Thanksgiving Read-Alouds for K-1 (with Activities)
Thanksgiving week is short, wiggly, and full of excitement, and a good read-aloud is the one thing that can get a whole carpet of five- and six-year-olds sitting and giggling together.
The five books below are my go-to Thanksgiving read-alouds for kindergarten and first grade. Each one comes with a simple activity you can set up in minutes, covering retelling, counting, and writing a sentence. Read one a day, or spread them across the weeks before the break.
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Looking for a longer book list? My Thanksgiving Resources post shares even more favorites for your seasonal book tub.
A quick note on choosing Thanksgiving books
I look for books that keep the focus on gratitude, family, friendship, and a little silliness. Thanksgiving history is complicated, and many older “first Thanksgiving” stories leave out important perspectives, so for our youngest learners I like to start with feelings and stories children can connect to.
5 Thanksgiving read-alouds for K-1 (and an activity for each)
1. Turkey Trouble by Wendi Silvano, illustrated by Lee Harper
Turkey knows it’s almost Thanksgiving and he is the main course, so he tries one silly farm animal disguise after another. Kids love making the animal sounds, and the repeated pattern makes this one easy to predict and retell.
Activity: Disguise a Turkey. Give each child a turkey cutout. They decorate it as a disguise, then write a sentence: “Turkey is a ___.” First graders can add a second sentence about what gave him away.
Skills: sequencing, retelling, predicting, writing a sentence.
2. 10 Fat Turkeys by Tony Johnston, illustrated by Rich Deas
Ten goofy turkeys sit on a fence and tumble off one at a time in this rhyming countdown. It’s a fun way to practice counting backward from 10.
Activity: Turkeys on the Fence. Use ten paper turkeys and a craft stick fence. Act out the story, removing one turkey per page. Kindergartners count what’s left, and first graders write the subtraction sentence, like 10 – 1 = 9.
Skills: counting backward, subtraction within 10, rhyme.
3. Bear Says Thanks by Karma Wilson, illustrated by Jane Chapman
Bear wants to thank his friends with a feast, but his cupboards are bare. His woodland friends each arrive with something to share, and Bear learns he has a gift of his own: his stories. The repeated line invites children to join in.
Activity: What Can I Share? Talk about how Bear’s friends helped him. Then have each child draw and write one thing they can share with a friend, like a kind word, a story, a hug, or a toy. Sentence frame: “I can share ___.”
Skills: character feelings, kindness, participating in repeated text.
4. Thanks for Thanksgiving by Julie Markes, illustrated by Doris Barrette
This rhyming book lists the big and small things children are thankful for, from school and pets to piggyback rides, and ends with family. It has very few words on each page, which makes it a good first read-aloud of the week.
Activity: Our Thankful Class Book. Each child makes one page. Kindergartners draw, label, and write “I am thankful for ___.” First graders write two sentences and explain why using “because.” Bind the pages into a class book to share at your parent gathering or send home after break.
Skills: sentence writing, labeling, using “because,” speaking and listening.
5. Thank You, Omu! by Oge Mora
This is a cozy story about Omu, who makes a big pot of thick red stew and shares it with each neighbor who knocks on her door. Soon the pot is empty, but the neighbors return with food to share with her. It’s a 2019 Caldecott Honor book, and the cut-paper illustrations are beautiful. The repeated knocking and “thank you” lines are great for kids to join in on, and the author’s note explains that “Omu” means “queen” in Igbo, her parents’ language.
Activity: Thank You Collage. Children tear and glue paper pieces to make a bowl of stew, echoing the book’s collage art. Then they write “Thank you, ___, for ___” about someone who shared with them.
Skills: sequencing, repeated text, community, writing a sentence.
Find these activities in our Thanksgiving Read-Alouds Activities Pack.
Turn each book into a story treasure bag
Story treasure bags let children retell a book with real objects; you read more about them here. If you do them, here are ideas of what to send home as a treasure.
| Book | Treasure |
|---|---|
| Turkey Trouble | A paper turkey, small farm animal toys |
| 10 Fat Turkeys | Ten small turkeys or counters, a craft stick fence |
| Bear Says Thanks | bear counter or figurine, pie eraser |
| Thanks for Thanksgiving | Have students draw something they are thankful for on a paper |
| Thank you, Omu! | paper pot, mini pot, or mini spoon |
Thanksgiving resources to pair with these books
When the read-aloud is done, these ready-to-go resources keep the learning going in centers and morning work:
- Write the Room Subtraction Thanksgiving: practice subtraction within 10 after reading 10 Fat Turkeys.
- 1st Grade November Math Centers: hands-on math for the whole month.
- 1st Grade November Literacy Centers: spiral review of literacy skills with a seasonal theme.
- November Words: a word list for your writing center, perfect after the gratitude writing activities.
- 1st Grade November Morning Work: easy print-and-go practice for the short weeks.
Happy reading!
Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to slow down and share stories with our youngest learners. I hope one of these books and activities makes your week a little calmer and a lot more fun.
What are your favorite Thanksgiving read-alouds? Share them in the comments so we can all add to our book tubs!