The Best Thanksgiving Ever!

by Teddy Slater, Ethan Long (Illustrator)

A sweet story about the importance of family, being thankful, and love--as told by a family of turkeys, with a hilarious surprise at the end!

"It's late in November, the blue sky is clear,
and Thanksgiving Day is finally here.
So many hugs and so many kisses.
So many 'Happy Thanksgiving' wishes."

A family gathers to celebrate all that they're grateful for. But wait, there's a twist! This funny, rhyming read-aloud story features turkeys who celebrate Thanksgiving! The Turkey clan arrives from all over the world, excited for their annual feast. But what will they eat?

It turns out everyone is thankful . . . for Thanksgiving corn!

Genres: Thanksgiving, Picture Books, Holiday, Childrens, Storytime, Fiction, Fantasy

32 pages, Paperback

First published December 31, 2005

Reviews

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a hilarious, rhyming, loving thanksgiving book about a family of turkeys celebrating together. They practice gratitude, celebrate togetherness and sit down to enjoy Thanksgiving…. corn!

[Rod Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tom and Tess Turkey prepare their house and a feast for all the relatives visiting for Thanksgiving.

The only tension in this book is if the main course of the feast will reveal this otherwise innocuous family of turkeys to be crazed cannibals.

My daughter couldn't find any enthusiasm for this book when she was five or here nearly twenty years later.

[Peacegal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute, vibrantly-illustrated Thanksgiving story with wacky, cartoony characters and fun, rhyming text. The doorbell rings and the turkeys' extended family strolls in, from grandparents to cousins from France!

It's always nice to see books that depict turkeys in a positive light during this time of year, and this one is mainstream and fun enough that it won't turn off general audiences. It would make a perfect short read-aloud for a public library or school group.

[Maude P. Ragsdale Hiram Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great, fun filled Thanksgiving read that reminds us all that our loved ones are what make Thanksgiving day so wonderful, and are the treasure many of us, including the Turkeys in this book, are so thankful for each year. This is defiantly the right book to get you in the thanksgiving day spirit!

[Brooklyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Genre: Modern Fantasy

Grade Range: K-1st

Book Review: This book reminds me of being excited on Thanksgiving Day for food and the parade. I think this book is a good holiday book which reminds us about family and being able to unite.

[raccoon reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not going to lie, going into this I kept thinking the build up was going to be a human on the table where turkey's usually are. EVEN when in my brain I knew a children's book wouldn't go there I still kept worrying a bit lol

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanksgiving books for storytime are hard to find. This one is simple and cute. An extended turkey family gathers to celebrate the holiday together.

[Donna Mork · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute rhyming story about a family of turkeys having Thanksgiving together. They work together and say what they are thankful for.

[Amelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Liked it

[IUS-F19 Bryce Cross · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarious book for a read aloud to the class that covers thanksgiving.

[Veronika · Rating 5 out of 5]

One quick word switch, and it applies to Canada!

[Brian Strand · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was about a family of turkeys who had their turkey relatives over for thanksgiving. It talks about things they do to get ready for the party and the guest who come. The book has words that rhyme throughout the whole book. This book was great for using the rhyming words in a kagan lesson.

[Sammie Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book could be a good thanksgiving read aloud but does not have a lot of content. You can use it to identify charcters or setting, but it is a very generic story about a bunch of turkeys that are thankful for several things, especially corn. it has cute illustrations and would be good opener to things the readers are thankful for. k-1st grade.

[Katie Morris · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story centers on a family of turkeys and their preparation for a Thanksgiving Day feast. The book could be used as a poetry lesson to introduce rhyming and also to read for enjoyment during Thanksgiving.

[Takishia Gabriel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book would be great to read to students in the month of November. I would use this book to introduce sequencing. I would also have the students sequence the events as to what happens at their house on Thanksgiving if it is celebrated in their home.

[Mackenzie Piper · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a cute little story! I could see this book being a great asset in a K-1st grade classroom where kids are starting to learn to rhyme. Aside from that, it's also simply a fun book to read to kids. Heck, I'm 18, and I'd enjoy seeking out this book just to read for myself! Highly recommend it.

[Crysta Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this take on thanksgiving. It can teach children that not every family celebrates this holiday the same. However, very busy pictures. Because of this I would read only to a small group and take a good portion of time allowing pictures to be looked at.

[Larc]

Shari Weisz uses this rhyming picture book with Kindergarten and 1st grade.

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

The kids love a rhyming Thanksgiving book with a bit of a twist!

[Ruby · Rating 5 out of 5]

"They had a lot of Thanksgiving corn!"

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the pictures during this book, they are fun and cute. I can totally see children loving these cute turkeys. The story line was good also.

[Casandria · Rating 3 out of 5]

The turkey family has a typical holiday feast: corn!
Thanksgiving

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute rhyming text and ending- what do turkeys eat on Thanksgiving?

[Brianna Crall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed as a bedtime story with my niece.