These picture books that celebrate found families, friendship, and connection are great choices for holidays shelves.

Bobowicz, Pamela, adapt. Happy Friendsgiving! (Gabby’s Dollhouse Storybook). 24p. Scholastic. Sept. 2025. pap. $6.99. ISBN 9781546139157.
PreS-Gr 1–This story celebrates friendship and expressing gratitude for friends. As in all of Gabby’s adventures, it begins with Gabby opening a beautiful Kitty Cat Surprise Box. After opening the box, Gabby becomes small, allowing her to enter the dollhouse and have fun with her sidekick, Pandy Paws, and all her other magical hybrid cat friends. In anticipation of Friendsgiving, an event Gabby loves, she makes crafts with Baby Box, bakes a cake with Cakey Cat, and receives a makeover from MerCat. Throughout the fun party preparations, CatRat is frustrated because his magic incantation, designed to get all the dollhouse cats out to celebrate, is not working. Eventually, Gabby and CatRat say the magic words together, and it works. The story and the illustrations mirror the Netflix show—colorful, cute, and upbeat—but the story lacks substance, depth, or plot intrigue. The writing and the artwork are riding the success of the series without any literary contribution. VERDICT Only fans of the show will enjoy this simple, short story that celebrates how life is sweeter with friends by your side.–Sally James

Colleen, Marcie. Happy Friendsgiving: A Thanksgiving Celebration of Found Families. illus. by Laura Sandoval Herrera. 32p. Doubleday. Sept. 2025. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9780593649923.
PreS-Gr 2–“Strangers, neighbors, longtime friends. Everybody has a place here. Today’s a day to discover you are not alone.” Traveling from near and far to gather with dear friends, this unique and inclusive picture book celebrates Friendsgiving, a time for friends to share a Thanksgiving dinner. Cooking is underway in a lively kitchen as the aromas drift and mingle with the delight of people arriving from out of town, turkey trot runners returning from their race, and children crafting hand-traced turkey decorations. Even a furry friend joins the festivities, eyeing a turkey roasting in the oven, hoping for a helping of dinner. The focus zooms out to pan across an entire community enjoying each other’s company: “Each window tells a story. Glowing snapshots of the joy inside.” Friends who work through the holiday are not forgotten and are visited with food and hugs of gratitude. The illustrations embrace a warm palette, blending a rich, buttery sweet potato color throughout each spread. Front endpapers serve up a Thanksgiving dinner of turkey, gravy, pumpkin pie, macaroni and cheese, and other holiday favorites. Back endpapers show the dinner leftovers and containers packed with food ready to share. When fully extended, the front and back covers depict a long table circled by a diverse group of friends enjoying one another’s company at their Thanksgiving dinner. VERDICT A heartfelt ode to the celebration of chosen family to welcome into every holiday library collection.–Emily Brush

Tawil Kenyon, Rachel. Thanksgiving Is a Blessing. illus. by Udayana Lugo. 32p. Beaming Bks. Sept. 2025. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9798889830405.
PreS-Gr 1–Written in simple rhyming couplets with “Thanksgiving is” as the refrain, this title highlights some of the best traditions and emotions that the holiday has to offer. Beginning at sunrise and ending at sunset, it follows members of a community as they engage in various parts of the celebration, whether it’s gathering food for a food bank, running a race, remembering loved ones who passed away, cooking cherished recipes, or coming together for a communal dinner in the park. Though lacking in any historical perspective, the book shows that Thanksgiving is not just about the food, but about offering kindness, forgiveness, help, and gratitude. The warmth and diversity of Lugo’s somewhat cartoonish stylized illustrations perfectly complement the gentle simple text. Back matter provides directions for a placemat craft and a recipe for pumpkin soup. VERDICT A joyful title that emphasizes the importance of connection and togetherness, whether with family or found family.–Yelena Voysey