wouldn't it be great to be part of that famous Thanksgiving feast at Plymouth Plantation back in 1621? Then join the Time-Traveling Twins as they sit down to an enormous FOUR-DAY feast, complete with puddings, pompions, pottages, and, of course, turkeys. Meet Squanto and the other Native Americans. Help with the harvest. Find out what it was like to be a Pilgrim.Once again, historian Diane Stanley's fun and impeccably researched text is brought to life by Holly Berry's accessible illustrations. Word balloons, engaging characters, and all sorts of wonderful details about the beginning of this American tradition await the lucky adventurer who journeys back with the Time-Traveling Twins.
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  • Thanksgiving Day from the Black Lagoon

    Mike Thaler, Jared Lee

    Library Binding (Abdo Group, Jan. 1, 2014)
    November is here and Hubie's class is ready to give thanks for the things that they enjoy most--football, turkey, and vacation. They're even going to have a parade! But how can Hubie be thankful when none of his friends chooses to work on a float with him? And how can he possibly finish all of that food for Thanksgiving dinner? Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Chapter Books is an imprint of Spotlight, a division of ABDO.
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  • If You Were a Kid at the First Thanksgiving

    Melisa Sarno, Lluis Farre

    Paperback (Children's Press, Feb. 1, 2017)
    Discover what happened during the very first Thanksgiving!As one of the few young children living in the Plymouth colony, Miles Allterton is always looking to make new friends. In a nearby Wampanoag settlement, a girl named Aquina wants to hunt with her father and brothers. When the two children meet during preparations for a harvest feast, they quickly strike up a friendship. Readers (Ages 7-9) will follow along as the children and their families attend the first Thanksgiving celebration.
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  • A Thanksgiving Wish

    Michael J. Rosen, John Thompson

    Hardcover (Blue Sky Press, Oct. 1, 1999)
    Amanda is worried that Thanksgiving won't be the same without her beloved grandmother Bubbe, but when she remembers Bubbe's favorite custom--making wishes on the wishbones she saved throughout the year--Amanda and her family find comfort and solace in tradition.
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  • Dr. Carbles is Losing His Marbles!

    Dan Gutman, Jim Paillot

    Paperback (HarperCollins, Aug. 21, 2007)
    With more than 23 million books sold, the My Weird School series really gets kids reading! This chapter book is an excellent choice to share during homeschooling, in particular for children ages 6 to 8 who are ready to read independently. It’s a fun way to keep your child engaged and as a supplement for activity books for children.In the nineteenth book in the My Weird School series, it's Thanksgiving! A.J. is thankful for four days off from school. But he's not thankful for Dr. Carbles, who is grumpier than ever. Dr. Carbles even fires Mr. Klutz! Will A.J. and his friends be able to save their principal's job?Perfect for reluctant readers and word lovers alike, Dan Gutman's hugely popular My Weird School series has something for everyone. Don't miss the hilarious adventures of A.J. and the gang.
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  • 'Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving

    Dav Pilkey

    Paperback (Scholastic Paperbacks, Oct. 1, 2004)
    From Dav Pilkey, creator of the New York Times bestselling Dog Man and Captain Underpants series, comes a tall tale of tall-tailed toms!On the night before Thanksgiving, a group of children visit a turkey farm and meet Farmer Mack Nuggett and his coop of cockerels: Ollie, Stanley, Larry, Moe, Wally, Beaver, Shemp, and Groucho. The children and turkeys giggle and gobble, and everything is gravy. As the trip comes to an end, the children leave the farm with full hearts -- and bulging bellies -- reminding people and poultry alike that there is much to be thankful for.
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  • Claudia and the First Thanksgiving #91

    Ann Matthews Martin

    Library Binding (Scholastic, Nov. 15, 1995)
    Writing a Thanksgiving play for the third-grade class she coaches, Claudia is disappointed when some parents object to her less-than-traditional themes, and she must choose between letting the other kids down or fighting censorship.
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  • AN Outlaw Thanksgiving

    Emily Arnold McCully

    Paperback (Puffin, Sept. 4, 2000)
    While travelling with her mother cross-country by train in 1896, Claire Maher unexpectedly shares Thanksgiving dinner with the notorious outlaw, Butch Cassidy. Reprint.
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  • The Berenstain Bears' Thanksgiving

    Stan Berenstain, Jan Berenstain

    Hardcover (Cartwheel Books, Oct. 1, 1997)
    The Berenstain Bear family prepares for a special Thanksgiving celebration, unaware that the legendary monster of all monsters, Bigpaw, is coming to Bear Country.
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  • Squanto's Journey: The Story of the First Thanksgiving

