30+ Best Books for Kids to Read This November
We love reading great books together! It’s one of our favorite ways to learn new things, dive deeper into our favorite subjects, and build a strong connection together. Reading together is an excellent way to learn about the world around you and feed your child’s natural curiosity at the same time. Great books foster learning for kids of all ages.
Sharing picture books at bedtime, snuggling on the couch for a great read aloud, and participating in a community club are all ways you can reap the benefits of great books with your whole family. That’s why I’ve put together this list of more than 30 excellent books for kids to read this November. There’s even a helpful printable list you can take with you to the library or bookstore as you search for new titles.
Choosing books that line up with upcoming seasons, holidays, and topics is an easy way to encourage kids to get in on the fun this November. We like to choose books with interesting characters, fascinating places, and great plots. The books on this November list will make reading more interesting and fun for the whole family this November.
The Best Books For Every Month This Year!
Do you love books that inspire? Are you searching for books that will spark your child’s imagination? You’re in the right place!
I’ve compiled a list with more than 30 wonderful books you’ll want on your TBR list. You’ll find beautiful picture books, captivating chapter books, and graphic novels you can really sink your teeth into this month. So grab your own printable November book list and search for a new favorite book at your local library or bookstore this month!
30+ November Books for Kids of All Ages
This list of more than 30 books for November includes selections for kids of all ages, from preschool through 12th grade. You’ll find books that teach kids about geography, introduce them to fascinating historical characters, family books for Thanksgiving, and graphic novels too. There’s something for everyone!
A Marvelous Mexican Misunderstanding by Evi Triantafyllides
Learn about and celebrate Mexican culture with this adorable picture book by Evi Triantafyllides. You’ll love the fold out pages with fun illustrations telling the story of Adri, his sister, and the best day of their lives. It’s a fun introduction to Dia de Los Muertos, a Mexican celebration of family, tradition, and the afterlife.
Balloons Over Broadway by Melissa Sweet
If watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is a family tradition at your house, you’ll love Balloons Over Broadway by Melissa Sweet. This adorable picture book tells the story of Tony Sarg, the master puppeteer behind the gigantic parade balloons. It’s a must-read for families this Thanksgiving.
Mustache Baby by Bridget Heos
Have you heard of the “No Shave November” trend? It started in 2009 to raise awareness and funds for cancer research. The idea is that people will embrace hair, which many cancer patients lose, by letting it grow. Participants skip shaving and donate the money they typically spend on hair removal to cancer-fighting charities.
This November, celebrate the trend by reading Mustache Baby by Bridget Heos. This hilarious picture book is perfect for preschool, kindergarten, and first-grade readers who love a great ‘stache.
Our Day of the Dead Celebration by Ana Aranda
Ana Aranda’s picture book, Our Day of the Dead Celebration, is a fun read-aloud for kids curious about Dia de Los Muertos, celebrated on November 1st and 2nd. The book tells the story of a family honoring their living and dead relatives with a special holiday celebration featuring stories and delicious food.
Sharing the Bread by Pat Zietlow Miller and Jill McElmurry
In America, we celebrate family, food, and blessings on the last Thursday in November. If you’re searching for a traditional Thanksgiving Day picture book to read aloud, don’t miss Sharing the Bread by Pat Zietlow Miller and Jill McElmurry. This precious Thanksgiving book celebrates the spirit of the holiday by honoring traditions.
Squanto’s Journey by Joseph Bruchac
Squanto’s Journey by Joseph Bruchac is a classic story about the first Thanksgiving. It’s easy to see why teachers and parents have turned to this beautifully illustrated book to teach students about the history of the holiday again and again. The book shares the story of Squanto, a Native American who welcomed the Pilgrims and taught them how to survive the first winter.
Thank You, Sarah by Laurie Halse Anderson
It’s hard to imagine, but in the 1800s few Americans still celebrated Thanksgiving. Then, Sarah Hale decided to save Thanksgiving by petitioning Congress and giving speeches for 35 years! In 1863, she got Abraham Lincoln’s attention and he signed the Thanksgiving Proclamation, making it an official national holiday. In Thank You, Sarah: The Woman Who Saved Thanksgiving by Laurie Halse Anderson kids can get the scoop on the history of Thanksgiving, Sarah Hale, and her fellow campaginers.
