Thematic Lists

In this Wampanoag story told in a Native tradition, two kids from the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe learn the story of Wee chumun (corn) and the first Thanksgiving. The Thanksgiving story that most Americans know celebrates the Pilgrims. But without members of the Wampanoag tribe who already lived on the land where the Pilgrims settled, the Pilgrims would never have made it through their first winter. And without Wee chumun (corn), the Native people wouldn't have helped. An important picture book honoring both the history and tradition that surrounds the story of the first Thanksgiving.

What if you lived when the English colonists and the Wampanoag people shared a feast at Plimoth? What would you have worn? What would you have eaten? What was the true story of the feast that we now know as the first Thanksgiving and how did it become a national holiday? Chris Newell answers all these questions and more in this comprehensive dive into the feast at Plimoth and the history leading up to it. Carefully crafted to explore both sides of this historical event, this book is a great choice for Thanksgiving units, and for teaching children about this popular holiday.

Although Mel and his family have lived in America for several years, they have never celebrated Thanksgiving, just the Jewish holidays. But this year, after Papa wins a live turkey at work and brings it home on the subway, Mama invites all their relatives to their Brooklyn tenement for dinner. There's just one thing--Mel has a soft spot for the turkey!

A Thanksgiving story featuring a large turkey with a big problem... ...he's been invited to EVERYONE'S home for dinner! With five homes to visit -- Horse's, Pig's, Sheep and Goat's, Cow's, and Mouse's --Turkey knows there'll be a ton of food to eat. But there'll also be friends and their families who can't wait to celebrate the holiday with Turkey! Can this very plump bird make it through every meal without bursting? A silly, read-aloud story featuring food, friends, and one hilarious turkey!

From the cranberry bog to the Thanksgiving table, join Sam and his family as they harvest a classic American fruit. When the vines hang heavy with berries that the autumn winds have turned deep red, it's time for cranberries, and Sam is finally old enough to help with the harvest! This charming, lyrical picture book follows Sam and his family as they raise the water in the bog, pick the cranberries, and gather the fruit for processing. It's a story of modern family farming in action, showing readers where their food comes from but mostly delighting them along the way.

Thanksgiving smells fill the house. Grace is making a list of the things she's thankful for: yummy food, a loving family, and the fact that her dog didn't eat all the pies.

Examines the history and lore of Thanksgiving from A for "across the Atlantic Ocean" to Z for the "zeppelin-like" balloons in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

Every year on the fourth Thursday of November, Americans celebrate with a Thanksgiving meal. But what is the origin of this tradition? Did it really begin when the Pilgrims and Native Americans got together in 1621 in Plymouth, Massachusetts? In her signature narrative nonfiction style, Penny Colman paints a fascinating picture of this cherished American holiday. She examines numerous Thanksgiving claims which were antecedents to the national holiday we celebrate today, raises the turkey question--does everyone eat turkey on Thanksgiving?--and shows Sarah Josepha Hale's instrumental role in establishing the holiday. Get ready to delve into the rich past of Thanksgiving in an enlightening history that uncovers the true story.

All the animals in the barnyard ask the cows Minnie and Moo to hide them so that they will not become Thanksgiving dinner

Everyone's favorite fun-filled, family-filled, food-filled holiday is almost here! Follow along as the feast is prepared, cousins are greeted, and everyone gathers around the table, all with an extra helping of holiday fun. This family fun read-aloud makes the perfect gift to get young readers excited for this festive fall holiday!

It's Thanksgiving and four adorable mice are putting on a play for their woodland friends in this delightful read-aloud, the fourth book about the holiday mice. Lively verse introduces beginning readers to basic words and rhyming sounds and tells the story of the very first Thanksgiving, when the Pilgrim mice traveled across the sea and settled in America. The simple story-within-a-story format, accompanied by colorful, action-filled illustrations of mice in costume, also serves as a basic introduction to theater.