    Joseph Bruchac, Greg Shed

    Paperback (HMH Books for Young Readers, Sept. 1, 2007)
    In 1620 an English ship called the Mayflower landed on the shores inhabited by the Pokanoket, and it was Squanto who welcomed the newcomers and taught them how to survive. When a good harvest was gathered, the people feasted together--a tradition that continues almost four hundred years later.
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  • The Turkey That Ate My Father

    Dean Marney

    Paperback (Apple, Oct. 1, 1995)
    A humorous holiday tale in the tradition of The Christmas Tree that Ate My Mother places dad in the hot spot when he opens up a Thanksgiving decoration and gets sucked into its wildly expanding crepe-paper body. Original.
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  • All About Turkeys

    Jim Arnosky

    Paperback (Scholastic, April 1, 2008)
    Part of a major reprinting of renowned naturalist Jim Arnosky's beloved All About series, All About Turkeys is a thorough and colorful introduction to the world of turkeys.In Spring 08, Scholastic Nonfiction is relaunching Jim Arnosky's treasured All About series with all-new paperback covers! In All About Turkeys, Arnosky shows how turkeys grow and live, answering kids' biggest questions about turkeys, such as: Where do wild turkeys live? What do they eat? Where do they sleep? How fast can they fly? Packed with intriguing information and brought to life by Arnosky's vibrant watercolors, this book will fascinate young readers.
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  • If You Were At The First Thanksgiving

    Anne Kamma, Bert Dodson

    Paperback (Scholastic Paperbacks, Nov. 1, 2001)
    Written from a child's perspective, an addition to a popular series answers questions about this historic harvest festival, life in the new settlement of Plymouth, and the Pilgrims' friendship with Squanto, Samoset, and the other native people. Original.
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  • . . . If You Sailed on the Mayflower in 1620

    Ann McGovern, Anna DiVito

    Paperback (Scholastic Paperbacks, Nov. 1, 1991)
    What if you sailed on the Mayflower?A different time...a different place...What if you were there?If you sailed on the Mayflower--What could you take with you?--How would you keep clean?--What would you do when you first got to shore?Get ready to go back in time to 1620 to discover what it was like to sail the Mayflower!
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  • Gooney Bird and the Room Mother

    Lois Lowry, Middy Thomas

    Hardcover (HMH Books for Young Readers, April 4, 2005)
    Gooney Bird Greene knows exactly where she likes to be: “right smack in the middle of everything.” Sure enough, her colorful fashion sense, exuberant personality, and “absolutely true” stories land her at the center of attention most of the time, but as Mrs. Pidgeon’s second grade class prepares for their Thanksgiving pageant, the lead role of Squanto is still up for grabs. And so is the role of Room Mother, but with each of the children’s parents already overloaded, there are no volunteers to bring cupcakes to their play. So Gooney Bird promises to find one—in exchange for the lead. There’s just one catch: the person she convinces to be Room Mother insists on remaining incognito. As the class struggles to decorate the mural, make costumes, and learn their songs for the play, the suspense builds: will the pageant be a success? And who is their mysterious Room Mother?Two-time Newbery Award–winning author Lois Lowry has once again captured the eager energy of an elementary school classroom and the hilarious antics and anecdotes of its students, especially those of the irrepressible Gooney Bird Greene herself. In her second literary appearance, Gooney Bird is back with more “absolutely true” stories to tell, more tips for her fellow aspiring storytellers, and a few challenging vocabulary words to share, too.
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  • Thanksgiving: Why We Celebrate It the Way We Do

    Martin Hintz, Kate Hintz

    Hardcover (Capstone Press, Sept. 1, 1998)
    Discusses the origins of Thanksgiving and how we celebrate the holiday.
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  • Thanksgiving Graces

    Mark Kimball Moulton, David Wenzel

    Paperback (WorthyKids, Sept. 4, 2018)
    Enjoy the tale of a Thanksgiving feast that grows and grows with this paperback edition of a holiday favorite. A young boy looks on as his mom and grandma are busy getting dinner ready. Soon Dad arrives with a family friend, followed by a sibling with a college roommate, an aunt and cousin, and a friend with relatives in tow. As the child worries whether there will be enough for all, Grandma reminds him that the more we show our love and care, the more there always seems to be to share. With its heartwarming text and rich, warm illustrations, this story will remind readers young and old of the spirit of Thanksgiving.
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  • Mayflower 1620: A New Look at a Pilgrim Voyage

    Plimoth Plantation, Peter Arenstam, John Kemp, Catherine O'Neill Grace, Sisse Brimberg

