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Turkey Books for Kids at Thanksgiving
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With a blink of an eye, it’s already November which means it’s time to swap out those Halloween books for some turkey books your students are sure to gobble up! Enjoy these fiction and nonfiction turkey read alouds all month long as you count down to Thanksgiving. Learn all about turkeys with these informative and silly Thanksgiving books for kids. Pair these turkey books with your favorite turkey math activities, literacy centers, turkey crafts and more!
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Fiction Turkey Books
Turkey Trouble by Wendi Silvano
Turkey is in trouble! Thanksgiving is coming up, and this turkey doesn’t want to be the main course on the dinner table. So, the clever turkey comes up with a plan to disguise himself as a different farm animal to avoid being caught. He tries to dress up as a horse, a cow, and even a pig, but each time he is caught by the farmer. Finally, the turkey comes up with a brilliant idea to dress up as something unexpected, and it just might save his life!
Run, Turkey, Run! by Diane Mayr
Turkey is trying to outrun a farmer who wants to catch him and cook him for Thanksgiving dinner. As Turkey runs through the farm, he encounters various animals who try to help him, but end up hindering him instead. Eventually, Turkey comes up with a clever plan to save himself from becoming the main course. Pair this fun and engaging story with this run, turkey run number line math game. You can find the directions on how to play by heading to this post!
Recommended Resources:
How to Catch a Turkey Craft and Thanksgiving Writing Activity
Turkey Crafts Bundle: Decomposing Turkey, Turkey Life Cycle, T is for Turkey
Thanksgiving Centers | Thanksgiving Harvest Party | Thanksgiving Escape Room Activities
10 Fat Turkeys by Tony Johnston
Ten turkeys are having fun on Thanksgiving Day by doing silly things, such as swinging from a vine, strutting on a fence, and hiding in an apple tree. As the day goes on, the turkeys start to disappear one by one until there is only one left. The last turkey decides to join in the fun with some other animals and they all have a good time together. This silly rhyming book is great for working on counting backwards, as well as taking away one. After reading this story, work on decomposing numbers with this adorable turkey craft, math center activity, and game!
Ten Thankful Turkeys by Angela Muse
The story revolves around ten turkeys who are getting ready for Thanksgiving. Each turkey is thankful for something different, and as the story progresses, they express their gratitude for various things in their lives. For example, one turkey might be thankful for the sun, while another might be thankful for a cozy scarf. The book uses rhyming and counting to engage young readers and listeners, as they follow along with the turkeys’ expressions of gratitude. This is another one of those turkey books that is great for integrating math!
A Plump and Perky Turkey by Teresa Bateman
The townspeople of Squawk Valley realize that Thanksgiving is approaching, and they need a turkey for their feast. However, they face a problem because all the turkeys in the area are aware of their fate and are hiding to avoid being caught and eaten. The townspeople come up with a clever plan to lure a turkey out of hiding. They decide to host an art contest, hoping that a plump and perky turkey will be enticed by the promise of fame and fortune. However, the turkey they select, named Pete, turns out to be quite clever and resourceful. Pete outsmarts the townspeople and manages to avoid becoming the Thanksgiving dinner!
Turk and Runt by Lisa Wheeler
At Wishbone Farm, Turk is the largest, strongest, and most graceful bird. His parents are immensely proud of him. His mother calls him a dancer, while his father labels him an athlete. Only Runt, his younger brother, disagrees, saying that he is a goner. Unfortunately, no one takes Runt seriously, not even when people with seasonal plans and roasting pans start showing up at the farm or when the tastiest turkeys are selected one by one. Turk is puzzled, asking what they are being chosen for. Runt knows the answer, but no one listens to him. To get their attention, he has to resort to drastic measures, which is quite amusing, considering they are all turkeys!
The Great Turkey Race by Steve Metzger
The farmer announces that he will choose one turkey to be the guest of honor at the Thanksgiving feast. This news sets off a frenzy among the turkeys on the farm, each of whom wants to win the race and avoid becoming the Thanksgiving dinner. The turkeys train and prepare for the big race, and the competition becomes increasingly comical and competitive. As the race day arrives, the turkeys engage in various humorous antics, and the outcome of the race is full of surprises!
How to Catch a Turkey by Adam Wallace
A group of children are determined to catch a turkey for Thanksgiving. They come up with a series of creative and entertaining traps and contraptions in their quest to capture the turkey. Throughout the book, the children devise a range of comical and imaginative schemes, such as building a turkey trap with a corn maze, a giant pumpkin pie, and a turkey costume to disguise themselves. Each attempt to catch the turkey becomes more elaborate and amusing than the last! After reading the book, students can come up with their own cleaver strategy for catching the Turkey with this simple-to-assemble How to Catch a Turkey craft and procedural writing activity.
