Thanksgiving Break Reading Challenge

Are you thankful that it’s almost time for Thanksgiving Break? I am!

As we head into one of the most anticipated breaks of the school year, it’s the perfect moment to pause, breathe, and give thanks—for good books, cozy reading spots, and students who are growing into lifelong readers. Whether your library or classroom is bustling with excitement or you’re counting down the days until a little well-deserved rest, now’s a wonderful time to send your students off with a fun, easy reading challenge that keeps the spirit of reading alive during the holiday.

A Fun Thanksgiving Break Reading Challenge

If you’re looking for something simple but meaningful to share before break, try this Thanksgiving Break Reading Challenge! Because many schools have several days off for the Thanksgiving holiday, this little challenge is a great way to encourage your students to fill that extra time with reading—whether they’re traveling, staying home, or visiting family.

My colleague, Connie Hinton, at Northern Hills Elementary School Library, created this adorable challenge and generously gave me permission to share it with you. It’s so easy to use and requires almost no prep. Students simply color one of the turkey feathers for each picture book or chapter they read over the Thanksgiving break.

You can print it out to send home in backpacks or share it digitally through your library newsletter or Google Classroom. The directions are simple enough that even your youngest readers will know exactly what to do, and the visual aspect—coloring in each feather—gives students a tangible way to see their reading progress. Plus, it’s a great conversation starter when everyone returns from break: “Which books did you read? How many feathers did you color in?”

Simple Rewards that Motivate Readers

To make it even more fun, I like to offer a small prize when students return their completed turkey. This year, I’m using color-changing (“mood”) pencils as our prizes—mostly because I had some left over from another reading incentive. I ordered them from Amazon (you can find them here for about $12.99 for a pack of 40).I’m using color changing (“mood”) pencils for our prizes, because I have some left over from another incentive. I ordered them from Amazon, right here. They are $12.99 for 40.

These pencils are such a hit with students! They change color slightly from the heat of your fingers, and each one has a positive message printed on it—perfect for reinforcing the joy and pride that come from reading. They’re inexpensive, easy to store, and appeal to all ages.

Customizing the Thanksgiving Break Reading Challenge

Because this resource is shared as a Google Doc, it’s fully editable. Once you make your own copy, you can tweak it to fit your school’s needs. Change the prize, adjust the directions, or even add your school name or mascot. I designed mine using the Patrick Hand font, which gives it a friendly handwritten look—but feel free to change the font if you’d like to match your own style or school branding.

If you’d like, you can also extend the challenge beyond Thanksgiving break. Some teachers have used the same turkey feather tracker as a November reading challenge, giving students the entire month to complete it. Others adapt it for different seasons—snowflakes for winter break or suns for summer. It’s a flexible, low-prep idea that you can reuse throughout the year!

Because the above document is a Google Doc, after you make your own copy, you can edit it to change the prize to whatever motivates your readers. I use the Patrick Hand font, but you can change that too, if you’d like!

Thankful for You

As Thanksgiving approaches, I just want to say how thankful I am for all of you who work so hard to nurture readers every single day. Whether you’re a librarian, classroom teacher, or literacy coach, your encouragement makes a difference. Every read-aloud, every book recommendation, every library display—it all adds up.

So, as you head into break, take a moment to celebrate what you’ve accomplished this fall. You’ve inspired curiosity, built confidence, and helped your students discover the magic of stories. That’s something to be truly thankful for.

Happy reading—and happy Thanksgiving!

I’m thankful for you and all you do to encourage your readers.