7 Children’s Books to Welcome Canadian Thanksgiving and the Fall Harvest

Thanksgiving in Canada is a national day of feast, where families and communities come together to celebrate the season's blessings. But beyond the turkey and pumpkin pie, it’s important to recognize that this holiday is rooted in a deeply complex and problematic history. While Thanksgiving as we know it was shaped by European settlers, Indigenous communities have long held their own fall harvest celebrations, dating back centuries before colonization. In this post, we explore seven wonderful children’s books that highlight the beauty of fall, the spirit of togetherness, and help us learn and appreciate this history in a more thoughtful way.

If You Find a Leaf

By Aimée Sicuro

This is a beautiful picture book that celebrates the fall season and encourages children to see the colorful leaves around them in an entirely new way. The artist uses real leaves of vibrant hues to make her oh-so-charming illustrations.

Every year, gusts of wind blow colourful autumn leaves to the ground. Some leaves make a crunch underfoot, and others are so beautiful they deserve to be saved.

In this story a young artist draws inspiration from the leaves she collects and every leaf sparks a new idea. She imagines turning a Japanese Zelkova leaf into a boat to sail far away, a Honey Locust leaf into a swing to sway in the gentle breeze, and an American Basswood leaf into a hot air balloon to float high above the trees.

Any young reader who turns the pages of this beautiful book will be inspired to use their own imagination as they hunt for leaves this fall. And for young readers who want to make their own leaf creations there are tips for including leaves in their artwork and additional fun craft ideas. – Random House Children’s Books

Borrow the book from Calgary Library.

Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story

Written by Kevin Noble Maillard and illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal

This award-winning book, told in lively and powerful verse, is an evocative story about family history, culture, and traditions, new and old. The book also explores the connection between cooking and colonization.

You can explore this book at Calgary Library for free.

Carson Crosses Canada

By Linda Bailey and illustrated by Kass Reich

This story is a funny and sweet cross-country adventure for Annie, who travels across Canada with her dog to visit her sister Elsie.

Feisty Annie Magruder and her dog, Carson, live in British Columbia, Canada, and they're setting out to visit her sister, Elsie, in Newfoundland. In their little rattlebang car, packed with Carson's favourite toy, Squeaky Chicken, and plenty of baloney sandwiches, Annie and Carson hit the road! They travel province by province, taking in each unique landscape and experiencing something special to that particular part of this vast, grand country. For example, they marvel at the beauty of the big, open sky -- and grasshoppers! -- in Saskatchewan and discover the gorgeous red earth and delicious lobster rolls in PEI, before finally being greeted by Elsie -- and a surprise for Carson! – Penguin Random House

Check out the book at Calgary Library.

Thanks for Thanksgiving

By Heather Patterson and Illustrated by Mary Jane Gerber

This joyful book is by Canadian Author, Heather Patterson.

With perfect words to conjure up the rich sights, sounds, smells, and feelings of the holiday, Thanks for Thanksgiving will surely carve its place in our time-honoured tradition. Nature hikes, apple-picking, migrating geese, and even a road-hockey game are surrounded by the rich colours of autumn.

Rhythmic text introduces young readers to the words and images that celebrate the holiday, and a fact page at the back of the book includes information on the history and origins of the Canadian celebration of Thanksgiving. - Google Books

You can borrow this book at Calgary Library.

How To Catch a Turkey

By Adam Wallace

This festive turkey tale is a fun and interactive story to get kids laughing.

A turkey is running loose in a school right before a Thanksgiving play. Can YOU help catch it so the show can go on? Follow along as students turn their school upside down trying to catch the turkey, ending with a twist that ensures no turkeys are harmed (or eaten!). This hilariously zany children's picture book combines STEAM concepts and traps with a silly story and fun illustrations, perfect for starting a new fall family tradition this autumn or giving as a Thanksgiving gift for kids ages 4 and up!

Thanksgiving time is here again, but there's a turkey on the run!

Can you catch this tricky bird before the school play has begun? - Goodreads.com

Find the book at Calgary Library.

The Sharing Circle

By Theresa “Corky” Larsen-Jonasson and illustrated by Jessika Von Innerebner

A picture book with a big message about restorative circles, building community and resolving conflict among friends by Theresa “Corky” Larsen-Joanasson, a proud Cree/Danis Métis Elder with roots in Red Deer and Maskwacis First Nations.

In The Sharing Circle, two red foxes have an argument, which threatens to break apart their community. It is then that a gentle buffalo decides to take a braid of sweetgrass to a local elder and asks her to help with a sharing circle for all the animals. – Goodminds.com

This book also has a shorter version by the same author for younger children aged 4-6, ‘The Circle of Caring and Sharing.’

Read the book at Calgary Library.

Thanking the Moon: Celebrating the Mid-Autumn

Expand your conversation from North American history to many similar fall traditions around the world, like the Chinese Mid-Autumn Moon Festival.

This simple, young, and satisfying story follows a Chinese American family as they celebrate the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival.

Each member of the family lends a hand as they prepare a moonlit picnic with mooncakes, pomelos, cups of tea, and colourful lanterns. And everyone sends thanks and a secret wish up to the moon. - Google Books

This book is available at Calgary Library.

The Leaf Thief

By Alice Hemming and illustrated by Nicola Slater

To end, we have another laugh-out-loud 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! On a quest to find the missing leaf, Squirrel teams up with his good friend Bird to discover who the leaf thief could be among their forest friends.

With vibrant art and captivating characters, the magic of autumn is captured beautifully on each page as readers tag along Squirrel's forest adventure. Is there truly a leaf thief afoot, or is something else going on in Squirrel's forest? A perfect exploration of change―both seasonal, and the anxiety that change sometimes causes.

Check the book at out at Calgary Library.