Taylor the Thankful Turkey by Sonica Ellis
In this heartwarming story, Taylor the turkey learns the true meaning of thankfulness. While visiting his friends, Taylor gifts each of them something to thank them for their friendship. Such a powerful reminder that giving is also receiving. Taylor teaches us it’s not just about appreciating what you have, but also expressing gratitude towards others!
There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Turkey by Lucille Colandro
If your students enjoy the “There Was an Old Lady” series, they are sure to love this one as well. The story begins with the old lady swallowing a turkey. As the story progresses, she continues to swallow various Thanksgiving-related items, one after another, in a comical and absurd manner. In the end, there’s a surprise twist, and the book concludes with a festive and heartwarming message about the spirit of Thanksgiving. This book is great for working on sequencing!
A Turkey for Thanksgiving by Eve Bunting
Mr. and Mrs. Moose invite their friends—Rabbit, Skunk, Porcupine, and Squirrel—to their home for Thanksgiving dinner. Mrs. Moose is determined to have a turkey for the feast, so they set out on a search to find one. They visit various places, such as a turkey farm and a turkey ranch, but they have no luck finding a turkey. Throughout their search, the other animals try to help by suggesting alternative dishes for Thanksgiving, such as fish or carrots, but Mrs. Moose insists on having a turkey. The story conveys the anticipation and excitement of Thanksgiving, as well as the theme of friends coming together to celebrate the holiday. This is one of my favorite turkey books!
Gobble, Gobble by Cathryn Falwell
A young girl named Jenny discovers a pack of wild turkeys. These amusing birds were once on the brink of extinction, but now they roam freely throughout North America. Jenny documented her journey of wonder in a journal, which is filled with captivating details about this unique American bird. Despite their once massive population, wild turkeys were nearly wiped out due to excessive hunting and loss of habitat. Fortunately, they are making a comeback. The book features one-of-a-kind illustrations created using block prints and collages made out of cut and torn paper, bark, leaves, feathers, and even wasp nests!
Sometimes It’s Turkey, Sometimes It’s Feathers by Lorna Balian
After discovering a turkey egg, Mrs. Gumm takes it under her care and raises the young turkey. She nurtures and feeds it well, ensuring it grows healthy and strong. However, when Thanksgiving arrives, instead of serving it for dinner, she extends an invitation to the turkey to join her at the table. This kind gesture demonstrates Mrs. Gumm’s compassion and respect for all living creatures. Although fiction, this story is great for learning about the life cycle of a turkey! Pair this story with this life cycle of a turkey craft!
I’m a Turkey! by Jim Arnosky
The story is narrated from the perspective of a young male turkey, allowing children to see the world through the eyes of this iconic bird. The turkey describes its experiences and adventures in the natural world, including interactions with other animals, finding food, and navigating its environment. The book also provides interesting facts about wild turkeys, their habits, and their place in the ecosystem. The book comes with a CD featuring a factual song about turkeys.
Nonfiction Turkey Books
All About Turkeys by Jim Arnosky
This informative book is designed to teach young readers about the life and characteristics of wild turkeys, providing a wealth of interesting facts and details about these birds. In “All About Turkeys,” Jim Arnosky explores various aspects of turkey behavior, habitat, and biology. He covers topics such as the turkey’s physical features, their habits and behaviors, their role in the ecosystem, and their interactions with other animals. Arnosky’s detailed and realistic illustrations accompany the text, helping to bring the information to life and engage young readers. This is a great book to use alongside this turkey shape book!
ABC’s of the Wild Turkey by Dave Shellhaas
This engaging book on the ABC’s of the Wild Turkey is sure to captivate your child’s imagination with its vibrant illustrations. As your child learns about the letters of the alphabet, they will also discover interesting facts about the wild turkey, from its distinctive beard to its unique gobble. This T is for Turkey alphabet craft is a great extension activity for learning all about the letter “T”!
Turkeys! by Hope Aicher
Children will delight in learning numerous fascinating facts about turkeys with this captivating collection featuring more than 20 full-color photos and a treasure trove of fun and astonishing information! This is one of those turkey books where students could spend hours just looking at the photos!
