Celebrate Thanksgiving with Books

I have found a bunch of new (at least for me) books for celebrating Thanksgiving this year. Next week there will be a few more. 

 Minnie and Moo and the Thanksgiving Tree by Denys Cazet

Every time I read a Minnie and Moo book, I laugh. And this one is so absurd, I laughed several times.  When the turkeys on the farm want to hide on Thanksgiving morning, Minnie and Moo suggest they hide in the tree – a logical suggestion. After this, things get a lot less logical…

The Thanksgiving Mystery by Joan Lowery Nixon (sorry, no link)

The apartment building Mike and Susan live in has a ghost. With the help of a neighbor and a kitten, they trick it into revealing itself. This is part of the First Read-Alone Mysteries series.

  Nickommoh! A Thanksgiving Celebration by Jackie French Koller, illustrated by Martha Sewall

What a joyful book! It tells the story of the Narragansett people as they celebrate the harvest. The illustrations a perfectly wonderful woodcuts and the text just dances. I want to read it aloud!

  Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy’s Parade by Melissa Sweet

Even though I've watched the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on TV since I was a little kid, I never considered who thought up the wonderful balloons. This book tells about how the balloons came to be in the parade. It’s a fun story with great illustrations.

  Give Thanks to the Lord by Karma Wilson, illustrated by Amy June Bates

A young boy gives thanks for all the good things in his life. Told in rhyme, it would be perfect for a different way of saying grace at Thanksgiving dinner.

  Annie and Snowball and the Thankful Friends by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Suçie Stevenson

Annie wants to fill her table with guests for Thanksgiving dinner. But her family has only Annie, her dad and her bunny, Snowball. So, Annie gets to work and sends out invitations. This is a Ready-to-Read Level 2 book.

  Sarah Gives Thanks by Mike Allegra, illustrated by David Gardner

Sarah Josepha Hale was a pretty amazing woman. Born in the late 1700s, she was not expected to do much. However, she raised 5 children on her own, wrote poems and books (including Mary had a Little Lamb), and was the editor of a magazine. When she decided that Thanksgiving should be made a national holiday, she wrote to 4 different presidents over 36 years, trying to convince them. Her story is well told, with excellent illustrations. Other books about Sarah Josepha Hale:

Thank You, Sarah: The Woman Who Saved Thanksgiving by Laurie Halse Anderson

Pardon that Turkey by Susan Sloate

I hope you will check out last year's book lists for more Thanksgiving book ideas. And of course, return for next week's list!

Gail