Welcome to the Read Aloud Classroom where we’re making picture books work for you even with a packed schedule. Hi, I’m Sarah, an educator who believes in the power of read alouds to transform your teaching without adding to our already full plates.
Happy November, everyone! Can you believe we’re already in the thick of fall? I know many of you are gearing up for Thanksgiving units, and today I’m bringing you something fun—a roundup of turkey picture books that are perfect for this time of year!
Now, I’ve got to tell you, turkey books are some of the silliest, most entertaining read alouds you can share with your students. These aren’t your typical informational books about Thanksgiving—these are stories that will have your kids giggling and making connections all at once. And the best part? Most of these work beautifully for teaching comprehension skills while keeping things light and fun during what can be a pretty hectic month.
Before we dive in, quick reminder that all of these titles will be in the show notes, so just relax and enjoy. You can always come back and grab the details later!
Alright, let’s talk turkey!
A Turkey for Thanksgiving by Eve Bunting
First up, we have “A Turkey for Thanksgiving” by Eve Bunting. If you know Eve Bunting’s work, you know she has a gift for creating stories with heart, and this one is no exception—but with a delightful twist!
In this story, Mr. and Mrs. Moose invite all their animal friends for Thanksgiving dinner, and the only one missing is Turkey. So they set out to find him, and poor Turkey is absolutely quaking with fear because he thinks they want him ON the table, not AT the table. Of course, his hosts just want him to join them as a guest, but Turkey doesn’t know that yet!
I love this book for working on cause and effect—why is Turkey so scared? What causes him to feel that way? It’s also perfect for discussing character feelings and making those real-world connections about misunderstandings. Your students will totally get why Turkey is nervous, and the relief when he realizes he’s safe is such a great teaching moment about communication and jumping to conclusions.
Turkey Trouble by Wendi Silvano
Next, we have “Turkey Trouble” by Wendi Silvano, and oh my goodness, this one is hilarious! Turkey does NOT want to become Farmer Jake’s Thanksgiving dinner, so he decides that maybe—just maybe—if he disguises himself, he can fool the farmer.
The attempts at disguises are absolutely ridiculous. Turkey tries to look like all different animals, and each attempt is more comical than the last. And the ending? Perfect. Totally unexpected and satisfying.
This book is fantastic for making predictions—what do you think Turkey will dress up as next? It’s also great for sequencing and working on problem and solution. Your students will be engaged from start to finish, and honestly, it’s one of those books where you’ll catch yourself laughing right along with them.
How to Catch a Turkey by Adam Wallace
If you’ve read any of the “How to Catch” series, you know what you’re in for with “How to Catch a Turkey” by Adam Wallace. This is a New York Times bestseller, and for good reason!
In this story, a turkey is running loose in a school right before the Thanksgiving play. The students turn their school upside down trying to catch this tricky bird, and the traps they come up with are so creative! It combines STEAM concepts with a silly story and fun illustrations, and there’s a twist at the end that ensures no turkeys are harmed.
What I love about this book is how interactive it can be. Your students will want to share their own ideas for turkey traps, and you could easily extend this into a design challenge or writing activity. Plus, it’s just plain fun, which is sometimes exactly what we need in November when everyone’s getting a bit antsy before break!
A Plump and Perky Turkey by Teresa Bateman
“A Plump and Perky Turkey” by Teresa Bateman is another clever one. The townspeople of Squawk Valley need a turkey for Thanksgiving, so they come up with what they think is a brilliant plan—they’ll advertise for a “model” turkey to pose at a turkey-themed arts-and-crafts fair. Once he’s done posing, well, he’ll make the perfect main course!
But they didn’t count on meeting Pete, a turkey so sly and clever that he just might outsmart them all. And spoiler alert—he totally does!
This book is wonderful for making predictions and working on problem and solution. Your students will love seeing how Pete outsmarts the townspeople, and it’s a great reminder that sometimes the underdog—or under-bird—comes out on top!
[BRIEF PAUSE]
Okay, before we keep going, I want to tell you about something that might just save your sanity this month. You know those Sunday nights when you’re scrambling to find the perfect read aloud for Monday morning? Or those Saturday mornings you spend hunting for books and creating activities from scratch?
What if you had a trusted friend who’d just tell you exactly what book to read and how to teach with it? That’s what my Book of the Week email does!
