It’s Almost Time For Thanksgiving by Maisha Oso & Tom Knight

Aaaaah, only two weeks to go till what used to be my very favorite holiday! It was a scramble to make reservations this year, as my local favorites were either fully booked or decided to close for the occasion. Perhaps once I get my energy back I’ll cook for Thanksgiving again, but I would much rather spend that time reading or snoozing nowadays (and probably snoozing: having chronic fatigue is rough!) In any case, I’m grateful that I’m in a position where I can go out to eat for Thanksgiving, in the company of my beloved children.

This latest installment of the It’s Almost Time For… series of illustrated kids’ books perfectly captures why people enjoy Thanksgiving, even as it avoids talking about why many people understandably don’t. Written in delightful rhyming prose, it talks about the fall traditions of American Thanksgiving, from decorating to football, to watching the parades, to having a big meal and spending quality time with loved ones. It also emphasizes the gratitude aspect of the tradition, which has always been my favorite part. I think it’s particularly lovely to have an entire day in which we can reflect on and celebrate how blessed we are. Things can always get better, but being able to value the good things that we already have is the best way, I’ve found, of ensuring that we maintain a stable foundation for what we continue to build in future.

The cartoony illustrations perfectly capture the Thanksgiving vibes, with an adorable lamb companion for the main character. The fall color palette is perfect. I was a little concerned that almost everyone in the book seemed to be white — a surprise given the publisher’s commitment towards representation — but the diversity does improve as the book goes on. And the little joke about which holiday it actually is made me laugh, underscored by the cute art.

This is a great book to help get kids into and ready for the holiday season, especially with the emphasis on helping your grown-ups cook and otherwise prepare for a family gathering. And while it avoids the controversy of the colonists’ unwarranted violence towards Native Americans, it also eschews any trappings that celebrate colonialism, choosing to focus on a universal message of celebrating gratitude for what we have instead.

It’s Almost Time For Thanksgiving by Maisha Oso & Tom Knight was published September 1 2026 by Margaret K McElderry Books and is available from all good booksellers, including