Turk's parents are proud of him, the biggest, strongest, most graceful bird at Wishbone Farm. "He's a dancer," says his mother. "He's an athlete," says his father. "He's a goner," says his little brother, Runt. But no one ever listens to Runt -- even after people with seasonal plans and roasting pans begin showing up at Wishbone Farm, or even after the juiciest turkeys are chosen, one by one. "Chosen for what?" Turk asks. No one wants to hear Runt's answer. But you will laugh at what he has to do to get the family's attention. They are, after all, turkeys. And rarely has a story about them been told with such warmth and cleverness. Or with such witty pictures.

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!

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.

In this exuberant Thanksgiving story, a little girl goes on a last-minute errand for her mother. Along the way, she thanks all the familiar things she loves--her warm boots, the song of the birds, the pretty clouds in the November sky. And when she gets home from her errand, her family thanks her for what she has brought. David Milgrim's spare, repetitive text and colorful, contemporary illustrations are perfect for beginning readers, and leave no doubt about how much there is in the world to be thankful for!

Over the river Mama, Papa, and Baby Turkey embark for their vegetarian Thanksgiving Feast. But when a hungry boy and his dog start sniffing around, the turkeys have got to think fast before they become the main course! Acclaimed artist Derek Anderson's glorious autumn artwork adds heaps of holiday humor to Lydia Maria Child's classic Thanksgiving song. And readers of all ages will be wondering who gobbles up whom until the dessert finale.

Pumpkins, pilgrims, and Indians punctuate this quintessential American holiday ABC picture book. With an eye on history and adventure, this ABC book cheerfully illuminates the classic American holiday. Each entry includes a few sentences explaining the word's significance in Thanksgiving's history. Children will relate to their own holiday traditions while learning the origins of the annual fall event.

Perfect for Thanksgiving, this warm and humourous picture book gently reminds us to give thanks for the little things. The Thanksgiving feast is over. Leftover turkey and pumpkin pie litter the table. Mouse peeps out of his hidey-hole and spots a small green pea. the perfect feast for one mouse. Yes, one green pea, one red cranberry, one plate of mashed potatoes, and one roasted turkey, that should make a very fine feast for Mouse. But can he get it all back to his hidey-hole?

Freddy is unhappy about playing the turkey in his first-grade Thanksgiving Day play, especially with Max bullying and teasing him, but his grandfather and principal both give him ideas for making the part fun.

Turkey is in trouble. Bad trouble. The kind of trouble where it's almost Thanksgiving...and you're the main course. But Turkey has an idea--what if he doesn't look like a turkey? What if he looks like another animal instead? After many hilarious attempts, Turkey comes up with the perfect disguise to make this Thanksgiving the best ever! Wendi Silvano's comical story is perfectly matched by Lee Harper's watercolors.

When Marc decides to enter the school talent contest, he is at first discouraged because, unlike all the other kids, he can't come up with a talent. But during a trip to the school library, he picks out a book about Harry Houdini and decides that his talent will be magic. He practices all week for the big contest, and when he wins the prize, he buys a Thanksgiving feast for his friend, whose father recently lost his job. This uplifting picture book for young readers encourages kids to develop their abilities and use their talents to help not only themselves but others.

Today is Thanksgiving and George is so excited! He loves everything about the holiday--from the parade with music, jugglers, and big balloons to the delicious turkey shared with family and friends. But even on Thanksgiving the curious little monkey manages to stir up some trouble! Follow George through his Thanksgiving adventures with the short poems in this board book.

Let's have a parade! Meet the master puppeteer who invented the first balloons for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Melissa Sweet brings to life the inspirational story of the puppeteer who invented the giant balloons floating in the sky during the annual parade celebrating Thanksgiving. The Caldecott Honor artist brilliantly captures the essence of Tony Sarg, a self-taught immigrant with a fascinating imagination. The collage illustrations coupled with Sweet's storytelling portray Sarg's joy in his childhood inventions and his ingenious balloon creations that still bring delight to viewers around the country. This nonfiction illustrated book will capture the hearts of all ages.

What have you always wanted to know about Indians? Do you think you should already know the answers -- or suspect that your questions may be offensive? In matter-of-fact responses to over 120 questions, both thoughtful and outrageous, modern and historical, Ojibwe scholar and cultural preservationist Anton Treuer gives a frank, funny, and sometimes personal tour of what's up with Indians, anyway.
Includes a section entitled "What is the real story of Thanksgiving?"

