Best First Thanksgiving Books for Kids
Thanksgiving is a great time to teach kids about the origins of the holiday. These are the best first Thanksgiving books for kids we have enjoyed over the years, and we try and find a new favorite every year. Reading historical facts in story form is a great way to learn and helps kids develop a passion for history at the same time.
Listed below are my family’s favorite Thanksgiving books. I’ve included links to places you can purchase these books online but I was able to find many of them in my local library too.
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Pilgrim Stories
My kids and I read this delightful book for the first time this year and we may make it an annual thing. It tells the story of the pilgrims from the time that they lived in England, to their stay in Holland trying to find religious freedom, and finally their epic journey across the Atlantic.
I grew up in Virginia where the early history of our country was engrained on us from before I can remember, and I learned quite a few new things while reading this. This book does a great job of balancing information with storytelling and it’s a great little read!
We read this aloud but it’s an easy enough read that it would be appropriate for silent reading by a child of about a high 2nd grade reading level and up.
The Pilgrims of Plimoth
Written in the style of a journal, kids can really see the hardships that the pilgrims went through to establish themselves in this country. The message is darker than some of the other books and kids are not shielded from the realities of death and suffering. While it doesn’t go into graphic detail, my sensitive child really took this book to heart.
This is a short book and can be read in a sitting and is extremely effective for understanding the time frame of the things that happened as the colony was established.
Buy The Pilgrims of Plimoth Here
Don’t Know Much About the Pilgrims
We found this book at our local library and enjoyed it so much that we’ve checked it out twice so far! This book is in a question and answer format, which is perfect for my son who really wants to get to the facts. It was a great complement to some of these other books we have read because it elaborated on some of the details that were hinted at in story form.
My kids loved skipping around in this book to find the information that they wanted. The illustrations were detailed and fun and really helped paint a picture for my kids. I was thoroughly impressed with this series and will definitely be checking out the other books they have in the future.
Buy Don’t Know Much About the Pilgrims Here
William Bradford: Pilgrim Boy
My children loved this biography of William Bradford, the first governor of Plimoth Plantation. This story begins not with the details that made him important as an adult, but with the childhood experiences that formed his character.
It was great to give my kids a deeper look at one of the individuals who’s name appears so often in the other pilgrim books that we have read. It was a fairly easy read, but one equally enjoyed by my 10 year old and my 6 year old (and the 8 year old in between).
Buy William Bradford: Pilgrim Boy Here
If You Were At the First Thanksgiving
I purchased this books years ago when my older boys were younger and we’ve read it every year since. It’s a great read for preschoolers on up and the illustrations are does a great job of helping kids to understand what life was like back then.
The illustrations are nicely detailed so kids really enjoy them. It’s a fun little book and definitely one worth having in your home library.
Buy If You Were at The First Thanksgiving Here
Squanto, Friend of the Pilgrims
This book is a great peek into the life of Squanto, the Indian who helped the pilgrims survive as they established their settlement. Growing up, I frequently was taught Squanto’s role in the pilgrims survival but didn’t understand what a journey he had taken to get there.
My kids were mesmerized by the circular path Squanto’s life took and devastated by some of the hard things he had to go through. This book is a great book to read aloud and discuss with your kids!
Buy Squanto, Friend of the Pilgrims Here
The Landing of the Pilgrims
My oldest son read this book a few years ago and this year we read it aloud as a family. The language is geared towards older kids (4th grade and up) but read aloud my younger kids enjoyed it as well. This book has some great information and chronicles the pilgrims journey, from the time before they left England and beyond.
I’d recommend reading this book along side Pilgrim Stories. Pilgrim Stories is a more entertaining read but The Landing of the Pilgrims provides some additional facts and they go well together.
Buy The Landing of the Pilgrims Here
The Diary of Remember Patience Whipple
With so many of the stories of this time period focusing on the men, it’s nice to hear the story from the perspective of a little girl. This is a great read and one that boys and girls alike will love.
The writing is conversational and entertaining. So much personality comes through in this first person narrative that kids will be cheering her on as she makes the journey to America.
Buy The Diary of Remember Patience Whipple
The First Thanksgiving (Step-Into-Reading, Step 3)
If you have a beginning reader in your house,this step-into-reading book is the perfect way to learn about the first Thanksgiving! My kids have all loved this series so when we found this book a few years ago we were more then happy to add it to out collection of Thanksgiving books.
The story in this book is simplified to cater to early readers so it pairs well with some of the other books we’ve listed. Kids love the independence they have with this book and it’s a great way to build their confidence while learning about an important period in our country’s history.
The First Thanksgiving Feast
This book comes to life with photographs of a historically accurate recreation of the first Thanksgiving. Photographed at Plimoth Plantation, the images really give kids a glimpse into what things might have been like back during that historic time.
Faces are given to many of the key players during the first Thanksgiving. Remembering facts is so much easier when we see them several different ways. I found that reading some of the previous books then looking at pictures of how these people might have looked really cemented them into my memory.
Buy The First Thanksgiving Feast Here
