I am always looking for new books to add to my storytime events and to read at home. I have read some of these books so far and have been a total win for my classes. I found some additional top recommendations from teachers and I thought you might like them too to check them out at the library or like me, add them to your permanent book collection.
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This post is all about November books for preschoolers recommended by teachers
with Bonus Book Activity Ideas
The Leaf Thief by Alice Hemming
“The Leaf Thief” is a captivating children’s book that is a funny picture book that teaches kids about autumn, adapting to change, and the seasons. Squirrel loves counting the leaves on his tree- red leaves, gold leaves, orange, and more. But hold on! One of his leaves is missing! As he takes on an adventure to find the thief, he learns it is the wind. It’s a great book and a favorite for my storytime class!
Activity idea for the leaf thief
For this book, we had a bucket of leaves and played blowing them out with our mouths. We let the wind move them around, then tossed them and guessed which color leaf would fall first. A simple game like that built movement and prediction skills and kept the kids engaged for a long time.
10 fat turkeys by Tony Johnston
“10 Fat Turkeys” is a children’s book written by Tony Johnston. Teachers love this book because it is an entertaining and engaging story that combines counting with silly antics. It follows ten turkeys as they engage in various fun, mischievous activities.
The playful rhymes and vibrant illustrations capture young readers’ attention, making it an excellent choice for teaching numbers and building early math skills. The story’s humor and repetitive nature also make it a favorite among preschoolers, keeping them entertained while they learn.
Activity Idea for 10 fat turkeys
We love to pair this book with my favorite Turkey song! The Turkey Hop! (available on Spotify). It’s a must-have in my circle time this month.
The Thankful Book by Todd Parr
“The Thankful Book” by Todd Parr:
Teachers recommend this book because it encourages gratitude and helps children reflect on the things they are thankful for.
It promotes positive thinking and appreciation for the little things in life.
Bear Says Thanks by Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman
This heartwarming story teaches children about friendship and gratitude. It emphasizes the importance of saying thanks and sharing with others, making it a perfect choice for the Thanksgiving season.
Activity Idea for Bear Says Thanks
We recently created a thankful tree activity you can print and fill out at home together. It is important to teach kids to be thankful.
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The Littlest Pilgrim by Brandi Dougherty and Kirsten Richards
Teachers recommend this book as it introduces children to the concept of Thanksgiving and the importance of embracing differences. It teaches them to be true to themselves and find their place in the world.
Activity Idea for the Littlest Pilgrim
It’s okay to embrace what we are good at and what we are not. What we were too young to do then and what we are better at now. For younger kids, you can do this activity verbally to encourage conversation and language development.
- When I was young, I was too little to…
You might also like these free Thanksgiving Printable coloring pages
In November by Cynthia Rylant and Jill Kastner
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This poetic book captures the essence of autumn and the changes nature undergoes in November. It encourages children to observe and appreciate the beauty of the world around them.
Activity Ideas for November
This book focuses on the change of seasons; one of our favorite ways to play with that is getting outside and seeing it happen. If you live in a place like us (Florida) where we don’t have a change of season, you can pair it with a seasonal sensory bin.
Recommended: Fall Leaves Water Play: An Easy Sensory Bin for Toddlers
Turkey Trouble by Wendi Silvano and Lee Harper
Turkey knows exactly what happens to turkeys in November, so he tries disguise after disguise to avoid becoming Thanksgiving dinner. He dresses up as a horse, a cow, a pig and more, and every costume is a little sillier than the last. Preschoolers laugh the whole way through, and they love guessing which animal Turkey will try next. It is one of the most requested Thanksgiving read-alouds for this age for a reason.
Activity idea for Turkey Trouble
Before you turn each page, pause and ask, “What animal do you think he is pretending to be?” It is a simple prediction game that builds language and keeps little ones glued to the story. Afterward, make your own turkey and let your child choose its “disguise” with crayons, feathers or stickers. You can find easy versions in our turkey crafts for toddlers, or make a handprint turkey to keep.
Thanksgiving Is for Giving Thanks! by Margaret Sutherland and Sonja Lamut
This is a short, sweet book with one simple message: there is so much to be thankful for. Family, friends, pets, teachers, a warm home, a good meal. The sentences are short and the pictures are bright, which makes it a great first Thanksgiving book for 2- and 3-year-olds who are not ready for a long story yet.
Activity idea for Thanksgiving Is for Giving Thanks!
After reading, go around the table and let everyone name one thing they are thankful for. For toddlers, it can be as simple as pointing to a picture in the book. Then turn those answers into a thankful tree craft you can add to all month long. For more ideas, see our gratitude activities for kids.
Fletcher and the Falling Leaves by Julia Rawlinson and Tiphanie Beeke
Fletcher is a little fox who is worried about his favorite tree. Its leaves keep falling, and he tries everything to help it. Then one frosty morning, he discovers something beautiful. It is a gentle story about change, and it gives children words for something they can see happening outside their window in November.
Activity idea for Fletcher and the Falling Leaves
Collect a handful of leaves (or buy a bag of craft leaves if you live somewhere like Florida, like us!) and let your child play with them in water. Our fall leaves water play sensory bin takes five minutes to set up. You can also seal leaves in a fall leaves sensory bottle so your toddler can watch them “fall” again and again.
“The Leaf Man” by Lois Ehlert
Teachers love this book for its unique, imaginative approach to storytelling. The book’s illustrations are made from real leaves and have a visually captivating effect on young readers.
The Leaf Man” sparks children’s creativity and encourages them to observe and appreciate nature. Teachers appreciate how the book introduces the concept of leaf shapes and inspires discussions on different types of leaves and the animals that they might resemble.
Activity Ideas for The Leaf Man
ugh! So I wish I had trees that shed trees because I could do this activity over and over again! Getting creative making little leaves people like shared on this Pinterest activity board.
But for those who don’t have that beautiful access to fall leaves, my idea is simple… Scissors, leaves, sticky paper, or glue – you can do this any time of the year! Get the kids to make their own designs! I made them a butterfly cutout on a paper plate and added sticky paper to the back. We went on a walk and collected all types of leaves; we even found little pine cones. The sticky paper didn’t work much on some of the wet foliage, so we added some color glue to our design.
These top 10 preschool books, recommended by teachers for November, cover a range of themes, from gratitude and friendship to the beauty of nature and the joy of learning.
Each book offers valuable lessons and engages young readers through captivating illustrations and interactive storytelling. By adding these books to your reading routine, you can create a meaningful, enjoyable learning experience for your preschooler.
Looking ahead to December? See our 20 best Christmas books for toddlers, including The Mitten and The Snowy Day.