The All Saints’ Day Party by Jerry Windley-Daoust
November 1 is a Catholic holiday celebrated all over the world known as All Saint’s Day. This holiday celebrates hundreds of saints. In Jerry Windley-Daoust’s book, The All Saints’ Day Party, you can explore this cultural tradition with Maggie and Max, two siblings preparing for a party to celebrate the saints.
The Coolest Beard by Betty Tekle
Another fun book to read for “No Shave November” is The Coolest Beard by Betty Tekle. You’ll love reading about Isaac, a little boy who spends lots of time in his dad’s barbershop. Follow along as Isaac tries to grow a beard like his dad and learns that he can still make a difference in his community, even without a beard.
The Great Thanksgiving Escape by Mark Fearing
If you’re looking for a fun read-aloud to share at the kids’ table this Thanksgiving, try The Great Thanksgiving Escape by Mark Fearing. This hilarious book is all about Gavin and Rhonda’s great escape from a boring day filled with toddlers, dogs in sweaters, and the “wall of butts.” This Thanksgiving picture book is laugh-out-loud funny!
The King’s Golden Beard by Klaas Verplancke
J.R.R. Tolkien believed that fairy tales were important for children and adults because they offer profound insights into the human experience. The King’s Golden Beard by Klaas Verplancke is a fairy tale you’ll want to add to your November reading list. It’s about a long beard and its short-sighted royal owner, a king who makes it a crime for anyone to grow a beard except him.
The Lumberjack’s Beard by Duncan Beedie
The Lumberjack’s Beard by Duncan Beedie is one more “no shave” picture book for your reading list. It’s all about a lumberjack who costs the forest animals their habitat. In retaliation, they find a creative new home in his beard.
The Poppy Lady by Barbara E. Walsh
On November 11, we observe Veteran’s Day in the United States. This date marks the armistice that ended World War I in 1918. Today, Veteran’s Day honors all men and women who have served in the armed forces.
Our favorite picture book for Veteran’s Day is The Poppy Lady: Moina Belle Michael and Her Tribute to Veterans by Barbara E. Walsh. This beautiful picture book tells the story of Moina Michael, a school teacher from Georgia, who established the red poppy as a symbol for remembering and honoring soldiers. Pair it up with our free Moina Michael Unit Study for even more learning fun this November.
The Remembering Day by Pat Mora
Another special book for learning more about Dia de los Muertos with your family this November is The Remembering Day by Pat Mora. This book is translated into English and Spanish for a bilingual learning experience. In the book, Pat Mora creates an origin myth imagining the way the Mexican custom of remembering deceased loved ones began.
The Wall by Eve Bunting
Today, Veteran’s Day doesn’t just honor the men and women who served in WWI. It’s a day for us to remember and honor all the men and women who have served in our armed forces. In Eve Bunting’s picture book, The Wall, kids will learn about the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.
Twenty-One Steps: Guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier by by Jeff Gottesfeld
The story of how the unnamed men came to be entombed at Arlington, and how fellow soldiers have come to keep vigil, is a sobering and powerful tale. It’s a story that honors American soldiers told by Jeff Gottesfeld in the book Twenty-One Steps: Guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and it’s a must-read for Veterans Day.
Turkey Trouble by Wendi Silvano
Need a funny picture book to read together this Thanksgiving? Check out Turkey Trouble by Wendi Silvano. This hilarious book is all about a turkey who has just discovered he’s the main course for Thanksgiving Dinner and his comical attempts to escape impending doom.
Picture books are excellent for kids of all ages and reading abilities, but there are lots of great chapter books for older and more independent readers to enjoy too. Don’t miss some of our favorite chapter books and novels for November listed below.
Dogtag Summer by Elizabeth Partridge
What happens when a Vietnamese American girl named Tracy finds a soldier’s dog tag? For Tracy, it’s the beginning of remembering memories from her life in Vietnam and the anti-war sentiments that still follow her. This important chapter book is an ideal book for grades 4 through 6 to read this November.
Me, Frida, and the Secret of the Peacock Ring by Angela Cervantes
Me, Frida, and the Secret of the Peacock Ring by Angela Cervantes is a fun chapter book for exploring Dia de los Muertos with your family this November. It’s a fun introduction to Mexican heritage, art, and the famous Frida Kahlo. It’s easy to see why Scholastic named this book a Gold Award Winner in 2018.
