Make holiday prep easy with our free printable Thanksgiving activity book. With mini coloring pages and gratitude writing prompts, this DIY activity book is perfect for a Thanksgiving kids’ table favor, family gatherings, library displays, a November classroom activity, or quiet time at home.
Here comes Tom Turkey, and he’s in the mood for some tryptophan-inducing turkey day coloring!
These mini Thanksgiving doodle pages offer a cornucopia of holiday-themed drawing opportunities, calming coloring entertainment, and creative writing prompts.
For a table full of autumn goodness, tuck them into our free printable acorn gratitude boxes, stuff them in a paper bag acorn, or leave a
Inspired by some of our favorite November things, there are 9 illustrated mini pages to be colored-in or finished, 6 different mini writing prompt pages, 3 mini book cover options, and a sheet of blank mini pages.
Put together a mini doodle book you can place as part of a Thanksgiving tablescape for kiddos, or just print, cut apart and throw into a bag with some crayons for instant entertainment at Thanksgiving dinner or holiday parties!
Newly updated! We just updated our printable files to include larger, quarter-sized pages and un-lined writing prompts for kids who may want a little more space for drawing, coloring, and writing!
To make your own mini Thanksgiving coloring books you’ll need:
BASIC SUPPLIES:
- A few sheets of 8.5×11 heavy cardstock or high-quality copy paper
- Scissors or a paper cutter
- Markers, crayons, etc. for coloring!
- Our mini Thanksgiving activity book free printable
OPTIONAL:
- A sheet of acetate or plastic sheet protector to make front/back covers or dry-erase pages
- Color cardstock, construction paper, or tracing paper for additional pages
- A hole punch (I used a 1/8″ hole punch – one size smaller than standard)
- Hinged snap ring, etc. to bind your mini-book
- A blunt needle and embroidery floss or ribbon
How to Make a Thanksgiving Activity Book for Kids – DIY Instructions:
Download and print our free Thanksgiving activity book pages.
Print the desired Thanksgiving doodle book pages on heavy cardstock (making sure to choose “borderless printing” in the printing options so the little pages print at full size).
We created four different text page options, but if you’d like to add some extra color to your mini books, you can print the sheet of blank mini pages directly onto a piece of colored copy paper or cardstock.
Cut apart along cut guidelines
Using the guidelines, cut apart the mini-book pages with scissors or a paper cutter.
Cut out additional mini pages from transparency sheets (optional).
For the books I put together, I included a few acetate pages (just like transparency sheets) – layering them over pages I knew would be fun to sketch on over and over again! A dry-erase marker works perfectly on these.
Assemble your Thanksgiving mini-book (optional).
Pick your pages and a cover, then use a hole punch to make your hole/s for binding. I’ve found that a 1/8″ size hole punch makes a perfectly sized hole – just big enough to comfortably thread with floss or ribbon.
Layout your pages and thread a kid-safe, blunt needle with a long piece of embroidery floss. Thread the needle through the pages. Once you’ve circled through the holes a few times, open the book in the middle, and tie off at the back. Keeping nice and loose so the pages can easily be turned and will lay flat.
If you’d rather not use a needle and floss, a small hinged snap ring works well also – it also makes it super easy to replace or add more pages!
Easy as that (just what’s needed for a busy Thanksgiving day, right?)! You can sit back and let the littles color, draw, and generally be creative while you’re prepping (or recovering from) the big meal.
Six Ways to Use Your Mini Thanksgiving Doodle Books
1. A November Classroom Creativity Booster
These are perfect for a classroom holiday activity, part of a November sub lesson plan, or a day-before-break classroom celebration. Print out multiple copies, precut some colorful cardstock pages, and leave them out with a basket of crayons, a hole punch, and a ribbon. Kids love picking their own pages and assembling themselves, and it’s a great favor for them to take home.
2. A Holiday Road Trip Rescue Kit
Just what you need for kids travel by planes, trains, and automobiles. Turn “Are we there yet?” into quiet creation. These pint-sized printables are perfect for keeping tiny travelers entertained on the journey to Grandma’s house. Pack them with some crayons in a special “Thanksgiving Trip Bag” and watch the miles fly by with smiles all around.
3. Kids Thanksgiving Table Favors
Don’t have the time or the specific supplies to bind? Combine small stacks of mini doodle pages with a few squares of colorful cardstock, naturally beautiful autumn leaves, and a handful of acorns for a lovely (simple!) kids Thanksgiving table.
Nestle these adorable mini-books alongside each little one’s place setting. As the grown-ups chat, kids can color, write, and doodle their way through dinner.
4. Pair With a Picture Book for Kid Lit Projects at the Library
Pair these printables with beloved Thanksgiving picture books and kid-lit favorites for a match made in autumn heaven. Librarians can can use these in on-the-go bags or for cozy reading nooks where children explore stories of gratitude, then express their own thankful thoughts in these take-home treasures.
5. Cozy November Quiet Time Coloring
Create a snug autumn sanctuary in your home where little ones can explore gratitude and creativity. Set up a special “Thankful Corner” with a soft blanket, twinkling fairy lights, and a basket filled with these delightful mini-books.
6. After-School Program Gratitude Exercises
Transform your after-school program or daycare into a haven of Thanksgiving cheer with these versatile printables! Create a “Gratitude Station” where children can unwind from their school day by exploring thankfulness through art and words. Use the quarter-page prompts for quick, engaging activities as kids arrive or are waiting to head home.
Encourage older kids to become “Gratitude Buddies,” helping younger ones brainstorm ideas or read prompts aloud. Display completed pages on a “Thankful Tree” wall art project, watching it bloom with heartfelt expressions throughout the month.
More Thanksgiving Kids Activities
For more Thanksgiving activities for the kiddos, decorate your table with these fun printable gingerbread and snowman playdough mats, count the things you’re grateful for on a colorful fall-to-winter felt
Free Printable Doodle Books for Other Seasons
Grab our free printable summer doodle books and Halloween doodle books!
GETTING READY TO TRY this?
I love seeing all the ways people make these ideas their own! If you're sharing the results of one of our projects, mention or tag me with @barleyandbirch, or share it in the comments of one of our Pinterest project pins.
