Thanksgiving Chapter Books for Kids to Use with Reading Groups

When possible, I like to keep with themes and holidays for my reading groups. Since I teach 2nd grade, many of my students are reading chapter books. Here are some of my favorite Thanksgiving chapter books to read with students.

Thanksgiving will be here before you know it. Combine student excitement for the holiday with their love for reading and try a chapter book. These Thanksgiving chapter books would be great for read aloud or to use with your small groups or book clubs.

Throughout this post you can click on book covers to learn more about them.

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thanksgiving chapter books for kids

One of my favorite books to read with my readers is Thanksgiving on Thursday. I love the way Mary Pope Osborne has woven nonfiction elements into a fictional story. It really gives students a lot of knowledge without overwhelming them. You can find activities to pair with this story here.

Pilgrims is the nonfiction companion to Thanksgiving on Thursday. This book lends itself so well to teaching facts about the time period in a way second graders can understand. You can find activities to pair with this story here.

I have Junie B. books on hand because many of my students fell in love with her books in first grade, but can now read them independently in second grade. In this book, Junie B.’s class is participating in a contest by creating lists of the things they are thankful for. You can find activities to pair with this story here.

Like Junie B., Freddy is a first grader, but second graders will still connect with the humor and plot in these books. In this book Freddy’s class is preparing to perform a Thanksgiving play. Nobody wants to play the part of the turkey….especially Freddy. You can find activities to pair with this story here.

When you combine Mike Thaler’s writing style with Jared Lee’s illustrations, kids are hooked! These Black Lagoon chapter books are very quick reads with short chapters. In this story, the kids in Hubie’s class are getting ready for a Thanksgiving parade. You can find activities to pair with this story here.