    Paperback (National Geographic Children's Books, Sept. 11, 2007)
    Plimoth Plantation and the National Geographic Society come together to tell the true story behind the legendary voyage of the Mayflower. A meticulously researched work, Mayflower 1620 offers children a compelling, fresh account of this much-told story. Vibrant photography of a rare reenactment using the Mayflower II leads readers imaginatively into the narrative. The vivid and informative text explores the story behind the exhibits at the living-history museum in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Primary sources record what the voyagers wore, what they ate, and telling details of their journey. First-person accounts reveal the hopes and dreams they carried. Readers share in the long hours at sea, and in the dangers faced after landfall. Extensive end notes, a map, a detailed chronology, and a bibliography round out the full story of the Mayflower. Readers experience a new look at this seminal historical event through the eyes of those who now regularly inhabit the world of the pilgrims—the actors who interpret the Pilgrim Voyage. This eye-opening book teaches children the value of closely reexamining everything we think we know.
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  • The Pilgrims

    R. Conrad Stein

    Paperback (Childrens Pr, March 1, 1996)
    Discusses the daily life of the Pilgrims in Plymouth Colony.
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  • The First Thanksgiving

    Andrew Santella

    Library Binding (Childrens Pr, March 1, 2003)
    Discusses the history of New Plymouth Colony in Massachusetts, the relationship between the colonists and the native Wampanoag people, and the harvest festival which would later become Thanksgiving Day.
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  • The Thanksgiving Story

    Alice Dalgliesh, Helen Sewell

    Hardcover (Atheneum Books for Young Readers, Aug. 31, 1988)
    In this festive Caldecott Honor–winning picture book, Alice Dalgiesh brings to life the origin of the Thanksgiving holiday for readers of all ages.Giles, Constance and Damaris Hopkins are all passengers aboard the crowded Mayflower, journeying to the New World to start a new life. Things get a little more cramped when their baby brother Oceanus is born during the passage. However, when they arrive, there are even worse challenges to face as the Pilgrims are subjected to hunger, cold, and sickness that put their small colony in great danger. With the help of the Native Americans though, they might just be able to survive their first year in this strange land—and have a November harvest to celebrate for generations!
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  • What Was the First Thanksgiving?

    Joan Holub, Lauren Mortimer, James Bennett

    Paperback (Penguin Workshop, Aug. 15, 2013)
    The history of the feast! After their first harvest in 1621, the Pilgrims at Plymouth shared a three-day feast with their Native American neighbors. Of course, the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag didn’t know it at the time, but they were making history, celebrating what would become a national holiday.
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  • We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga

    Traci Sorell, Frane Lessac

    Hardcover (Charlesbridge, Sept. 4, 2018)
    2019 Sibert Honor Book2019 Orbis Pictus Honor BookNPR's Guide To 2018’s Great Reads2018 Book Launch Award (SCBWI)Kirkus Reviews Best Books of 2018School Library Journal Best Books of 20182018 JLG selection2019 Reading the West Picture Book AwardThe Cherokee community is grateful for blessings and challenges that each season brings. This is modern Native American life as told by an enrolled citizen of the Cherokee Nation.The word otsaliheliga (oh-jah-LEE-hay-lee-gah) is used by members of the Cherokee Nation to express gratitude. Beginning in the fall with the new year and ending in summer, follow a full Cherokee year of celebrations and experiences. Written by a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, this look at one group of Native Americans is appended with a glossary and the complete Cherokee syllabary, originally created by Sequoyah."A gracious, warm, and loving celebration of community and gratitude"—Kirkus Reviews STARRED REVIEW"The book underscores the importance of traditions and carrying on a Cherokee way of life"—Horn Book STARRED REVIEW"This informative and authentic introduction to a thriving ancestral and ceremonial way of life is perfect for holiday and family sharing"—School Library Journal STARRED REVIEW"An elegant representation"—Shelf Awareness STARRED REVIEW
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  • Thank You, Sarah: The Woman Who Saved Thanksgiving

    Laurie Halse Anderson, Matt Faulkner

    Hardcover (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, Oct. 1, 2002)
    From the author of Speak and Fever, 1793, comes the never-before-told tale of Sarah Josepha Hale, the extraordinary "lady editor" who made Thanksgiving a national holiday!Thanksgiving might have started with a jubilant feast on Plymouth's shore. But by the 1800s America's observance was waning. None of the presidents nor Congress sought to revive the holiday. And so one invincible "lady editor" name Sarah Hale took it upon herself to rewrite the recipe for Thanksgiving as we know it today. This is an inspirational, historical, all-out boisterous tale about perseverance and belief: In 1863 Hale's thirty-five years of petitioning and orations got Abraham Lincoln thinking. He signed the Thanksgiving Proclamation that very year, declaring it a national holiday. This story is a tribute to Hale, her fellow campaigners, and to the amendable government that affords citizens the power to make the world a better place!
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  • Cranberry Thanksgiving

