By Gail Gibbons
Holiday House, 2005
Ages 4-8, $6.95

Thanksgiving is bountiful in this selection, with tales about feasts of thanks from past cultures including ancient Egyptians praising the god Min and Romans offering food first to the agriculture goddess Ceres.

It mentions the Jewish Sukkot, a celebration to thank God for food and protection, and details the Pilgrim’s plight in explaining our modern, secular Thanksgiving.

Text is limited to two to three sentences a page, beginning with “Thanksgiving is …” Most of the book is dedicated to current scenes, which most children will recognize.

The Thanksgiving Door

By Debby Atwell
Sandpiper, 2003
Ages 4-10, $6.99

After burning their Thanksgiving turkey, a couple wanders into a café where Russian traditions join the American customs of celebration. The dinner was supposed to be closed to family.

But the restaurant owner, and grandmother of the family, welcomes the couple and teaches a few lessons about the spirit of Thanksgiving. The couple learns about the different foods, centerpiece meanings and wardrobe traditions the family associates with a thanksgivingm and an appreciation of hospitality and new friendships.

Squanto’s Journey
The Story of the First Thanksgiving

By Joseph Bruchac. Illustrated by Greg Shed
Houghton Mifflin, 2007
Ages 5-10, $6

Squanto is often referenced in children’s literature about Thanksgiving but usually not much detail is provided.

Author Joseph Bruchac, an American Indian writer and poet, gives a historically accurate portrait of Tisquantum, known as Squanto, the man credited with befriending and saving the Pilgrims.

The story is written for older students who can understand the complexity in the biography, which includes Squanto’s kidnapping by English captains for eventual slavery in Spain.

Squanto escapes, makes his way back to his country, and becomes a translator and mediator between colonists and tribal leaders.

The book is written in first-person and illustrated in beautiful, warm, golden hues. The voice used dispels some beliefs about the clothing and food at the first Thanksgiving.

10 Fat Turkeys

By Tony Johnston. Illustrated by Rich Deas
Cartwheel Books, 2009
Ages infant-6, $6.99

In an entertaining countdown, 10 turkeys (above) find themselves being launched from a fence because of their goofy antics.

“Looky! says a silly turkey swinging from a vine. Gobble gobble wibble wobble. Whoops! Now there are nine.”

The bouncy cadence makes for a fun out-loud read, complete with a request for “a noodle dance.” The added learning skill of counting is a bonus.

The Story of Thanksgiving

By Nancy J. Skarmeas
Ideals Publications, 1999
Ages 2-6, $6.95

In a simple narrative, this story explains the origins of Thanksgiving with the Pilgrims’ treacherous Mayflower journey to American Indians offering aid to help them survive.

The book is part of a series that focuses on the meanings behind holidays, including Christmas, Easter and Valentine’s Day. It is a smart way of introducing the deeper concepts behind the celebrations.

While the focus is on giving thanks to God, it is not a religious- themed book. Children learn the importance of helping each other and being grateful for family, food and home.

’Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving

By Dav Pilkey
Scholastic, 2004
Ages 4- 8, $6.99

The lighthearted parody on the famous Christmas poem will make a family laugh as turkeys Ollie, Stanley, Larry, Moe, Wally, Beaver and Groucho win over the sympathy of a group of visiting children.

After the city kids play around Farmer Mack Nuggett’s turkey farm, fun ends as they catch sight of the man hefting a hatchet, looking for the “feathered beasts” to chop and roast for dinner.

“He was dressed all in denim, From his head to his toe, With a pinch of polyester, And a dash of Velcro.”

There is subtle humor for adults, such as the farmer and teacher in an “American Gothic” pose, and word play that may be over their heads. Some young children may be uncomfortable or upset with the notion that cute birds become dinner.

Sometimes It’s Turkey, Sometimes It’s Feathers

By Lorna and Lecia Bailan
Star Bright Books, 2004
Ages 4-10, $12.95

This story, originally published in 1973 with only three-color illustrations, was re-released by the author’s daughter, Lecia Bailan, to give the artwork full color, breathing new life into the classic.

It is a typical tale of fattening a turkey, only to become its friend and protector.

Mrs. Gumm finds a turkey egg and raises the chick into a bigger and bigger bird, saying it will make a “fine Thanksgiving dinner.” But as the season arrives, she cannot use that sharpened ax and invites the bird as a guest to the table.

Happy Thanksgiving, Biscuit!

By Alyssa Satin Capucilli. Illustrated by Pat Schories
HarperCollins, 1999
Ages infant-8, $6.99

This is part of a series of books following curious puppy Biscuit as he discovers his world.

While the narrative is easy to follow, children will be most interested in the flaps they can open, showing the precocious pooch finding traditional Thanksgiving items.

The Life and Times of Corn

By Charles Micucci
Houghton Mifflin, 2009
Ages 5-12, $16

Breaking down a “cornucopia” of trivia, the author turns America’s largest crop into an a-maizing subject. Corn is a focus of many Thanksgiving stories and dinner tables, but here Charles Micucci uses his trademark conversational style to track the history, growth and uses of corn.

The “Life and Times” series provides an entertaining and simple understanding for young readers, using maps, timelines, quirky illustrations and clear captions.

Facts are put into a fun perspective: For every 50 pounds of corn, enough sweetener is made for 350 glasses of soda, and putting all the cornfields together would produce the country’s fifth-largest state. “Native Americans planted corn with their hands, and they revered it with their hearts.”