An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving by Louisa May Alcott This story of an 1820s Thanksgiving is filled with the warmth of character and family life that has made Louisa May Alcott a favorite for more than 100 years. (Chapter book – Great for grades 3rd+)
The Thanksgiving Story by Alice Dalgliesh This is a Caldecott Honor book that tells the story of the Hopkins family, their journey to America on the Mayflower, and how they and the other Pilgrims built a home in their new land with the help of the Indians. (Great for all grades)
Squanto & the Miracle of Thanksgiving by Eric Metaxas This entertaining and historical story shows that the actual hero of Thanksgiving was neither white nor Indian but God. In 1608, English traders came to Massachusetts and captured a twelve-year-old Indian, Squanto, and sold him into slavery. He was raised by Christians and taught faith in God. Ten years later he was sent home to America. Upon arrival, he learned an epidemic had wiped out his entire village. But God had plans for Squanto. God delivered a Thanksgiving miracle: an English-speaking Indian living in the exact place where the Pilgrims landed in a strange new world. (Great for all grades)
The Very First Thanksgiving Day by Rhonda Gowler Greene retells in rhyming verse the story of the first Thanksgiving. The breathtaking acrylic paintings of artist Susan Gaber beautifully illustrate the historic celebration of two societies that came together to give thanks for the bounty of the land. (Great for Junior K – 2nd grade)
Over the River and Through the Wood by Lydia Maria Child The joys of Thanksgiving are indelibly captured in this glorious paring of text and art. (Great for 1st grade+)
This is the Feast by Diane Z. Shore When the Pilgrims embarked on their legendary Mayflower voyage in 1620, they couldn’t predict what lay ahead of them. In search of religious freedom and a new life, the settlers faced hardships including harsh storms, illness, and unfamiliar terrain. Thanks to their natural perseverance and the help of their neighbor Indians, the Pilgrims survived their first year. And when the harvest the next fall was plentiful, the Pilgrims and the Indians joined together in a three-day celebration, the first Thanksgiving. (Great for Kindergarten+)
My Thankfulness Journal – Thankfulness Homeschool Journals offer children practice with writing skills and gratitude. As the student recalls the pleasant details of the day, he receives clear guidance for sharing his thoughts in prayer to God, the giver of every good and perfect gift. (There are two levels – beginner and intermediate–beginner starts at 6+)