by Marsha Rakestraw
Traditionally, stories involving Thanksgiving end up with a turkey on the table, but as more families are celebrating Thanksgiving by seeking more mindful and compassionate choices, they’re also looking for children’s stories where the turkey has a happy ending.
Here are 9 turkey-friendly picture books.
- Over the River: A Turkey’s Tale by Derek Anderson
2005. Grades PreK-3.
Provides some new twists to the traditional song, as a turkey family is traveling to Grandma’s and must outsmart a young hunter on the way. - Turkey Surprise by Peggy Archer
2007. Grades Pre-K-2.
A turkey being hunted for Thanksgiving dinner tries to hide from two brothers. When one of the brothers decides he’d rather not eat a turkey, he convinces the other that pumpkin pie would be so much tastier. - A Turkey for Thanksgiving by Eve Bunting
1995. Grades K-3.
Mrs. Moose asks her husband to bring home a turkey for Thanksgiving, but what they turkey doesn’t understand is that they want him to join them FOR dinner, not BE the dinner. - Albuquerque Turkey by B.G. Ford
2005. Grades PreK-3.
A rhyming story (that can be sung to the tune of “My Darling Clementine”) in which a man prepares a Thanksgiving feast for his pet turkey. - Run, Turkey, Run! by Diane Mayr
2009. Grades PreK-3.
Turkey manages to camouflage himself from the farmer until he gives up and spares the turkey from being dinner. - ‘Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving by Dav Pilkey
2004. Grades PreK-3.
Follows what happens when a group of school children visit a turkey farm and decide that the turkeys shouldn’t become anyone’s Thanksgiving dinner. - The Best Thanksgiving Ever! by Teddy Slater
2007. Grades PreK-2.
A rhyming tale of a turkey family who comes together to celebrate Thanksgiving. - Happy Thanksliving!: A Coloring Zine by Nathalie VanBalen
2011. All ages.
A coloring zine for all ages, with a delightful rhyming story featuring a joyful, compassionate Thanksgiving feast. - Turk and Runt by Lisa Wheeler
2005. Grades PreK-3.
“Runt” has figured out why people come to the turkey farm in November, but no one believes him at first.
Image via Kim Seng/Flickr.