3 Fun Thanksgiving Books For A Silly + Creative Math Story Time

Thanksgiving is nearly upon us now! While my boys are dreaming of pumpkin pie and sweet potatoes, I’m dreaming up story time ideas inspired by our favorite fun Thanksgiving books! This story time is geared for kids around my youngest’s age. Read on for fun, creative ways to reinforce early math skills while getting in the holiday spirit!

Disclosure: This post is not sponsored in any way.

FUN THANKSGIVING BOOKS TO INSPIRE STORY TIME

Favorite Fun Thanksgiving Books

Tony Johnston wrote Ten Fat Turkeys. Rich Deas created the illustrations. It’s a simple rhyming book that counts down from 10 to 1, an important skill for young mathematicians. The comical facial expressions and scenarios the turkeys find themselves in will amuse young readers.

>>> Enjoy 10 Fat Turkeys? We used it last Thanksgiving for another fun story time! <<<

Salina Yoon created Five Silly Turkeys, which has quickly become #thelittleone’s favorite recent book. It’s a lyrical rhyming book, counting down from 5 turkeys to 1. So lyrical in fact, our kiddo insists we only sing the book when reading, to the tune of ‘5 Little Ducks’. The shimmery, crinkly feathers along the side add an extra bit of sensory fun to story time, so it’s engaging for many ages.

Aly Fronis authored This Little Turkey, while Miggy Blanco illustrated the book. Both of my boys immediately recognized that the story was a nod towards the classic rhyme, ‘This Little Piggy.’ That familiar sing-song format makes it a favorite for both of them. It lends itself well to fingerplays and singalongs.

CREATIVE IDEAS FOR A FUN THANKSGIVING STORY TIME

The beauty of the ideas I share below is that they don’t have to be paired with any specific book. I’m sharing them according to the inspiration I drew, but they easily mix and match with many Thanksgiving themed picture and board books. Chances are good you already have a few perfect titles in your home library!

Ten Fat Turkeys

Ten fingers, ten turkeys… coincidence? I don’t think so! Here’s a perfect hand print craft to create ten fat turkeys.

Supplies:

• Printable fence page, or plain paper.
• Brown paint or ink.
• Crayons, colored pencils, or markers.
• Optional: stickers, glue, yarn, scissors, colored paper, etc.

Instructions:

1. Print one fence page per child.
2. Use brown paint or ink to add both of each child’s hand prints to the fence.
   1. Sensory-sensitive kids may prefer to have their hands traced instead.
3. When ink or paint is dry, use crayons, colored pencils or marker to add fun details to each of the ten turkeys (fingers).
4. If you’re up for extra fun, use extra art supplies like stickers, paper, glue, etc to create additional details for each turkey.

>>> Download your printable fence page right here! <<<

Five Silly Turkeys

Magnetic play allows kids to easily retell and recreate stories on the fridge, front door, or even on a cookie sheet on the go.

Supplies: 

• 5 turkeys.
  • I used some 3-d scrapbook stickers. Foam shapes, computer print outs, etc. would also work well.
• Adhesive magnetic sheets.
• Scissors.
• Fridge, cookie sheet, etc. for magnetic play.

Instructions:

1. Stick turkeys to adhesive magnetic sheets.
2. Use scissors to trim around turkeys.
3. Adults can move turkeys around the cookie sheet while reading aloud, or encourage child to follow along with the countdown by moving the magnets. Later, kids can retell the story, engage in imaginative play, or simply practice counting independently with the magnets.

Printable clip cards and clothespins give little fingers a fine motor and math work out at the same time.

Supplies: 

• Printable turkey clip cards.
• Scissors.
• Laminating pouch. (Optional for sturdier, reusable cards).
• Clothespins.

Instructions:

1. Print out turkey clip cards.
2. Cut out each clip card.
3. Laminate cards if you choose to, and cut them out.
4. Provide children with clothespins and clip cards.
5. Encourage kids to count the number of turkeys on each card, and clip the clothespin to the correct number.

>>> You’ll find the turkey counting clip cards here! <<<

This Little Turkey

‘This Little Piggy’ is known for counting on wiggly toes, but This Little Turkey is a perfect choice for a fun finger play instead!

Supplies:

• 1 pair of inexpensive gloves.
• 8 turkeys, or the supplies to create them.
  • I was unable to find ready-made turkey figures, so I made my own instead using.
    • 8 wooden buttons.
    • 16 small wiggle eyes.
    • 8 feather bodies cut from various shades of felt.
    • 8 yellow beaks cut from a sheet of felt.
    • 8 red waddles cut from a sheet of felt.
    • Craft glue.
    • Scissors.

Instructions:

1. Cut 8 simple feather bodies from sheets of felt.
2. Glue a button head to each body.
3. Cut 8 small red teardrops from felt. Glue one waddle to each button.
4. Cut 8 small yellow triangle beaks from felt. Glue one beak to each button, above the waddle.
5. Glue 2 small wiggle eyes to each button, just above the beak.
6. Allow some time for the turkeys to dry.
7. Once dry, glue one turkey body to each finger of the gloves.
   1. I skipped the thumbs.
8. After the gloves are dry, slip them on. As you read through the book, wiggle each turkey finger as you reach it in the book. Kids can also take turns trying.
   1. *** Due to small parts, be sure to supervise young readers to minimize choking risk.

• Alternatively, you could skip the gloves entirely and use the felt-backed turkeys in conjunction with a felt board at story time.

While we’re talking turkey this Thanksgiving, you know I have to ask… Light meat or dark meat?! Which is your favorite? Let me know in the comments below!