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November truly marks the most wonderful time of the year! It’s ripe with anticipation as we enter a time of slowing down. In addition to Thanksgiving being celebrated here in America, November is also known as Native American Heritage Month. I have Cherokee ancestry and love history, so I had to include some books about Native Americans in our November book basket. Click the link below to download a list of these titles that you can save to your phone or print out to bring along on your next library visit!
1. A Picture Book of Sacagawea
I really enjoy David A. Adler’s children’s books including this one. I bought this for my oldest child who is interested in Native Americans and history. Some elements of the book are disheartening to read but I think that also makes them significant and necessary.
Not much is known about Sacagawea apart from her assisting Lewis and Clark on their expeditions. Her life had a sad beginning and its ending is unknown but this book is a lovely dedication to her life and legacy.
2. A Turkey for Thanksgiving
In this silly story, mooses gather friends for Thanksgiving. One of the main characters, Mrs. Moose, tells her husband Thanksgiving won’t be complete without a turkey. With the help of his friends, Mr. Moose finds a turkey who is reluctant, but ultimately grateful to be included in their Thanksgiving dinner as a friend and not the main course. This book is a delightful read for November.
3. All Things Bright and Beautiful
This book contains the words of the eponymous hymn and rich illustrations that are sure to captivate children.
4. Amelia Bedelia Talks Turkey
In this book, Amelia Bedelia and her cousin Alcolu help third grade students put on a play about Thanksgiving. Multiple misunderstands by Amelia Bedelia lead to silly situations throughout the story.
5. Balloons Over Broadway
This book tells of how the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade came to be. We’ve borrowed this one from the library before and really enjoyed it. This month, we borrowed it as an ebook on Hoopla. It’s also available there as an audiobook!
6. Eric Says Thanks
After enjoying a delicious breakfast, Eric thanks his mom. She tells him to thank the baker who provided the bread, the baker directs him to thank the man who supplied the wheat, and ultimately he ends up thanking the farmer who who grew it. The farmer directs Eric to thank God who generously provides everything. You can enjoy the author reading this book here.
7. Give Thanks to the Lord
This lovely picture book is about Thanksgiving and told from the perspective of a boy who finds God has given him so much to be grateful for.
8. How Many Days to America?
We first learned about this title after purchasing a thrifted copy. This story is a sad but important read about the life of an immigrant family who leaves their country for a better life in America. They arrive in America on Thanksgiving day and are invited to partake in a feast with those who welcomed them.
9. I Spy: Thanksgiving
This is a reader version of the I Spy picture books and contains Thanksgiving scenes with objects for children to search for in each one.
10. Over the River and Through the Wood
Emma Randall has illustrated many books for The Good Book company including one of my son’s favorite series, Training Young Hearts. When I saw that she illustrated this book, I had to include it in our November book basket. This book contains the lines to the eponymous song and includes captivating illustrations by Emma.
11. Pie in the Sky
This is another book that we discovered by thrifting. This book is about a family that discovers a tree when they move in. It turns out to be a cherry tree whose cherries they use to make a pie. The illustrations are rich making this a captivating read.
12. Sharing the Bread
In this book, a family works together to prepare their Thanksgiving dinner and finds that they have much to be grateful for.
13. Squanto and the Miracle of Thanksgiving
This book is a lovely dedication to the life and legacy of Squanto and I like how it mentions God’s sovereignty even over evil when detailing Squanto’s kidnapping and enslavement.
14. Squanto’s Journey
This is another book that includes a few more details about Squanto’s life and legacy. This one also mentions him giving thanks to the Creator and includes lovely illustrations.
15. Thank You, Sarah
This inspiring story is about author and advocate Sarah Hales who wrote to various presidents over a span of 38 years requesting for Thanksgiving to be made a national holiday. Many presidents denied her request but in 1863, Abraham Lincoln approved it. This was a neat story to read. I had never heard of Sarah Hales prior to reading it and enjoyed learning this bit of Thanksgiving history.
16. Thanksgiving Is . . .
This book includes many facts about Thanksgiving and why it is celebrated. It does mention other cultures giving thanks to their gods which I use as a teaching moment to inform my kids about the one true God who is also mentioned in the book. This book is available as an ebook and audiobook in Hoopla and as an audiobook on Audible.
17. The Apple Pie That Papa Baked
This story is told from the perspective of a girl whose dad bakes an apple pie. She details the events that occurred in nature that led to the apples growing.
18. The Apple Pie Tree
In this book, a boy details the life cycle of an apple tree and shares how the apples are used to make a pie. We read this book as an ebook on Hoopla.
19. The Berenstain Bears Thanksgiving Stories
This book includes two books in the Berenstain Bears Living Lights collection. In the first story, brother and sister are in a Thanksgiving play. In the second story, the Bear family participates in their town harvest festival.
20. The Night Before Thanksgiving
My kids love The Night Before series and this book was their introduction to it. This story is similar to the classic poem ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas and is about a family preparing for their Thanksgiving celebration.
21. The Story of the Pilgrims
This book provides a simple introduction to the history of Thanksgiving.
22. The Thanksgiving Door
This sweet story is about a couple who goes out to eat on Thanksgiving day after burning their turkey. They end up at a restaurant that was supposed to be closed but the owners welcome them in anyway. This isn’t a Christian book but I love how its message points to Romans 15:17, “Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.” The illustrations in this book are beautiful making it an enjoyable read for kids and adults.
23. The Thanksgiving Story
This is a lengthy but well done picture book about the history of Thanksgiving. We enjoyed Alice Dalgliesh’s The Courage of Sarah Noble and appreciate this book, too!
24. The True Story of Pocahontas
This is a brief yet helpful introduction to the life of Pocahontas. Much of what my children have known about her is what’s presented in the Disney movie. While it is an entertaining film, much of it is not historically accurate and this book is a helpful way to help children learn to distinguish between fiction and reality.
25. Why Do We Say Thank You?
This is a lovely children’s book about a little boy with a complaining heart. As his heart softens, he realizes God has given him so much to be grateful for.
