Thanksgiving is a time when families and friends come together to share food and laughter as the days are getting shorter and colder. Beginning as a celebration of the welcome early European settlers received from Native Americans, Thanksgiving maintains the sentiment of sharing one’s bounty with others. Each home has its own unique traditions, but there are many shared behaviors across the United States, as well. No matter how the holiday is celebrated, the essence is the same: giving thanks for all that one has in their life. This book list includes titles for children aged 4-7 and shows how people give thanks at Thanksgiving and throughout the year. Contributed by: Mary Lanni
When Tuyet finds out that her Vietnamese family is having duck rather than turkey for Thanksgiving dinner, she is upset until she finds out that other children in her class did not eat turkey either.
In rhyming text, when the whole family and guests show up for the big dinner at Grandma’s house, it becomes clear that the house is much too small to hold them all.
I am Thankful
By: Suzy Capozzi
Illustrated by: Eren Unten
Throughout a Thanksgiving Day filled with family and fun, a child finds opportunities to be thankful.
Illustrations and simple, rhyming text reveal a family’s preparations for their Thanksgiving feast, with everyone pitching in to help—including Baby, who sleeps quiet as a mouse.
When he is invited to five Thanksgiving dinners, Turkey accepts all of his friends’ invitations but wonders if he has room in his stomach for all that food.
Every culture in the world has its own heritage and history. No matter where one lives, their unique heritage remains important and deserves to be celebrated! Whether or not it is officially recognized in a national month or day, heritage is vitally important to the complexity and depth of human society. Learning about different cultures and why they are special prepares children to interact with others who may come from different backgrounds and do so from a place of respect and understanding. This book list is designed to help with this learning and includes books from a variety of cultures that celebrate each one’s unique heritage. These books are best suited to readers ages 4-7. Contributed by: Mary Lanni
A Navajo family welcomes a new baby into the family with love and ceremony, eagerly waiting for that first special laugh. Includes a brief description of birth customs in different cultures.
Explores the previously uncelebrated but pivotal contributions of NASA’s African American women mathematicians to America’s space program, describing how Jim Crow laws segregated them despite their groundbreaking successes.
Aneel and his grandfather, Dada-ji, tell stories, use their imaginations, and make delicious roti, a traditional Indian flatbread.
Islandborn
By: Junot Díaz
Illustrated by: Leo Espinoza
Lola was just a baby when her family left the Island, so when she has to draw it for a school assignment, she asks her family, friends, and neighbors about their memories of her homeland and in the process, comes up with a new way of understanding her own heritage.
When his mother sends him to the market to buy necessities for the upcoming festival, Lin Yi is certain his bargaining skills will get him the best prices, and he will have money left over for his coveted red rabbit lantern.
One rainy day, Peekaboo, the poi dog, is feeling restless and is looking for a new game to play. She asks her mother for guidance, leading her on an unexpected imaginary journey across the state of Hawaii. Along the way, Peekaboo encounters wonderful people and creatures while visiting many well-known Hawaiian landmarks: From the Pali lookout to the snowy mountain top of Mauna Kea, Big Island’s highest volcano, her adventures are filled with excitement, discoveries, and enjoyment.
Pepe wakes up energized to attend his first Hispanic Day parade. With new food to taste, music to dance to, and a parade to watch, Pepe couldn’t be more excited to celebrate and share his Hispanic heritage. Many of Pepe’s friends also attend the festival, celebrating their own Hispanic ties. Mexican, Dominican, Panamanian, Colombian, Honduran, Nicaraguan, Chilean, Puerto Rican, Salvadoran, Guatemalan, and Cuban cultures are all represented in the parade. A day filled with joy and pride, Pepe and the Parade is a jubilant celebration of culture and identity.
After a wonderful summer spent visiting her grandmother, Suki decides to wear her blue cotton kimono on her first day of school, where she also shares with her class tales of going to the street festival with her beloved obachan.
Little Thunder wants a name that separates him from his father, Big Thunder, and considers such options as “Touch the Sky” and “Drums, Drums, and More Drums” before his father helps him find the perfect alternative.
It doesn’t get more American than the Fourth of July; that is, until you see the other July observances. National Baked Bean Month, National Hot Dog Month, National Ice Cream Month, National Blueberry Month, National Grilling Month, and National Picnic Month. Okay, so Americans really love to eat in July. That’s just the month observances. Take a look at the day observances: National Fried Clam Day, National Barbecued Spareribs Day, National Caesar Salad Day (finally a day that’s healthy!), National Apple Turnover Day, National Fried Chicken Day, National Strawberry Sundae Day, National Macaroni Day, and I’m only at July 7th.
While some of these days seem like a GREAT excuse to eat, there is much more to celebrate in July. The most important is Independence Day. The original Independence Day celebrations weren’t exactly like our modern-day celebrations. Instead of fireworks, cannons were fired. It wasn’t until after 1816 when Americans began producing their own pyrotechnics that it became a July 4th celebration staple. Learn fun facts about Independence Day in books like The Journey of the One and Only Declaration of Independence, and The Story of America’s Birthday, both of which are listed in our 25 Everything 4th of July Books reading list. Want fun activities for the kids during your 4th of July family barbeque? Check out What is the 4th of July?, Paper Crafts for the 4th of July, or Independence Day Origami, also listed in our 25 Everything 4th of July Books reading list.
Still, July is more than celebrating our love of food and freedom. We are celebrating a summer break for students and teachers, a summer vacation with family and friends, and a chance to celebrate others. There is National Postal Worker Day (July 1), National Father-Daughter Take a Walk Day (July 7), National Cousins Day (July 24), and National Aunt and Uncle Day (July 26). Then there are National Cheer Up the Lonely Day (July 11) and National Give Something Away Day (July 15) which provide us a chance to help someone else.
In honor of all of these July observances we will be posting a large number of thematic reading lists to our Read & Shine Facebook page and MoBooCo Twitter page to help you and your child celebrate. If you aren’t following us on social media yet, this is definitely the month you want to start.
