"Turkey Trouble", by Wendi Silvano is about a tricky turkey who doesn't want to be on the dinner table for Thanksgiving. Turkey comes up with numerous funny outfits to try to blend in on the farm, but the other animals call him out each time. Turkey comes up with a costume to look like a horse, a cow, a pig, a sheep, and a rooster, but he isn't fooling anybody! They all know it's Turkey. In this story there are repetitive lines so the students can join in while reading! This makes it fun and engaging for them and they are more likely to recall the story. Finally, Turkey has a brilliant idea which saves him from being served on a silver platter. WHEW! Turkey was safe for one more year. Some activities to do with this story would be sequencing of events charts to check for comprehension. Also, the students could do a reader's theater and assign everyone a part to act out. Another fun activity I did with a second grade class was having the students create their own menu and write it out. They were to choose an appetizer, main course, salad, soup, sides, and dessert. They enjoyed this activity and loved sharing their menu with their classmates. Any type of Thanksgiving activity would go along with this cute and fun story. 

Lexile: AD460L

Guided Reading Level: K

ATOS Reading Level: 2.3

Gobble, gobble, there is nothing like Thanksgiving Day! It is a festive time to eat turkey, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie, while enjoying much-needed time with family and friends. 

Thanksgiving Day is also a time to read wonderful stories about Thanksgiving, and Crickhollow Books has recommended quite a few stories to gobble up this Thanksgiving! 

Historical Thanksgiving Reads

1. A Journey to the New World: The Diary of Remember Patience Whipple

    Kathryn Lasky, Age Range: 9-12

2. Squanto's Journey: The Story of the First Thanksgiving

    Joseph Bruchac, Age Range: 6-9

3. Sarah Morton's Day: A Day in the Life of a Pilgrim Girl

    Kate Waters, Age Range: 4-8

Being Thankful Reads

1. The Memory Cupboard: A Thanksgiving Story

    Charlotte Herman, Age Range: 6-9

2. The Thankful Book

    Todd Parr, Age Range: 3-6

3. Thanks for Thanksgiving

    Julie Markes, Age Range: 4-8

4. Thanksgiving is for Giving Thanks

    Margaret Sutherland, Age Range: 3-6

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Reads

1. Balloons over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy's Parade

    Melissa Sweet, Age Range: 4-8

2. Milly and the Macy's Parade

    Shana Corey, Age Range: 4-8

Turkey, Turkey, Turkey Reads

1. Turkey Trouble

    Wendi Silvano, Age Range: 6-8

2. T is for Turkey: A True Thanksgiving Tale

    Tanya Lee Stone, Age Range: 3-5 

3. A Plump and Perky Turkey

    Teresa Bateman, Age Range: 6-8

Other Holiday Reads

1. 'Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving

    Dav Pilkey, Age Range: 3-5

2. Arthur's Thanksgiving

    Marc Brown, Age Range: 3-6

3. Holiday Around the World: Celebrate Thanksgiving

    Deborah Heiligman, Age Range: 6-9

Remember to count your blessings, eat some turkey, and curl up with a great story on Thanksgiving Day!