Thanksgiving Books Highlights

I went to my local library and checked out every book I could find about Thanksgiving. I got about 20 books, but these four were the standouts. Have you read any of these?

1. The Thanksgiving Door by Debby Atwell
   • This book is a heartwarming story about an older couple whose burnt Thanksgiving Dinner drives them out of the house and into the open door of a new restaurant. The family at the restaurant didn’t know what to do with these two strangers, but Grandmother did. She demonstrated the true heart of Thanksgiving–gratitude for her abundance and hospitality for the needy. Thanks to one little potato, this story will warm your heart and remind you of what this season is truly about.
2. Thanksgiving at the Tappletons‘ by Eileen Spinelli
   • Even though this book is on the older side (1982), the story is absolutely delightful. I was in fits of giggles the first time I read it! It tells the story of the Tappleton family as they each have a food-related task to prepare for dinner. Mishaps and the silliest of blunders occur and everyone is surprised, not to mention disappointed, when they sit down to an empty table. Grandmother once again demonstrates the heart of Thanksgiving and reminds them in her Thanksgiving prayer, “But we’re together, that’s what matters–not what’s served upon the platters.” Sandwiches and pickles have never tasted better!
3. It’s Thanksgiving by Jack Prelutsky
   • This small collection of poems by Children’s Poet Laureate Jack Prelutsky is whimsical and relatable. Any child could enjoy these poems which are short, silly, and have an easy rhyming meter. There’s one about the First Thanksgiving, about a family celebration, about Dad’s football team losing, and even one about being sick of all the leftovers. An entirely entertaining collection.
4. Thanksgiving in the Woods by Phyllis Alsdurf
   • This book made it on the list in large part because of the illustrations. They draw you into a perfectly crisp autumn in the North, with all the right colors and swirls to capture the breeze. It tells the story of a family who hosts the entire community to a Thanksgiving dinner…you guessed it, in the woods!