Every Friday, you get one carefully chosen book recommendation—usually brand new releases—along with a complete teaching guide. I’m talking book summary, key concepts, skills you can teach, discussion ideas—all ready to go. It’s like having your Monday read aloud already planned while you enjoy your coffee!
You can sign up at thecolorfulapple.com, and the link will be in the show notes too. Because honestly, your students are waiting for these amazing stories, and your weekends are waiting for you to reclaim them!
Turk and Runt by Lisa Wheeler
Alright, back to our turkey books! Let’s talk about “Turk and Runt” by Lisa Wheeler. This one is so good for teaching character traits and comparing and contrasting!
Turk is the big, strong, athletic bird that his parents are so proud of. His little brother Runt is, well, the runt of the family. But here’s the thing—Runt is the only one who realizes that people with roasting pans keep showing up at Wishbone Farm, and he’s the only one who understands what “chosen” really means for the juiciest turkeys.
Nobody listens to Runt, though—even as the turkeys start disappearing one by one. This story is perfect for working on inferring and asking good questions. Plus, watching Runt try to get his family’s attention before it’s too late is both funny and a little bit suspenseful!
Gobble, Gobble: One Year in the Life of a Wild Turkey by Cathryn Falwell
Now, if you’re looking for something a bit different, “Gobble, Gobble: One Year in the Life of a Wild Turkey” by Cathryn Falwell is a beautiful blend of fiction and nonfiction. It follows a girl named Jenny as she observes a flock of wild turkeys throughout the year.
This book is gorgeous, first of all—the illustrations are block prints over collages made from actual things from nature like bark, leaves, and feathers. But it’s also educational without being dry. Jenny keeps a journal about what she observes, and there’s fascinating information about wild turkeys woven throughout.
I love using this book to bridge into nonfiction turkey units. It’s also wonderful for teaching observation skills and how to keep a nature journal. Your students might even be inspired to observe the birds in their own backyards!
Too Many Turkeys by Linda White
“Too Many Turkeys” by Linda White is a longer picture book with more advanced vocabulary, so this one’s great for your older elementary students or for a longer read aloud session.
Belle and Fred adopt a wild turkey, and Belle’s garden becomes absolutely beautiful—the most stunning garden in the neighborhood. Everyone wants to know her secret, but Belle won’t tell. Then, while she’s away, more turkeys start showing up. And more. And MORE. Until the entire farm is overrun with turkeys!
Poor Fred is at his wit’s end, and the neighbors offer to help if he’ll share Belle’s secret. Will he tell, or will Belle’s garden be ruined? The story requires some inferencing, and it’s a great one for discussing promises, problem-solving, and unintended consequences.
The Great Turkey Race by Steve Smallman
Finally, we have “The Great Turkey Race” by Steve Smallman, and this one is such a fun twist! Three turkeys—Cassie, Wing, and Ollie—overhear Farmer Joe saying he needs to find a VERY SPECIAL Thanksgiving turkey.
Well, these three turkeys decide to have a competition to see who’s the most deserving. They’re so excited to be chosen as the special turkey! Of course, they have NO idea what Farmer Joe actually has planned for the Thanksgiving turkey.
The ending is great—the turkeys figure it out and plot their escape, and Farmer Joe ends up finding a new Thanksgiving treat instead. Your students will love the humor and the clever way the turkeys save themselves. It’s perfect for discussions about point of view and understanding what characters know versus what we as readers know.
And there you have it—a whole flock of turkey picture books to add some fun to your November read alouds! Whether you’re looking for something silly, something with a message, or something that blends fiction with real turkey facts, there’s something here for every classroom.
I’d love to know which one you’re most excited to read with your students! Drop me a message on Instagram @thecolorfulapple and let me know. And if you haven’t already, don’t forget to sign up for Book of the Week at thecolorfulapple.com so you never have to scramble for your Monday morning read aloud again.
If you found today’s episode helpful, I’d be so grateful if you’d subscribe to the podcast and leave a review. It really does help other teachers find our community here in the Read Aloud Classroom.
Thanks for spending part of your day with me! Come connect with me on Instagram @thecolorfulapple, and find all the links and resources from today at thecolorfulapple.com.
Now go enjoy those turkey books with your students—I can already picture their faces lighting up!
