November always seems like such a short month in the classroom! With both Thanksgiving and Parent Teacher Conferences falling in November, it always feels like it ends as quickly as it begins. I never have enough time to read ALL the books I want to read with my upper elementary students.
While there are so many topics to explore during November and so many different books to read aloud, I have narrowed my favorite read-aloud books for this month to this list of seven must-reads! These books make the cut each year and are always so well-loved by the kids.
Read on to learn more about each of my favorite books for November and Thanksgiving time, and scoop up some fun and free activities to go along with these picture books. Since I love to use one book in many ways, I have included some suggested reading focuses to help you make the most of these Thanksgiving read-alouds in your upper elementary classroom!
1. Keepunumk written by Danielle Greendeer, Anthony Perry, and Alexis Bunten*
Do not let November go by without sharing this Native American story. I love that this book begins with a page filled with important background information and meaningful words for the reader. It truly sets the stage for this read-aloud. This story tells about the first day of thanks or harvest from the perspective of The First People. It is filled with rich information and culture and is truly perfect for November. The back pages are filled with information, recipes, and an author's note that you will want to share, too!
A fun follow-up to this read-aloud would be to connect reading and writing with informational research about Native Americans and Indigenous Peoples who once lived in your area. More info HERE.
Reading focus: Focus on vocabulary and context clues.
2. Balloons Over Broadway written by Melissa Sweet*
This book is so much fun to read! It is a welcome break from the typical Thanksgiving stories as it focuses on the life and adventures of Tony Sarg, the man behind the puppets of the iconic Macy's Day Parade. The pages are filled with eye-catching illustrations, diagrams, and a photograph of Tony, quickly holding your students' attention with each page flip. Your students will love to follow along with Tony as he changes and improves his designs, making this the perfect book to discuss STEM and engineering concepts. Remember to read the author's note and bio!
Reading focus: Paired text critical thinking with THIS nonfiction reading passage about Thanksgiving Day parades.
3. Thank You, Omu written by Oge Mora*
This one read-aloud has it all! Friends, family, gratitude, appreciation, community, giving, traditions, and so much more! It has become my favorite to read each Thanksgiving. The cut-paper collage illustrations are as beautiful as the story, and the children are always surprised by what happens when Omu sits down to enjoy her stew. When the community members join together to help out Omu, she definitely feels the love! This is a must-read!
Reading focus: Text structure analysis: sequencing and problem and solution
4. Fry Bread written by Kevin Nobel Maillard*
Fry Bread is jam-packed with so much goodness! It is not only perfect for kicking off discussions of traditions, families, and holiday gatherings but also a must-read to celebrate and honor Native American Heritage Month this November. Written with a metaphor on each page, the reader is reminded of how important fry bread is to Native Americans and Indigenous Peoples. While each page is short and brief, with vivid words and illustrations, the author's note at the end provides more information about Fry Bread and the culture of Native Americans.
Reading focus: Reading nonfiction and understanding metaphors
5. Gracias the Thanksgiving Turkey written by Joy Cowley*
This is an oldie but a goodie and always a class favorite! Visit your school library or local library to grab a copy, as this one is hard to find! This book follows the main character, Miguel as he is faced with a huge dilemma...he is gifted with a live turkey meant to be his Thanksgiving dinner. There is one problem, this turkey ends up becoming Miguel's pet and he does not have the heart to turn it into dinner. Your students will be cheering Miguel on, hoping he finds a way to avoid having to give up Gracias. I love the mix of Spanish words and the glossary at the back of this book, making it easy to celebrate different cultures.
A fun follow-up would be to have your students write a persuasive essay persuading people to not eat turkey for Thanksgiving dinner!
Reading focus: Text structure analysis: problem and solution and cause and effect
6. Grow Grateful written by Sage Foster-Lasser and Jon Lasser*
Gratitude is a concept that we talk about in the classroom year-round, but I always kick it off during the month of November! This book makes it easy to help students understand the concept of gratitude and appreciating all that you have! This book follows the main character, Kiko, as she grows grateful throughout the story. She learned to focus on the small things on life instead of focusing on what she does not have. The students always related to Kiko and what she is experiencing!
Find even more of my favorite gratitude books HERE.
Reading focus: Character analysis and changing characters
7. Apple VS Pumpkin written by Jefferey Burton*
Don't let that fact this is a board book stop you from sharing and reading it aloud to your big kids! This book is perfect for the fall and Thanksgiving seasons and a super fun way to introduce debates, persuasion, and opinion writing! This story follows the debate between apple and pumpkin as they spew out supporting details about why each of them is the best treat for the fall. Your kids will love the humor, cute illustrations, and getting in on the fun of debating it out as they cast their vote for apple or pumpkin!
A fun follow-up to this read-aloud would be to have your own debate!
Reading focus: Text structure analysis: compare and contrast
Grab all the free activities to use with these books right here!
Grab one or all of these picture books to share and read aloud with your upper elementary students this fall, November, and Thanksgiving season! They are not just perfect to get into the spirit of giving and gratitude, but they are also great for revisiting with a reader's and writer's lens, too! Which one will you share this November?
Happy Thanksgiving!
*affiliate links: “Think Grow Giggle is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.” (source: Section 5)
You will also love reading:
Check out my favorite Thanksgiving activities HERE.
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*affiliate links: “Think Grow Giggle is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.” (source: Section 5)
