Thanksgiving is on its way — which means it’s the perfect time to lean into silly turkey fun, cozy read-alouds, and meaningful conversations about gratitude. Because our children don’t just need pumpkin pie… they need chances to reflect, connect, and celebrate the big and small blessings in their world.
Here are our favorite Thanksgiving books + hands-on activities to fill your Thanksgiving week with brainy fun.
Mighty Book: Mouse’s Thanksgiving
Mouse’s Thanksgiving by Judy Cox is a classroom favorite that is a sweet, funny reminder that Thanksgiving isn’t about being greedy — it’s about sharing, savoring, and appreciating what we have. Little readers adore Mouse’s antics, and grown-ups love the gentle message tucked inside.
Mighty Moment: Paint a Thanksgiving Feast
After reading Mouse’s Thanksgiving, invite your child to paint their very own Thanksgiving plate!
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Brainstorm a list of your family’s favorite Thanksgiving dishes.
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Sketch each food item lightly in pencil.
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Paint your plate using watercolors or tempera paint.
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Add color pops with crayons or markers.
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Outline your food with a black Sharpie for that beautiful “storybook” look.
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Paint the rim of the plate to finish your masterpiece!
This activity encourages creativity, language development, and — of course — delicious imagination. Check out the very best art supplies here.
Mighty Book: Turkey Trouble
Turkey Trouble by Wendi Silvano. Teachers LOVE this book — and when you read it, you’ll see why. Turkey’s hilarious attempts to disguise himself will have kids giggling and thinking creatively long after storytime ends.
Mighty Moment: Disguise a Turkey
Help Turkey stay off the Thanksgiving menu!
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Color your Turkey.
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Cut him out and glue onto tag board (optional, but gives extra sturdiness).
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Disguise him using anything: yarn, fabric scraps, stickers, glitter, googly eyes, or even paper costumes you design yourself!
This activity fosters creativity, problem-solving, and big belly laughs — the perfect trio for Thanksgiving week.
Mighty Book: How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World
How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World by Marjorie Priceman is the sweetest way to celebrate everyone’s favorite Thanksgiving dessert. When the market is closed, our determined little baker sets off around the globe to find every ingredient herself—turning apple pie into an adventure rich with geography, culture, and curiosity.
It’s a joyful reminder that every bite of pie has a story: farmers, places, traditions, and the world working together.
Mighty Moment: Graphing Pie
This Thanksgiving, put on your interviewer hat to celebrate everyone’s favorite dessert!
- Ask everyone around your Thanksgiving table (from grandparents to toddlers) what their favorite kind of pie is.
- Don’t forget to include your own favorite!
- Answer the graphing questions to show your expert graphic knowledge.
- Try making a pie chart to match your bar graph with the help of an adult!
One More Mighty Moment: Drawing Time!
Below you’ll find some of our favorite kid-friendly drawing videos to spark creativity this Thanksgiving! Whether they’re learning how to draw a turkey, a slice of pie, or a whole Thanksgiving feast, these guided videos help kids build artistic confidence while having tons of fun.
Encourage them to follow along, add their own flair, and—most importantly—enjoy creating. Because when little hands are drawing… big things are happening in the brain.
Thanksgiving isn’t just about crafts (though we love those). It’s a golden opportunity to strengthen gratitude, emotional intelligence, creativity, and connection.
With the right books and the right invitations to play, your little ones will grow mighty hearts and mighty minds — one joyful activity at a time.
