Favorite November Reads & a Freebie!

Children's books make me

So I wanted to share a few of my favorite MUST HAVE November reads for the classroom.

Scarecrow by Cynthia Rylant is by far one of the most beautifully written books I know. My favorite line is "His hat is borrowed, his suit is borrowed, his hands are borrowed, even his head is borrowed. And his eyes probably came out of someone's draw." I just love the feel of this story. Read it once for the sheer enjoyment. Read it again and focus on the author's craft. Type up the text and allow students to find examples of Rylant's wonderful craft. Connect it to writing by asking students to try something the author does.

Squanto's Journey: The Story of the First Thanksgiving by Joseph Bruchae 
tells the story of the first Thanksgiving from the perspective of Squanto.  Perfect read for discussing point of view and comparing and contrasting the Pilgrims view point with the Native Americans'.

Thanksgiving Is Here! by Diane Goode is a fun personal favorite! It reminds me of our family gatherings. The preparing of the food. The excitement of the day. Crazy relatives. Being with family. Just a fun read aloud for the holidays.

The Thanksgiving Story by Alice Dalgliesh is a classic (originally published in 1954) story of the first Thanksgiving. I love the artwork in this book. Good for upper elementary since it has a chapter book feel.

The Story of the Pilgrims  by Katharine Ross is another great read about that first year in Plymouth. This book lends itself to younger readers, but is a great addition to any elementary classroom library. The illustrations really help tell the story, too.

One Is a Feast for Mouse: A Thanksgiving Tale by Judy Cox is perfect for an after Thanksgiving break read (that's when I use it). The story starts after the meal is finished. Mouse peeks out of his hidey-hole (love that!) and just wants a green pea. Well, then he spots a cranberry, an olive, a piece of turkey, and mashed potatoes. He has to find a way to get this all back to his hidey-hole. In the end he learns to be satisfied with what he has. It's good mentor text for descriptive language.

Click HERE for this little freebie to accompany your study of the Pilgrims. Just a fun activity to share with the kids about how the Pilgrims really dressed! Hope you enjoy it and happy reading!!