If you celebrate Thanksgiving with a houseful of people, the kids oftentimes are assigned to their own table, sometimes even in another room. This arrangement (which, let’s face it, is much more fun for all the little cousins) is necessary to accommodate all of the adult guests at the formal dining table. But it can make Savvy Aunties feel like they are missing out on the best part of their visit: time with their nieces and nephews!

So, exercising your naturally savvy style, pack some great Thanksgiving books and grab your little ones for a little bonding time with some of our favorite Turkey Day stories. Here’s a short list to get you started:

Turkey Day
By Grace MacCarone, Illustrated by John Manders

This adorable rhyming story is perfect for beginning readers to strut their stuff. It’s a perfect “read aloud” about a family of turkeys making the journey to celebrate Thanksgiving together.
 
I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Pie
By Alison Jackson, Illustrated by Judith Byron Schachner

Nieces and nephews will find the items this old lady decides to swallow much more palatable than those in the original rhyme. In this festive tribute featuring all the delicious foods found on a traditional Thanksgiving table, readers can’t help but laugh as the old lady swallows them all and grows a belly to prove it.
 
‘Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving
By Dav Pilkey

A bunch of turkeys have found their rescuers in a busload of kids who do their best to prevent the seemingly inevitable.  Nieces and nephews will love the humor and colorful, cartoon-like illustrations in this appealing Thanksgiving book.
 
One Little, Two Little, Three Little Pilgrims
By B.G. Hennessy, Illustrated by Lynne Woodcock Kravath

The younger set will enjoy this simple rhyming story about pilgrims and the Native Americans. Learn all about the food shared by the people and practice counting along the way with your little nieces and nephews.

Thanksgiving is Here!
By Diane Goode

Jump right into Thanksgiving Day with this large family and their holiday traditions. Don’t miss the fancy Aunt who joins the raucous crowd and all of the interesting things that happen as this joyous celebration continues well into the night.

Karen Gallagher is the owner of The Lollipop Book Club.

Image: Courtesy Scholastic, Inc.
Published: November 22, 2010