Animals on the Farm: Turkeys by Wendy Strobel Dieker
In the book “Turkeys,” young readers taking their first steps into reading will explore the world of farm-dwelling turkeys. They’ll be captivated by vibrant, full-color photographs and accessible text specifically designed for their level, as they uncover the distinctive characteristics and behaviors of these fascinating animals.
Unbelievable Pictures and Facts About Turkeys by Olivia Greenwood
Are your kids curious about turkeys? Do they ask where turkeys live, what they eat, or what their babies are called? Fear not, for this book will take you on an adventure through the fascinating world of turkeys, providing answers to these and many more questions. With stunning visuals that will enchant even the littlest of readers, your family can embark on an exciting journey into the unknown.
Facts About the Turkey by Lisa Strattin
This educational children’s picture book combines captivating facts with vibrant full-color photographs and carefully selected words to introduce kids to the world of turkeys. Filled with intriguing turkey trivia, this book promises an enjoyable learning journey for kids. Explore a wealth of fascinating facts and feast your eyes on stunning turkey photographs that will keep your child engrossed from the first page to the last.
Nature and Science Explores Turkeys by L.E. Arning
This book explains complex facts about turkeys in easy-to-understand language. The book is simple to read and easy to retain for kids of all ages! This nonfiction text is filled with turkey facts and real pictures which will keep students highly engaged as they learn all about turkeys!
Wild Turkeys (North American Animals) by Rebecca Sabelko
Young readers will learn all about the habits and habitats of turkeys in this text all about wild turkeys. This book is great for teaching nonfiction text features, as it is filled with bold words, pictures with captions, labeled pictures, and more!
Turkeys! And Their Secrets: A Book for Curious Kids and Families by Joanna Slodownik
Discover the secrets of turkeys and their intriguing world! Do they have teeth? How do they communicate, and can they sleep with their eyes open? What is life like for turkeys in our modern society? This book serves as an enlightening exploration, broadening our understanding of turkeys and the various birds and animals that coexist with us on our planet. Within its pages, both your children and you will uncover a wealth of captivating facts about turkeys and their existence.
Turkeys! And Their Secrets: A Book for Curious Kids and Families
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Turkeys (Farm Animal Friends) by Amy Culliford
This delightful book acquaints young readers with turkeys and farm life. Its straightforward language and vivid illustrations captivate children and nurture their passion for reading!
Activities for Turkey Books
Pair these fiction and nonfiction turkey books with your favorite turkey crafts and activities!
All About Turkeys Interactive Shape Book
Learn all about turkeys with these 18 interactive turkey activities, adorable turkey craft and nonfiction text about turkeys!
The nonfiction text about turkeys uses real photographs and is great for teaching nonfiction text features. The book includes a table of contents, headings and subheadings, diagrams, maps, labels, captions, bold print and a glossary.
After reading the text or one of the books from the list above, students can complete their turkey shape book craft as they review the facts they have learned!
These turkey activities are great for integrating science, math, literacy and social studies into your nonfiction turkey unit!
How to Catch a Turkey Craft
Your students will love creating a clever strategy to catch the turkey with this simple-to-assemble How To Catch a Turkey craft and procedural writing activity!
Turkey Life Cycle Craft
This Turkey Life Cycle Craft is the perfect craft for November! Just spin the interactive wheel to better remember each stage of the turkey life cycle!
Decomposing Turkey Craft
Your kiddos are sure to enjoy composing and decomposing numbers 2-10 with this adorable Decomposing Turkey craft… such a great way to integrate a little math into your Thanksgiving unit!
Turkey Trot Number Order Craft
Students will gobble up this Turkey Trot Number Order Craft as they sequence numbers 1-10 and 11-20. Students will enjoy ordering numbers with and without ten frames!
T is for Turkey Craft
Reinforce the letter “T” sound with this easy-to-assemble T is for Turkey craft! Students work on scissor-cutting skills, as they cut out the letter “T” along with the colored feathers. After coloring the pictures that start with the letter “T” students cut out the items and attach them to the feathers to complete their adorable turkey craft!
More Turkey Activities
Strengthen fine motor skills and number sense with these FREE “Stuff the Turkey” math games for centers!
Practice comparing numbers and counting forward and backward from a given number with these three turkey math games!
Looking for additional turkey crafts? Explore this comprehensive list of 30 turkey crafts and activities for the classroom!
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Ashley Sharp
As a dedicated Kindergarten teacher for nearly 20 years, I believe the words “fun, play, and creativity” can sit right alongside the words “developmentally appropriate, engaging, and rigorous.” Learning is meant to be fun and messy!
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