Staring down your “to be read” pile can feel a lot like not knowing where to begin eating on your Thanksgiving plate. But even with all the tasty and tempting options in front of you, everyone has their favorite dish. Use our guide to determine what you should read during the Thanksgiving holiday.
Biscuits - Mac Undercover by Mac Barnett
Biscuits come first at Thanksgiving. Similarly, Mac Undercover is about “the before." Before Mac Barnett was a bestselling author, he was a kid. And while he was a kid, he was a spy. Not just any spy, but a spy for the Queen of England. This chapter book is buttered with wit, secret identities, and karate hijinks that will have you reaching for a second helping with the upcoming book 2!
Soup - The Baby–Sitters Club graphic novels
While it may not be chilly where you are celebrating, soup can be a way to warm up to the holiday season. The Baby-Sitters Club are light-hearted, but hearty stories that will ease you into reading graphic novels. They have comforting messages and remind us that being together is the best part of the holidays.
Green Bean Casserole - Dactyl Hill Squad by Daniel José Older
Jacqueline Woodson described Dactyl Hill Squad as "true fire," which is also how I describe my mom's green bean casserole. Green beans sound healthy — kind of like historical fiction — but once you take a bite of the crispy fried onion topping and the creamy sauce, you know it's SO much more than that. Just like how Dactyl Hill Squad is about the Civil War... with dinosaurs. See? SO much more.
Mac and Cheese - The Geronimo Stilton series
Geronimo Stilton’s Thanksgiving plate would probably only consist of mac and cheese, especially if it used Stilton cheese! Filled with cheesy humor, this series is a staple that’s always a hit. Whether you like baked, traditional, or a modern twist on the dish, the Geronimo Stilton universe has a cheesy story for your taste.
Cornbread - Dog Man series by Dav Pilkey
Not even Petey the Cat could deny the deliciousness of cornbread. Once you start, you can’t put down the buttery creation. If you experience even a slice of the adventures of Dog Man and Li’l Petey, you won’t want to put down this series either. Dog Man’s story will warm your heart and butter you up for the holiday season.
Sweet Potato Casserole - Snow in Love by Nic Stone, Melissa de la Cruz, Aimee Friedman, Kasie West
Fully satisfy your sweet tooth with four swoon-worthy holiday stories wrapped up in one novel. From a snowy road trip to a holiday scavenger hunt, each of these stories will have you feeling warm and mushy from start to finish. Like sweet potato casserole, Snow in Love will have you coming back for marshmallow topped seconds, and thirds!
Mashed Potatoes - Smile by Raina Telgemeier
Mashed potatoes are the ultimate comfort food — warm, creamy, filling, and they go with just about anything. And what's more comforting than a book that you can return to over and over again? Smile by Raina Telgemeier is one of those stories that can be read and re-read endlessly. Each time, you'll take something new away from the story about friends, family, middle school, and dental work.
Stuffing - Wings of Fire by Tui T. Sutherland
Stuffing is a long-standing Thanksgiving tradition that we always return to. Similarly, Wings of Fire is a tried-and-true series we will never get tired of reading! With the twelfth book, The Hive Queen, coming December 26, AND more graphic novel adaptations on the way, there’s plenty fantasy content to fill up on.
Turkey - The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
Thanksgiving’s most famous dish is of course turkey, and the Harry Potter series is an instantly recognizable icon of its own right. Both are fitting to feed a whole family, or just one very hungry reader, and both pair well with a butterbeer and a Weasley sweater for the coziest holiday experience.
Apple Pie - The Bad Guys series by Aaron Blabey
An apple a day is supposed to be good for you, so why shouldn’t sugar-coated apples stuffed into a flakey crust be considered good?! Much like pie, Mr. Wolf, Mr. Shark, Mr. Snake, and Mr. Piranha, are bad guys who want to be good! No need to feel bad about putting an extra scoop of ice cream on top of your slice or reading the whole series while your family takes a post dinner nap.
Happy eating and reading!
