RHYMING/LYRICAL THANKSGIVING PICTURE BOOKS

This time of year, it always feels to me that Thanksgiving is being squeezed into a smaller and smaller space by Halloween and Christmas. Looking at the holiday picture book section of my library shows the same -- multiple shelves packed with Halloween and Christmas books, but only a few rows of Thanksgiving titles wedged between them.

Luckily, more books that celebrate Thanksgiving, harvest, and gathering together are being added each year. And books that are at the edges of Thanksgiving, (like those about turkeys, pies, feasts), are also more plentiful. Here are three newer titles that fit the (turkey) bill.

TWELVE DAYS OF AUTUMN, by Sherri Maret and Thomas Hilley

Twelve Days of Autumn, by Sherri Maret and Thomas Hilley (Muddy Boots Books, 2025) is part of a four-book series, with one book for each season. The inspiration for these books comes from "The Twelve Days of Christmas" song. The books have a simplicity to them and are NOT in metered rhyme.
​The autumn book opens with the expected line that begins the counting up:

On the first day of autumn, we looked around to see...
a turkey trotting down the trail.

Each spread then adds another animal in a cumulative counting up to twelve types of animals. In the end, the counting is reversed, counting down from twelve to one. Occasional alliteration adds some lyricism.

THANKSGIVING IS A BLESSING by Rachel Tawil Kenyon and Udayana Lugo

Thanksgiving Is a Blessing by Rachel Tawil Kenyon and Udayana Lugo (Beaming Books, 2025) has more poetic punch. The rhyming text uses the poetic device of anaphora; each stanza opens with the same two words: "Thanksgiving is..." Every spread contains one quatrain (4 lines) which offers varying interpretations of what Thanksgiving means.
A metaphor opens each spread, like this one:

Thanksgiving is the laughter
as we talk and reminisce.
It's also tears that sometimes come
for people who we miss.

The lines predominantly alternate stressed and unstressed syllables (iamb and trochee poetic feet).The story follows an arc from morning to night. The book concludes with two pages of back matter, which includes instructions on how to set a Thanksgiving table and a recipe for pumpkin soup.

HARVEST DAYS: GIVING THANKS AROUND THE WORLD by Kate DePalma and Martina Peluso

Harvest Days: Giving Thanks Around the World by Kate DePalma and Martina Peluso shares details about harvest festivals around the world, in both the northern and southern hemispheres. (Surprisingly, the American tradition of Thaksgiving Day is portrayed as being celebrated in Liberia, where emigrants from the United States moved in the late 1800s!) A dozen countries and their harvest traditions are celebrated across twelve spreads.
The story portion of the book opens and closes with a pair of couplets. This is the opening:

People as far back as anyone's known
Have gathered to give thanks for food we have grown.
A bountiful harvest is perfect to share.
What a wonderful way to show others you care.

The meter is predominantly anapest (two unstressed syllables + one stressed syllable), but often one (or even two) of the leading unstressed syllables are omitted. 
Below is a sample spread from one country's harvest celebration. Note that the pronunciation of unfamiliar words in included, and a small sidebar adds additional celebration facts.

When it's time for Sukkot, the building we make
Is nice to spend time in, asleep or awake.
Our family and friends come to meet us inside,
Grateful for all that HaShem can provide.

Generous back matter completes the book, giving it lots of layers to appeal to readers, parents, and teachers. (The Rhyme Doctors are big fans of adding layers to books. Check out this post by Michelle Schaub about her NCTE commended poetry collection, Leafy Landmarks: Travels with Trees.) 

Include some rhyming or lyrical Thanksgiving books at your families celebration!

At this Thanksgiving time, the Rhyme Doctors would like to thank YOU for following the House Calls blog, as well as spreading the love of rhyme and lyrical writing in the world! Thanksgiving blessings to you and your family from us. 

​~ Patricia Toht