Here we are in November already! And so our thoughts turn to the Thanksgiving season. Our kids are focused on leaves and turkeys and gratitude exercises, and we begin thinking ahead to the rest of the year’s holidays. So as we enter this Thanksgiving month, let’s plan some time to snuggle up with our kids and enjoy some fun Thanksgiving books with them. We could learn some new signs to go along with those stories too!
Reading Aloud
It’s great for our kids to have their own stash of books that they look at. But it’s also great for them to hear us reading aloud to them. Reading aloud to your kids helps to build their vocabulary, and it increases their comprehension skills. And beyond these academic benefits, reading aloud to your children strengthens your relationship with them. When you experience a story with your kids, it’s like you’ve all been on that adventure together. And when you’re the one reading to them, it’s like you led them to the adventure. So reading aloud can even increase your kids’ trust in you.
Whether you read stories aloud or let your kids explore stories on their own, take some time to enjoy some fun Thanksgiving books with them this month!
Thanksgiving Books for Preschoolers
Bear Says Thanks by Karma Wilson – Bear throws a feast for his friends, but runs into a little problem
Five Silly Turkeys by Salina Yoon – a fun counting book with silly turkeys doing silly things
Llama Llama Gives Thanks by Anna Dewdney – a Llama Llama Thanksgiving book
Thanksgiving is for Giving Thanks by Margaret Sutherland – thinking through all things we can be thankful for
Balloons Over Broadway by Melissa Sweet – the story of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
Turkey Trouble by Wendi J. Silvano – Turkey tries to not look like a turkey at Thanksgiving time
Pete the Cat: The First Thanksgiving by Kimberly and James Dean – Pete the Cat is in a Thanksgiving play
The Thankful Book by Todd Parr – a classic celebrating all we can be grateful for
How to Catch a Turkey by Adam Wallace – a New York Times bestseller in the How to Catch series
The Perfect Thanksgiving by Eileen Spinelli – different Thanksgiving celebrations in different families, but both are special and wonderful
Clifford’s Thanksgiving Visit by Norman Bridwell – classic Clifford at Thanksgiving
Signs to learn
Of course, we’ll need to learn some signs to go along with our Thanksgiving activities. Many of us have already taught our little ones the sign for thank you.
Then there are also the signs for turkey, dinner, table, and dessert (because you know they’ll be asking for this all day).
Take a look at our Signing Time Dictionary, and explore the sections on Actions, Phrases, Home, and Mealtime. See if you can find more signs to fit your family’s Thanksgiving activities.
And don’t forget the Holiday Videos at My Signing Time. We have shows for Thanksgiving as well as for other holidays. Some are free to watch, and some require a subscription. If you don’t have a My Signing Time digital subscription, you can try it out with a 14-day free trial right here.