    Wende Devlin, Harry Devlin

    Hardcover (Purple House Press, Sept. 18, 2012)
    Every year Grandmother invited a guest for Thanksgiving dinner and allowed Maggie to do the same. "Ask someone poor or lonely," she always said. Thanksgiving was Grandmother's favorite day of the year. The cooking was done and her famous cranberry bread was cooling on a wooden board. But she wasn't happy to find out Maggie had invited the unsavory Mr. Whiskers to dinner. Would her secret cranberry bread recipe be safe with him in the house? After a long absence this delightful 1971 classic is back. So is Grandmother's secret recipe!
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  • The Mayflower & the Pilgrims' New World

    Nathaniel Philbrick

    Hardcover (Putnam Juvenile, Sept. 4, 2008)
    In stunning prose, Nathaniel Philbrick evokes the drama of the voyage of the Mayflower and the eerie emptiness of coastal Massachusetts that greeted the Pilgrims. He tells how the settlers were able to gain the friendship of many powerful Native American leaders, including the charismatic Massasoit, and how they worked together to maintain peace. But the promise of the First Thanksgiving was broken with the next generation of leaders. Fifty-six years after the Mayflower?s landing, a horrifying conflict, known today as King Philip?s war, nearly wiped out the colonists and Natives alike, and forever altered the new country. The Mayflower and the Pilgrims? New World is the perfect introduction for young readers to this epic story, at once tragic and heroic. Adapted specially for middle-grade readers, this book features a wealth of supplemental materials such as new maps and photographs, a time line, and a list of characters for added comprehension and accessibility.
  • Thanksgiving Thief

    Carolyn Keene, Macky Pamintuan

    Paperback (Aladdin, Sept. 9, 2008)
    Wild turkeys are running loose in River Heights! Can the Clue Crew round them up before they ruin the Thanksgiving feast?River Heights Elementary School is having a Thanksgiving pageant, and Nancy, Bess, and George want to dress up as Native Americans! But when the town starts preparing for Thanksgiving dinner, the girls end up smelling a mystery instead of turkey. As Thanksgiving food around town starts to disappear, the Clue Crew realizes that someone is trying to destroy the holiday! Can the Crew catch these birdbrained bandits? Or will Thanksgiving dinner be a recipe for disaster?
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  • 1621: A New Look at Thanksgiving

    Catherine O'Neill Grace, Sisse Brimberg, Plimoth Plantation

    Hardcover (National Geographic Children's Books, Sept. 1, 2001)
    Countering the prevailing, traditional story of the first Thanksgiving, with its black-hatted, silver-buckled Pilgrims; blanket-clad, be-feathered Indians; cranberry sauce; pumpkin pie; and turkey, this lushly illustrated photo-essay presents a more measured, balanced, and historically accurate version of the three-day harvest celebration in 1621.
    S
  • Gracias, the Tanksgiving Turkey

    Joy Cowley, Joe Cepeda

    Hardcover (Scholastic, Sept. 1, 1996)
    Young Puerto Rican boy Miguel refuses to go anywhere without his turkey companion, a bird too dear for the Thanksgiving table, and the pair delights everyone in their New York City neighborhood.
    K
  • The Thanksgiving Door

    Debby Atwell

    Hardcover (HMH Books for Young Readers, Sept. 29, 2003)
    When Ed and Ann’s turkey dinner burns, they think their Thanksgiving is ruined. But what appears to be a disaster becomes a blessing in disguise when Ed and Ann unknowingly intrude on an immigrant family’s own Thanksgiving celebration at their new restaurant, The New World Café. Once Grandmother silences her despairing family and invites the unexpected customers to join them, they all share an evening of friendship, good food, and lots of dancing—reminding everyone that Thanksgiving is about opening one’s heart in welcome to the strangers who become friends and the disappointments that bring unexpected joys.
    K
  • The Nutcracker

    New York City Ballet, Valeria Docampo

    Hardcover (Little Simon, Sept. 20, 2016)
    The New York City Ballet presents a classic ballet tale for a modern ballet lover with George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker, a holiday favorite.The New York City Ballet is known for showcasing classic stories of the ballet with their trademark stylish and modern sensibility. For the first time, this beloved holiday story is told based on George Balanchine’s quintessential production. The storyline of this gorgeous picture book mimics the choreography of the famous ballet and the illustrations are inspired by the backdrops and scenery from the actual production. The New York City Ballet’s production of the Nutcracker is considered to be “the” leading production in the world. A holiday tradition for many families, now readers who can’t travel to New York will be able to experience this colorful celebratory story. A must-have for every aspiring ballerina’s library and a holiday tradition for every family’s bookshelf.
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