Lots of our favorite kids’ podcasts make a special episode every November, and they’re easy to miss in between a show’s regular stories. This list gathers the best ones for little kids in one place: picture books read aloud, beloved characters celebrating, silly turkeys, and calm stories for the end of a big day.
Most of these are short, which makes them easy to play while the pies are in the oven or the table is being set. Tap an episode’s title to listen right in your browser, or tap the show’s name to see everything else it makes. For older kids, see our Thanksgiving episodes for big kids.
Picture books for the littlest listeners (ages 2–5)
Short read-alouds, most under ten minutes.
10 Fat Turkeys
A counting-down book about ten goofy turkeys on a fence. At four minutes it’s one of the shortest picks here.
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Peppa Pig Gives Thanks
A read-aloud of the Peppa Pig Thanksgiving book, an easy yes for any Peppa fan.
Play this episodePete the Cat: The First Thanksgiving
Pete the Cat’s class puts on a play about the first Thanksgiving, and Pete has a part to play. Groovy, as always.
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Thanksgiving Day Thanks
A little bear tries to decide what he’s thankful for, and finds it’s harder to choose than he expected.
It’s a gentle way to start the conversation before everyone goes around the table sharing theirs. Your child might have an answer ready by the time dinner is served.
Play this episodeFranklin’s Thanksgiving
A read-aloud of Paulette Bourgeois’s Franklin the Turtle book. If your child already knows Franklin from the library or TV, this one will feel like visiting an old friend.
Play this episodeClassic stories and favorite characters (ages 3–7)
A little longer, and lovely to share as a family.
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving
The Peanuts gang celebrates Thanksgiving, with Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and Woodstock in charge of a holiday meal that doesn’t go quite to plan. If you grew up watching the TV special every November, this is a sweet way to pass it on.
It runs about fifteen minutes, a nice length for the quiet half hour before guests arrive.
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Cranberry Thanksgiving
Grandmother always lets Maggie invite a Thanksgiving guest, but she isn’t pleased when Maggie brings home the scruffy Mr. Whiskers, and she starts to worry about her secret cranberry bread recipe. A classic picture book with a kind surprise at the end.
Play this episodeBalloons Over Broadway
The true story of the puppeteer who invented the giant balloons in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Play it on Thanksgiving morning, then go watch the real balloons float by.
Play this episodeSilly turkey stories (ages 4–7)
For giggles while you wait for dinner.
How to Catch a Turkey
A turkey runs loose at school and a class of kids sets traps to catch it. Kids who know the How to Catch books will be thrilled.
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A Dog King Thanksgiving!
Dog King, King of the Dogs, throws a Thanksgiving bash in the alley for his friends Pickles, Rex, Other Rex, and Other Other Rex. Then an uninvited cat shows up.
The Dog King stories are among Stories Podcast’s longtime favorites, and this one comes back every November. It’s about 24 minutes, which makes it a good one for a short drive to a relative’s house too.
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A Crow & Beetle Thanksgiving
Old friends Crow and Beetle team up to save Thanksgiving. The show brings this story back every few years as its classic holiday tale.
Play this episodeCalm stories for Thanksgiving night (ages 2–7)
After a long, loud day, these help everyone wind down.
The Eagle Who Saved Thanksgiving
When the Thanksgiving Train breaks down in Sleepy Forest, Ember the Eagle sets out to deliver every feast herself. It’s shorter than Koala Moon’s usual stories, perfect once everyone is in pajamas.
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Bernice and the Thanksgiving Treats
Bernice the bear has had treats all day at school and still feels hungry. When she gets home, her pumpkins are gone and something smells delicious.
Sleep Tight Stories is one of the best bedtime shows we’ve found, with stories made to slow kids down rather than wind them up. If your child likes Bernice, there are plenty more of her stories in the show.
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Thinking Thankful Thoughts
Kids think about what they’re thankful for, then try a breathing exercise where they blow autumn leaves out of the trees and jump into the pile.
Play this episodeHappy Thanksgiving from all of us at Once Upon a Pod. If your family has a favorite Thanksgiving episode that isn’t here, you can suggest a show any time.
