8 Thanksgiving Books in Spanish for Your Bilingual Classroom

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If you’re looking for Thanksgiving books in Spanish to bring gratitude and cultural connections into your bilingual classroom, this list will make your November read-alouds easy to plan and meaningful to teach. These stories celebrate kindness, family, and thankfulness while building Spanish vocabulary your students will love using.

Each book below includes a quick summary and a classroom activity idea you can use right away.

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1. ¿Pavo para la Cena de Gracias? ¡No, gracias! by Alma Flor Ada

The book cover of “¿Pavo para la Cena de Gracias? ¡No, gracias!” by Alma Flor Ada features an illustrated turkey walking through a grassy field with trees in the background. The title is written in red at the top, and the subtitle “Ilustraciones de Vivi Escriva” appears below the author’s name. The border of the cover is framed in warm brown and orange tones.

This classic story by Alma Flor Ada follows a family preparing for Thanksgiving dinner. When the turkey overhears the family’s plans, he takes matters into his own wings to avoid being the main course. Ada’s signature storytelling style and Vivi Escrivá’s illustrations make this a charming, humorous read with a clear message about compassion and understanding.

Activity Idea: After reading, have students write a short opinion paragraph in Spanish: ¿Crees que el pavo debería ser parte de la cena de Gracias? ¿Por qué o por qué no? This is an easy way to connect literature to opinion writing standards.

2. ¡Gracias, Omu! (Thank You, Omu!) by Oge Mora

The book cover of “¡Gracias, Omu!” by Oge Mora shows an illustration of a woman holding a steaming bowl of soup with colorful city buildings in the background. The title is written in bold red and purple letters across the top. The cover features two award medals: the Caldecott Honor and the Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Illustrator Award.

This award-winning picture book, translated into Spanish, tells the story of Omu, who makes a delicious stew that fills her neighborhood with a mouthwatering smell. One by one, neighbors stop by for a taste. At the end of the day, Omu learns that giving and gratitude go hand in hand.

Activity Idea: Have your students create a “community stew” poster. Each student writes something they’re thankful for on a paper ingredient such as a carrot, onion, or potato, and you “add” it to the pot on a classroom display.

3. Gracias • Thanks by Pat Mora

The book cover of “Gracias Thanks” by Pat Mora, illustrated by John Parra, shows a smiling boy holding a wand with colorful sparkles next to a black dog reaching up toward it. The background features a backyard scene with a red wagon, trees, and hanging string lights. The title is written in red and blue across the top, and the cover includes a silver Pura Belpré Honor medal.

Told in both Spanish and English, this book celebrates everyday gratitude from the warmth of the sun to a good friend’s laugh. The poetic language and bilingual text make it accessible for all levels of Spanish learners.

Activity Idea: Use this book to inspire a poema de gratitud. Students write a short bilingual poem starting with Doy gracias por… and illustrate it. You can combine these into a class gratitude book or a hallway display.

4. Problemas con el Trote del Pavo by Isabella M. Rivera

The book cover of “Problemas con el Trote del Pavo” by Isabella M. Rivera shows a cheerful cartoon turkey running down a fall-themed path surrounded by smiling animals, including a rabbit, a fox, and a pig dressed as a chef. The background features trees with autumn leaves, festive banners, and a bright blue sky with a shining sun. The title is written in bold orange letters across the top.

In this fun and silly story, a turkey with a trotting problem worries about fitting in during Thanksgiving. Along the way, he learns that kindness and gratitude matter more than perfection. It’s a lighthearted story that teaches social-emotional skills in Spanish.

Activity Idea: Use this book to talk about positive character traits. Have students list ways they can show amabilidad and gratitud during the holiday season, then write their ideas on feathers to create a class “Thankful Turkey.”

5. El Pavo que se olvidó cómo hacer Glu-Glú by Alexis H. Purcell

The book cover of “El Pavo que se Olvidó Cómo Hacer Glu-Glú” by Alexis H. Purcell features a cartoon turkey standing in a grassy field with a surprised expression. Around the turkey are farm animals including a cow, a goat, and a pig, along with scattered red apples. The title is written in white and light blue letters at the top against a blue sky background.

This funny book tells the story of a turkey who forgets how to say “glu-glú” right before Thanksgiving. With expressive illustrations and simple sentences, it’s great for younger bilingual readers or for practicing sound words in Spanish.

Activity Idea: Create a mini vocabulary lesson around onomatopeyas (sound words). Students can brainstorm Spanish sound effects like miau, beee, or mu and draw the animal that makes each sound.

6. Corre Pavo Corre (Run, Turkey, Run) by Mare Robbins

The book cover of “Corre, Pavo, Corre” by Mare Robbins shows a cartoon turkey running across an orange background. The turkey looks panicked, with a pilgrim hat flying off its head. Around it are Thanksgiving-themed illustrations, including slices of pie, bees, falling leaves, and a pumpkin pie. The title is written in large red and black letters at the top.

This Spanish edition of Run, Turkey, Run is full of repetition, movement, and humor. The turkey races through different hiding spots to escape becoming dinner, giving your students plenty of chances to predict and join in the story.

Activity Idea: Do a “movement retell.” As you reread the story, have students act out the turkey’s escape scenes. Then, guide them to retell the sequence of events in Spanish using words like primero, luego, and al final.

7. ¿Dónde está mi pavo? / Where is My Turkey? by Sujatha Lalgudi

The book cover of “Where is my Turkey? ¿Dónde está mi pavo?” by Sujatha Lalgudi shows a cheerful child dressed as a pilgrim riding on the back of a smiling turkey. The background depicts a bright landscape with blue skies, green hills, and other turkeys in the distance. The bilingual title is written in English and Spanish in purple text near the top of the cover.

This bilingual book is perfect for emerging readers. It uses simple, repetitive text to follow a child searching for their missing turkey. The colorful illustrations and predictable pattern make it a great confidence builder for Spanish learners.

Activity Idea: Create a class scavenger hunt. Hide paper turkeys around the room and have students ask and answer questions in Spanish: ¿Dónde está el pavo? Está debajo de la mesa. It’s an interactive way to reinforce location prepositions.

8. Gracias, el Pavo de Thanksgiving by Joy Cowley

In this sweet and classic story, a boy befriends a turkey named Gracias. The simple language and heartwarming ending make it an excellent read for both Spanish and bilingual classrooms.

Activity Idea: Pair this book with a gratitude writing prompt. Ask students to write a short paragraph about a time they helped someone or when someone helped them. They can finish with Doy gracias por…

Why Thanksgiving Books in Spanish Belong in Your Classroom

Adding Thanksgiving books in Spanish to your November lessons helps your students connect language learning to gratitude, kindness, and community. These books also make it easy to teach cultural awareness in a way that’s warm, inclusive, and age-appropriate.

You can read one story each day the week before Thanksgiving and pair it with a short activity, writing prompt, or craft. Your students will practice Spanish vocabulary, explore meaningful themes, and reflect on what they’re thankful for while having fun.