Thankful Feasting - A Thanksgiving Reading List

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! It's only just a few days left till Thanksgiving Day is here and when the month of November comes to a close. This is holiday has become completely under appreciated as the years come and go, which is quite unfortunate. Keep the spirit alive of being thankful for what you have and get a good laughs in with these great books to share!

•  1, 2, 3 Thanksgiving! Written by W. Nikola-Lisa and Illustrated by Robin Kramer. 1991. Morton Gove, IL. ISBN: 0807561096. T
• Alligator Arrived with Apples: A Potluck Alphabet Feast. Written by Crescent Dragonwagon and Illustrated by Jose Aruego and Ariane Dewey. 1987. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company. ISBN: 0027330907. P
•  Happy Thanksgiving, Emily!. Written by Claire Masurel and Illustrated by Susan Calitri. 2004. New York: Puffin Books. ISBN: 014240201X. T
•  I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Pie. Written by Alison Jackson and Illustrated by Judith Byron Schachner. 1997. New York: Dutton Children's Books. ISBN: 0525456457. P
• One Is a Feast for Mouse. Written by Judy Cox and Illustrated by Jeffrey Ebbeler. 2008. New York: Holiday House. ISBN: 9780823419777. P, S
•  The Perfect Thanksgiving. Written by Eileen Spinelli and Illustrated by Joann Adinolfi. 2003. New York: Henry Holt and Company. ISBN: 9780805065312. P, S
• Setting the Turkeys Free. Written by W. Nikola-Lisa and Illustrated by Ken Wilson-Max. 2004. New York: Jump at the Sun/Hyperion Books for Children. ISBN: 0786819529. P, S
• Thanks for Thanksgiving. Written by Julie Markes and Illustrated by Doris Barrette. 2004. New York: HarperCollins Publishers. ISBN: 006051096X. T, P, S
• Thank You, Thanksgiving. Written and Illustrated by David Milgrim. 2003. New York: Clarion Books. ISBN: 0618274669. T, P
• Thanksgiving is for Giving Thanks. Written by Margaret Sutherland and Illustrated by Sonja Lamut. 2000. New York: Grosset & Dunlap (Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers). ISBN: 0613317963. T
• Thanksgiving at Our House. Written and Illustrated by P.K. Hallinan. 2006, Nashville, TN: Ideals Children's Books. ISBN: 9780824955342. T, P
• Thanksgiving Mice! Written by Bethany Roberts and Illustrated by Doug Cushman. 2001. New York: Clarion Books. ISBN: 0618120408. T
•  Thelonius Turkey Lives (on Felicia Ferguson's Farm). Written and Illustrated by Lynn Rowe Reed. 2005. New York: Borzoi Book (Alfred Knopf). ISBN: 0375931260.
• A Turkey For Thanksgiving. Written by Eve Bunting and Illustrated by Diane de Groat. 1991. New York: Clarion Books. ISBN: 0899197930. P, S
• Thanksgiving Is Here! Written and Illustrated by Diane Goode. 2003. New York: HarperCollins Publishers. ISBN: 0060515899. P, S
• Turkey Trouble. Written by Wendi Silvano and Illustrated by Lee Harper. 2009. Tarrytown, NY: Marshall Cavendish Corporation. ISBN: 9780761455295. P, S

I have to say that Turkey Trouble is my all-time favorite from this list. I always read it at my preschool storytime! Happy Thanksgiving, y'all!

Reading Level Key:

• T = Toddlers (ages 2-3)
• P = Preschool (ages 3-5)
• S = School Age (ages 6-8)

The Chicken Thief

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Rodriguez, Béatrice. 2010. The Chicken Thief. New York: Enchanted Lion Books. ISBN: 9781592700929.

BOOK REVIEW
It all started out on a country morning cottage where Bear, rabbit, and the chickens just got up. Then, all of a sudden, during breakfast, a fox who was peaking from the bushes at the edge of the forest, swoops up a chicken into his arms and runs! Dedicated friends, Bear, Rabbit, and another chicken chase after them to save their captured friend from a digested-doom! The pursuit winds through thick forests, a mountain, and torrents waters before we all discover that Fox and Chicken eloped! All of this is craftily presented in a narrow wordless picture book. With fine ink lines and colorful watercolor, the simple yet detailed illustrations are reminiscent of author/illustrator Peter Spier. Rodriguez wonderfully captures the mood of all the characters and the world around them in full page spreads. Though some older readers may over analyze and wonder if the chicken developed Stockholm Syndrome. However, beyond that it's quite a fun and almost romantic story. Readers of all ages will be delighted in the happy ending. A fun, unexpected-ending, storybook to include to your wordless collection.

CONNECTIONS

• Ask the children what they thought was happening as they venture through the story.
• Have the children create their own wordless storybook that has an ending that can be viewed as unexpected.