Best Thanksgiving Books for Kids
Holidays provide great reasons to introduce new books to your child. For the kid who hasn't shown much interest in books or reading, the excitement of Thanksgiving may be enough to lure him to the page. It's easy to stock up on Thanksgiving books online or at your local big box store, but don't forget about the library. Nothing beats free! Check out these books for different age levels to find something that will speak to your child.
Picture Books
Doors to a child's imagination can open up in the pages of a picture book. Some kids will get lost for hours in gorgeous illustrations regardless of the story. It's so fun to let kids make up their own tales based on beautiful pictures. And good pictures can foster a desire for books that later grows into a love of reading and learning. If you find a picture book your child loves, consider buying an extra copy to take apart. Mount the pictures in inexpensive frames and create a children's bedroom theme around them.
Easy Readers
First reader books are wonderful for building your child's confidence in his reading ability. We're so lucky today to have such a variety of books and topics for teaching kids to read. We've come a long way from See Spot Run! Get kids excited to read to you with books about adventures of their favorite literary, television, or movie characters.
Chapter Books
There are few prouder moments than when your child comes home and announces he's reading a chapter book! This is a huge milestone for kids. They've transitioned out of baby books and they're ready for a real challenge. Keep them enthused about their new skills with seasonal favorites that help to cement advanced reading habits.
For Older Children
As kids get older it can be difficult to find appropriate seasonal reading that doesn't insult their intelligence. Look for award winning titles. The Printz Award is given to superior young adult fiction. While you may not find something directly related to Thanksgiving, you can find books with themes of autumn, pilgrims, or American history. It's a great idea to read these books before or after your kids do so that you can talk about the ideas with them.
Non-Fiction
Don't forget about non-fiction. Kids will be better equipped for serious studies if they've learned to research topics they love. Thanksgiving's rich history that will interest many kids. There are also some wonderful books on crafts and recipes you can make with your children to celebrate the holiday.
List of books by Apples4theTeacher.
More books as identified by the ESSL Children's Literature blog.
Listmania, at Amazon, lets you create a list like this of your own.
More Thanksgiving Fun:
Kid-Friendly Vegetable Recipes for Thanksgiving
Keep Kids Entertained on Thanksgiving Day
Thanksgiving Prayers and Other Expressions of Gratitude for Children