Pete the Cat participates in a school play about the first Thanksgiving. He makes new friends and learns a lot about what it was like to be a Pilgrim and live off the land, as well as to be thankful for everything. Lift the flaps to see what other adventures and facts came about during the play

An American tradition for almost four hundred years, the Thanksgiving celebration would not have been possible without one man -- Squanto In 1620 an English ship called the Mayflower landed on the shores inhabited by the Pokanoket people, and it was Squanto who welcomed the newcomers and taught them how to survive in the rugged land they called Plymouth. He showed them how to plant corn, beans and squash and how to hunt and fish. When a good harvest was gathered in the fall, the two peoples feasted together in the spirit of peace and brotherhood.

Turkey Hollow is a picturesque town where hundreds of years ago, unbeknownst to the citizens, a meteorite landed nearby a small brook on the outskirts of town. One Thanksgiving, while young Timmy Henderson practices his guitar, hes accompanied by strange, unearthly, musical sounds. That meteorite wasnt a rock at all but an egg holding seven furry, goofy monsters, each with a unique musical sound. After the initial shock, Timmy befriends the lovable creatures following him all around Turkey Hollow. Not everyone takes a liking to the visitors though and its up to Timmy to protect his new friends and save Thanksgiving!

Mean witches Dolores and Lavinia try to spoil Thanksgiving for everyone else but nice witch Emma and her friends outwit them.

Thanksgiving in the year 2088 is a little different than it used it be. When Timmo's dog ruins the family dinner, it's time for a backup plan!

Learn how to state an opinion about important holidays and celebrations.
Includes a section related to Thanksgiving

This time-saving program planner for librarians and classroom teachers alike includes everything you need to get started--reading lists, flannelboard patterns, poems, songs, easy crafts, even take-home activities to extend the learning process. The many creative ideas packed inside include Activities keyed to popular classroom themes, with one chapter for each week of the school year Lessons that reinforce skills in key learning areas such as reading, writing, and math American Sign Language and Spanish language activities that make diversity awareness a part of children's learning Teachable concepts that can be mixed and rearranged for maximum flexibility, complementing classroom schedules Both veterans and novices will find plenty to help make kindergarten days richer, more rewarding, and more fun.
Includes a section on Thanksgiving

This best seller is used by early childhood educators across the world. A theme based curriculum, this book is presented in Alpha order and contains 70 different themes ranging from Ants to Zoo Animals. Each theme contains a variation of the following content depending upon that theme: Curriculum, Web, Theme Goals, Concepts for the Children to Learn, Vocabulary, Bulletin Board, Parent Letter, Music, Fingerplay, Science, Math, Dramatic Play, Arts and Crafts, Sensory, Large Muscle (Gross), Small Muscle (Fine), Field Trips, Social Studies, Group Time, Cooking, Transitions, Books, Multimedia, Recordings and Song Titles. The book sections at the end of each theme have been updated with hundreds of new activities. In addition, an accompanying back-of-book CD-ROM contains important assessment tools, lesson plan forms, evaluation forms for documentation boards, and more.
Includes a section on Thanksgiving

The only thing better than making things is making memories. No matter what the season, enjoy gathering together as a family to express your creativity. The hundreds of fantastic projects in this book will spark imaginations and provide hours of fun and conversation through the year.
Includes Thanksgiving projects

Includes an activity related to Thanksgiving

This work is essential for librarians and educators who wish to locate books for children and young adults which present the story of indigenous peoples from a perspective free of White or Western biases. Contains Native-authored essays, poetry, and reviews of more than 100 children's books by and about Indians, a guide to evaluating children's books for anti-Indian bias, a recommended bibliography, and a resource section of Native publishers and organizations.
Includes an essay entitled "Why I'm not thankful for Thanksgiving"

This book is designed to foster independent study, research, writing, and oral presentation skills in students in grades four through six. The lessons, which integrate several content areas, can be used for enrichment or extension in the classroom or as a homework assignment. The forty lessons, four for each of ten months, September through June, are connected to a famous person or event associated with that month. An index indicates the content areas and skills taught in each lesson.
Includes a lesson related to the Thanksgiving Proclamation