Ms. Beard is Weird! By Dan Gutman
If you’re searching for a beginning chapter book to share with newly independent readers this November, don’t miss Ms. Beard is Weird! It’s the fifth book in Dan Gutman’s My Weirder School series for elementary readers. In this book, the kids all get a chance to be famous when a reality tv show producer visits the school.
Nate the Great Talks Turkey by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat
Another early chapter book to read aloud together as you celebrate Thanksgiving is Nate the Great Talks Turkey by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat. This fun Nate the Great mystery book invites us along as Nate searches for a missing giant turkey.
Thanksgiving on Thursday by Mary Pope Osborne
Thanksgiving on Thursday by Mary Pope Osborne is a Magic Treehouse mystery for early elementary readers interested in learning more about the first Thanksgiving. Travel back in time with Jack and Annie to meet the Pilgrims as they prepare for the first Thanksgiving dinner ever. Then, learn more about the history in the Magic Treehouse books with our curriculum based on the books: Passport to Adventure.
The Day of the Dead Mystery by Gertrude Chandler Warner
If you’re searching for a chapter book to read aloud about Dia de los Muertos, check out The Day of the Dead Mystery by Gertrude Chandler Warner. It’s part of The Boxcar Children mystery series for elementary readers. In this book, the kids are visiting friends to celebrate Dia de los Muertos.
The Day the Mustache Took Over by Alan Katz
A good read aloud for “No Shave November” is The Day the Mustache Took Over by Alan Katz. It’s the first book in The Mustache Series about two hilarious twin brothers and their unconventional babysitter.
The Spirit of Tio Fernando: A Day of the Dead Story by Janice Levy
Janice Levy’s bilingual Dia de los Muerto myth is the perfect read aloud for November. It’s all about a boy named Nando and his mother, journeying to honor his Uncle Fernando at the cemetary. The Sprit of Tio Fernando makes a good introduction to Mexican culture and traditions for kids.
War Stories by Gordon Korman
Albert Camus, a French philosopher and writer, famously said “Fiction is a lie that tells the truth.” That’s exactly what happens in Gordon Korman’s book, War Stories. This important book tells us the story of Jacob, a war hero and veteran, through the eyes of his video game loving grandson. This Veteran’s Day, discover the differences between real soldiers and the ones we meet in video games.
What Was the First Thanksgiving? by Joan Holub
Learn about the history of the feast that began as a harvest celebration and became a national holiday in Joan Holub’s What Was the First Thanksgiving? It’s part of the What Was series from Who HQ featuring nonfiction books for kids about important historic events, people, and places. Then, dive deeper into the facts with our What Was Mini Unit Studies.
History Smasher’s: The Mayflower by Kate Messner
This book is a graphic novel. Graphic novels sometimes get a bad rap, but they help us to explore storytelling in new ways, with opportunities to master onomatopoeia, context clues, and critical reading skills practice. They’re also excellent for engaging reluctant readers and quirky kids who might need more to engage with as they read.
The History Smashers series by Kate Messner features 9 books that tell the stories behind different important characters and events in history. In The Mayflower, kids will learn the truth behind the Pilgrims’ landing at Plymouth Rock and their friendship with the Wampanoag people.
The Great Turkey Walk by Kathleen Karr
The Great Turkey Walk by Kathleen Karr tells the unconventional story of a boy named Simon and his adventure herding a flock of turkeys from Missouri to Denver in 1860. This Wild Wild West adventure will quickly become a favorite for your whole family!
The Pilgrims and the First Thanksgiving by Mary Englar
Part of the Graphic History series, Mary Englar’s novel, The Pilgrims and the First Thanksgiving is a must-read for graphic novel fans this November. It tells the difficult story of the Pilgrim’s first year in America, battling starvation, homesickness, weather, and culminating with the now famous Harvest Festival.
Explore More November Learning Activities and Resources
Discover even more fun learning activities in our free bundle of November Homeschool Printables! These activities and resources are easy to take along as you learn on the go this month. If you have a favorite book for kids that isn’t on my list, please share it in the comments so we can all enjoy more fun read-alouds this November!