A Turkey for Thanksgiving by Eve Bunting: A Classic Thanksgiving Story

Thanksgiving is a beloved American holiday centered around food family and reflection on life’s blessings. For families with young children, reading an engaging Thanksgiving story is a wonderful way to get into the holiday spirit. One of the best Thanksgiving books for kids is Eve Bunting’s classic, A Turkey for Thanksgiving.

Overview of A Turkey for Thanksgiving

A Turkey for Thanksgiving was written by celebrated children’s author Eve Bunting and illustrated by Diane deGroat, It was published in 1995 by Clarion Books This 32-page picture book has delighted young readers for over 25 years with its charming storyline and adorable animal characters

The story follows a turkey named Turkey who lives happily on a farm with Duck, Pig, and Sheep. However, when Thanksgiving approaches, Turkey panics because he fears he’ll be the main course for the Moose family’s holiday feast. Turkey decides to run and hide from the Moose family, not realizing their plan is to invite him to their Thanksgiving dinner as a guest, not serve him for dinner.

After Turkey hides, the kind animals—along with the Moose family—search everywhere to find Turkey so he can join their celebration. The story has a happy ending when Turkey is finally found and realizes the Moose family wants him at their table to celebrate, not to eat him.

A Turkey for Thanksgiving teaches themes of friendship, acceptance, and gratitude in a humorous, gentle way. The story is approximately 600 words long, ideal for reading aloud to children ages 3-7.

What Makes This Book a Classic

There are several elements that have made A Turkey for Thanksgiving an enduring classic in children’s holiday literature:

• Engaging plot: The story has a simple but suspenseful plot as the animals search for the missing turkey. Kids love to predict if Turkey will be found and get to enjoy Thanksgiving.
• Endearing characters: Turkey and his friendly animal companions are adorable and appealing to young readers.
• Beautiful illustrations: Diane deGroat’s soft, detailed watercolor illustrations complement the story beautifully.
• Positive message: The story promotes thankfulness, community, and compassion in a developmentally appropriate way for young children.
• Humor: Children love the funny misunderstanding Turkey has over being invited to Thanksgiving versus served for dinner. The story is fun and lighthearted.
• Strong reviews: The book has near perfect reviews from parents, teachers, librarians, and critics, cementing it as a go-to Thanksgiving story.

Why Read This Book at Thanksgiving

Here are some of the top reasons families should read A Turkey for Thanksgiving as part of their holiday traditions:

• It provides a kid-friendly explanation of Thanksgiving customs and history.
• The themes of thankfulness, community, and friendship are central to the Thanksgiving holiday.
• The light, humorous tone puts everyone in a festive mood.
• The brief length is perfect for capturing antsy children’s attention before your feast.
• Kids love hearing the suspenseful story again and again.
• The adorable animal characters appeal to young children.
• Beautiful illustrations help set the mood and draw kids into the story.
• It’s an engaging book that brings everyone together.

Using A Turkey for Thanksgiving in the Classroom

Many teachers read A Turkey for Thanksgiving to their students leading up to the holiday break. It’s appropriate for Preschool to 3rd grade. Teachers can use the book to:

• Teach about Thanksgiving traditions.
• Spark discussion about what students are thankful for.
• Practice prediction by having kids guess what will happen.
• Work on reading comprehension by asking questions.
• Have students rewrite or act out the story.
• Use it as a mentor text for teaching story structure.
• Inspire art projects based on the illustrations.
• Promote writing thank you notes and letters.
• Teach respect for others despite differences.

Lasting Popularity and Acclaim

A Turkey for Thanksgiving remains popular today because of Eve Bunting’s skilled storytelling and positive message that appeals to young readers. The book has won numerous awards, including:

• IRA/CBC Children’s Choice
• NCTE Notable Children’s Trade Book in the Language Arts
• Booklist Editor’s Choice

Eve Bunting is a former teacher who has authored over 250 books. Her goal is to write stories that help foster young children’s love of reading. For creating a Thanksgiving classic that families and educators treasure, she has certainly succeeded with A Turkey for Thanksgiving.

For over 25 years, A Turkey for Thanksgiving by Eve Bunting has been delighting young readers. Its playful plot, endearing animal characters, beautiful illustrations, and uplifting message make it a standout Thanksgiving story for children. Families and classrooms alike should make reading this charming book a holiday tradition. A Turkey for Thanksgiving perfectly captures the spirit of the holiday in a way kids can understand.