Thanksgiving is almost upon us, and like most reading families, we try to find good, solid books that focus on the importance of major holidays. Well, I can only read so many Indian and Pilgrim feast books before my eyes start to glaze over, and we need something a little more raucous.

Engaging poetry for the preschool set can be difficult to find, but Jack Prelutsky is an old pro. His book, It's Thanksgiving, is his 30th book of prose and one of his best. While the requisite Pilgrim and Indian feast poem is in there, there are also poems about Dad's attempts to carve the turkey as well as a leftover lament. But most of all, it is a book that celebrates families and their traditions.

A good book to read the night before Thanksgiving is Dav Pilkey's 'Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving. It tells the story, in Clement Moore's famous style, about a class field trip where anything can happen.

"When what with their wandering eyes should they see, But a miniature farm and eight tiny turkey."

The children love playing with the turkeys but when somebody spots Farmer Mack Nugget's ax by the door, bedlam erupts. Can the children save the turkeys? I won't ruin the ending, but I will tell you it's a fun one.

Thanksgiving activities to do with your preschooler:

1. Make an easy turkey. Trace your child's handprint on a piece of brown construction paper. Cut it out and glue a wiggly eye on the thumb (of the paper, not your child's hand!). Take bits of fall-colored tissue paper and wad it up, letting your preschooler glue it on the fingers for feathers.

2. Create a blessing tree. On a large piece of brown or black poster board, draw and cut out a tree (just branches, no leaves). Tape it to the back of a door or on an empty wall at eye level of your child. Cut out a few dozen leaves in various fall colors, making sure they are light enough so that writing can be seen.

Have everyone in your family write or draw a picture of what they are thankful for. Don't forget to sign names on each leaf. We ask each guest who visits our home in November to add their blessing leaves to our tree as well. It is a great way to help preschoolers learn to count their blessings.

About the Author: Angie Boss is a freelance writer and mom of one.