Calling all my elementary teacher friends! These turkey children’s books are great options for November read alouds. Be sure to add these turkey children’s books to your list this year!
This post highlights the following turkey picture books that are perfect for celebrating Thanksgiving with your class:
6 Turkey Children’s Books
Below are 6 turkey children’s books that are great November read alouds. Your students will love listening to these books about turkeys!
1. A Plump and Perky Turkey by Teresa Bateman
A Plump And Perky Turkey by Teresa Bateman is about a clever turkey who refuses to become Thanksgiving dinner. As the townspeople are preparing for their Thanksgiving feast, they suddenly realize there are no turkeys in sight. They come up with a plan to lure the turkeys into town by advertising for a “model” turkey to pose for their arts and crafts fair.
When Pete the turkey arrives, he seems perfect for the job. They plan to use him as their model and when they are finished, he will become their Thanksgiving feast. However, Pete is much more clever than the townspeople expect. He finds a way to outsmart them and makes his escape, leaving nothing but shredded wheat to eat for the Thanksgiving feast. Check out these A Plump and Perky Turkey activities!
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2. How to Catch a Turkey by Adam Wallace
In How to Catch a Turkey by Adam Wallace, it is around the time of Thanksgiving, and Turkey finds himself on stage and about to participate in a school play! With a bad case of stage fright, he breaks out of his pen and runs through the science room, the cafeteria, the library, a classroom, and the jungle gym with a herd of children right behind him!
Finally, the principal herself steps in with a net and joins the chase. While trying to escape, Turkey again finds himself on stage, and, as the spotlight shines on him, finds that maybe being in front of an audience isn’t so bad after all! Check out these How to Catch a Turkey activities!
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3. A Turkey for Thanksgiving by Eve Bunting
In the book A Turkey for Thanksgiving by Eve Bunting, Mr. and Mrs. Moose are getting ready to have their friends over for Thanksgiving dinner. When everything is set up, Mrs. Moose is disappointed that she does not have a turkey at dinner, so Mr. Moose decides to go out and find her one.
As Mr. Moose wanders around looking for a turkey, he runs into friends along the way. Each friend joins him in the search. When they come upon a turkey’s nest, the friends try to catch the turkey. Mr. Moose pushes the frightened turkey home to Mrs. Moose.
When they return home, Mrs. Moose is so happy to have Turkey at dinner. She makes sure there is food he likes to eat and sits him right next to her. Turkey is relieved to find that he is sitting at the table and not on it. All of the friends enjoy eating their Thanksgiving dinner together. This book is one of the most popular turkey books for kids! Check out these A Turkey for Thanksgiving activities!
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4. Turk and Runt by Lisa Wheeler
Turk and Runt by Lisa Wheeler tells the story of two turkeys that are brothers. Turk’s parents are so proud of him because he is big and strong. They imagine that he will be a dancer or football player. Runt however, is much smaller and no one in the family ever listens to him.
As Thanksgiving approaches, people visit the farm to pick out their turkey. The parents think the visitors admiring Turk want him to perform in a ballet or join a football team. No one listens to Runt’s warnings about Turk becoming someone’s dinner. He acts wildly and sickly to scare the visitors away and protect his brother.
When an older woman arrives and decides Runt is the perfect size for her, Runt and Turk must work together to stop the old lady from taking him home. This book will quickly become one of your students’ favorite turkey picture books! Check out these Turk and Runt activities!
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5. Turkey Trouble by Wendi Silvano
In Wendi Silvano’s Turkey Trouble, Farmer Jake is starting to plan his Thanksgiving dinner and Turkey knows that he is in trouble. He decides that he is going to avoid being the main course this year. Turkey disguises himself as various farm animals to avoid being eaten. Each time Turkey dresses up as another animal, the other animals on the farm recognize him.
Turkey becomes discouraged. He knows that he needs a new plan. He finds himself in the middle of the vegetable patch on the farm. Turkey dresses up as a pizza delivery man and delivers a pizza to Farmer Jake. Turkey solves his problem and has his best Thanksgiving ever. Check out these Turkey Trouble activities!
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6. The Great Turkey Race by Steve Metzger
The Great Turkey Race by Steve Metzger takes place on a farm just before Thanksgiving. While playing hide-and-seek with his friends, Ollie the turkey overheard Farmer Joe talk about picking a special turkey to be the Thanksgiving turkey. Excited, Ollie ran to tell his friends Cassie and Wing. Of course, each turkey thought that they should be the Thanksgiving turkey. The three friends decided to compete in field day events to earn medals. The turkey with the most medals would be the Thanksgiving turkey.
When the games started, Wing was not playing fair. He bragged and even cheated during some of the events. Ollie and Cassie were feeling angry with Wing. While resting, Cassie overheard Farmer Joe and Farmer Kate talking about the tasty Thanksgiving turkey. The three turkeys panicked at the thought of being eaten for Thanksgiving so they made a plan. On the last field day event, the high jump, the three friends jumped the fence surrounding the farm. As a result, Farmer Joe and Farmer Kate were left to eat vegetable stew for their Thanksgiving dinner. Check out these The Great Turkey Race activities!
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Grab the Free Reading Resources!
We hope you found this list of turkey children’s books helpful! They are great fall books for kids and Thanksgiving read alouds! If you want to get more book ideas to read aloud to your elementary students, then grab this reading freebie. It includes read aloud books lists, reading logs, and reading challenges for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade classroom teachers. It will have you covered for the entire school year, as well as the summer months! Grab this free elementary reading packet now!