With more than 80 activities in each book, these valuable resources will enrich your curriculum. For each activity, literature links promote reading, while Internet links encourage the best use of technology. Individual and team projects for K-5 classrooms, connected to NCTE standards.
Includes a lesson related to Thanksgiving

Includes a song for Thanksgiving

Includes a section on the Pilgrims

These open-ended Holiday & Seasonal Chipper Chat game boards will provide hours of fun all year 'round. The open-ended, themed game boards display celebrations, holidays, famous Americans' birthdays, and national observances every month of the year from back to school to the end of summer.
Choose your teaching topics: articulation, fluency, reading, math...any lesson! Students earn magnetic chips by making correct responses. After filling a game board with chips, the fun begins as the students move the magnetic wand over them and watch the chips "fly!"
Contains a game board related to Thanksgiving

Sukkot is Shoshi's favorite Jewish holiday. She and her brothers love to decorate their sukkah, the hut where her family will celebrate. But who will win the Ugandan Abayudaya community's annual sukkah contest? While only one sukkah can be the best, everybody wins when neighbors work together.

Fleeing the Holocaust in Europe, Marcus moves with his family from Berlin to Shanghai, where he doubts this unfamiliar city will ever feel like home. But with help from his new friend Liang, and the answers to a rabbi's riddle, Marcus sets out to build a unique sukkah in time for the harvest festival of Sukkot.

Rabbi Benjamin loves his congregation, and they love him. That's why on Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, the Rabbi's congregation presents him with a special holiday vest with four silver buttons and decorated with designs symbolizing the major holidays celebrated throughout the year. Rabbi Benjamin loves it! He also loves all the holiday treats that his families proudly fill him with-including delicious, crispy latkes; scrumptious matzoh-ball soup; irresistible apple torte; and honey cake. As the year passes, Rabbi Benjamin's beautiful vest stretches tighter and tighter across his belly, and one by one the shiny silver buttons pop!-pop!-pop! off. When summer comes, Rabbi helps his congregation with their gardening, with the hiding of Chanukah presents, with the apple picking, and the fishing. Will all this hard work help Rabbi fit into his beautiful vest when Rosh Hashanah rolls around again?
Recipes for Rosh Hashanah, Sukkot, Chanukah, and Passover included

Waking up early in the morning on Sukkot, Sadie and Ori decide to serve breakfast in the sukkah. But when the table is set and the food is ready, they remember that a sukkah celebration needs guests. No one is awake, so who should they invite?

As Engineer Ari drives his train to Jerusalem, he stops as friends along the way help him gather branches and fruit for his backyard Sukkah. When the Sukkot holiday begins, he is sad that those friends aren't with him to join the celebration. But what surprise do his pals Jessie and Nathaniel have waiting for him at the train station?

In Israel, before the holiday of Sukkot, you can buy a lulav and etrog at a roadside market stand. But Arava and her family want to find and pick their own. Join them as they hike and picnic in the hills surrounding their home in Tzefat, looking for each of the four species needed to celebrate the harvest holiday.

Discusses the significance of some of the harvest festivals around the world and describes how they are celebrated

Describes the festivals and holidays celebrated by various cultures around the world at the autumn equinox or harvest time.
Fifteen projects, like mask and doll making, that celebrate harvests and thanksgiving globally.

Celebrates harvest festivals from around the world including Thanksgiving, Sukkoth, Pongal, Honensai, and Harvest Home with stories, poems and recipes.

Canada is a multicultural country. English and French are its two official languages, but Canadians come from many different cultures. This colorful book describes the different holidays and traditions in various parts of Canada and the ways in which Canadians celebrate family occasions.
Includes a section on Canadian Thanksgiving

Explores the various different cultures of the world and how they celebrate the Autumn time with special events, celebration, and festivals.
Includes a section on Harvest Festivals and Thanksgiving

Describes the origins and tradtions of harvest festivals and Thanksgiving celebrations around the world.