'10 Fat Turkeys' and Other Thanksgiving Reads

Although it's not as famous as Halloween or Christmas, the Thanksgiving holiday does have its fair share of literature dedicated to it.

Whether you're young and still reading picture books or an adult, we have a little something for everyone in our Patch Reads book list. So grab your turkey and enjoy some books as side dishes!

Note: The Charlestown library branch is tentatively scheduled to reopen after renovations on Nov. 26. In the mean time, you can visit one of Boston Public Library's other branches to pick up a copy of the books below.

Young Readers

• 'Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving—In a switch on the classic Clement Moore poem, some boys and girls have an eventful Thanksgiving eve.
• If You Lived In Colonial Times—This book outlines what the lives were like for the Pilgrims and Colonists from 1565 to 1776.
• The First Thanksgiving—Geared toward beginner readers, this book tells the story of the first Thanksgiving with lots of illustrations. 
• Run, Turkey, Run!—A turkey tries to escape being the Thanksgiving main dish. 
• 10 Fat Turkeys—These turkeys are shubby and funny. See what antics these guys come up with in this brightly illustrated book. 
• I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Pie—Not only does this old lady swallow a pie, she swallows a whole bunch of stuff and gets bigger and bigger. But there's a surprise at the end. 
• You Wouldn't Want to Sail on the Mayflower!: A Trip That Took Entirely Too Long—Although it's conversational and written in a light-hearted manner, this book outlines the very real struggles of the Pilgrims on the Mayflower.

Editor's Note: Many of these books were chosen by teachers as part of the Teaching Blog Addict's Top Picks for Thanksgiving Books for Kids.

Teen and Adult Readers

• Thanksgiving: The Biography of an American Holiday—Author James Baker looks at the myths and misconceptions of the national holiday, while examining America's cultural history.
• Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (NY) (Images of America)—Watched by millions every Thanksgiving morning, this book pulls together photos of the parade from the 1924 to publication.
• An Old-Fashioned Thanksgiving—Part of a trio of short stories by Louisa May Alcott, the holiday story centers on Thanksgiving in 1881. 
• Thanksgiving—A heartwarming romance novel from the author that brought us the Stephanie Plum series, Janet Evanovich.
• Thanksgiving Prayer—Romance novelist Debbie Macomber delights her many fans with an inspirational story of love in Seattle.