11 Great Thanksgiving Stories for Your Family
Greetings Invincible Family Readers!
And welcome to our new African subscribers. Last week I wrote about the dire situation occurring this week in which leaders of 79 nations in and around Africa are being coerced into signing a deceptive and dangerous treaty that will ideologically, environmentally, and politically enslave the peoples of these countries for the next 20 years. (Read it here.) I will give you an update soon.
Thanksgiving Books for You and Your Family
Meanwhile, the American holiday of Thanksgiving is coming! Giving thanks for the blessings God so freely pours down upon us is essential to living a happy life, regardless of what is happening around the world. Here are 11 books I love about giving thanks, the history of Thanksgiving, and the joys of the harvest season.
1. Thank You, Sarah: The Woman Who Saved Thanksgiving, by Laurie Halse Anderson
This entertaining (and true!) picture book tells how one determined little woman got Thanksgiving on the calendar—but you won’t believe how long it took her!
2. The Story of the Pilgrims, by Katharine Ross
Tells the classic tale of the Pilgrims arrival in the New World and their fight for survival, aided by the Native Americans. A great one for the kids and grandkids.
3. Thanksgiving at the Tappletons, by Eileen Spinelli
This uproarious picture book is a family favorite my sister-in-law brought to the family. What if Thanksgiving dinner falls apart?
4. The Scarecrow, by Bethany Ferry
This is a fall favorite about (what else?) a scarecrow and a surprising friendship that will warm your heart and make you thankful for the friendships in your life. Whimsical illustrations add to the charm.
5. The Thanksgiving Treasure, by Gail Rock (junior novel, Addie Mills collection)
Ok, I’m including this one entirely for selfish reasons! I think it’s out of print now, but I loved this book as a tween-ager (you can still get it through this link. Also there is a movie based on the book!) It’s about a girl whose grumpy neighbor in the woods might have a change of heart just in time for Thanksgiving. Comes complete with horses, friendship, and a touch of mystery.
6. The Hiding Place, by Corrie ten Boom (autobiography)
This classic true story from the Holocaust is inspiring, heart wrenching, and shows that even in the bleakest of circumstances there is always something to be thankful for.
7. The Greatest Thanksgiving Tales
This eclectic collection contains a short story by O. Henry that we’ve read after the Thanksgiving meal for years. We called it “Stuffy Pete,” but apparently the real name is, “Two Thanksgiving Day Gentlemen.” It’s a hilarious vignette about a poor man who becomes the victim of too much generosity.
8. When Life Gives You Pears, by Jeannie Gaffigan (memoir)
This wasn’t meant to be a Thanksgiving book, but it is. Jeannie Gaffigan, wife of comedian Jim Gaffigan, gives him a run for his money in the humor department as she recounts her harrowing bout with a pear-sized tumor of brain cancer and other details of their unconventional life as a family. You’ll find yourself laughing, crying, and thankful for every shred of your own tumultuous life.
9. Three Young Pilgrims, by Cheyrl Harness
Based on the true story of three children—Bartholomew, Remember, and Mary Allerton—who rode on the Mayflower and attended the first Thanksgiving feast.
10. The Boy Who Fell Off the Mayflower, by P.J. Lynch
I just discovered this book! It tells the true story of John Howland who fell off the Mayflower into the depths of the icy ocean and thought all was lost until God reached out and changed the course of his life. This book (although on the long side for a picture book) inspired my young son and helped him see how the life of one person affects so many others.
11. Squanto and the Miracle of Thanksgiving, by Eric Metaxas
I’ve heard about Squanto since I was a kid. How did I never hear his whole, remarkable story? Don’t miss this fantastic and inspirational picture book.
Happy reading and Happy Thanksgiving!!