Peko Pal
The Secret Thanksgiving
Before flying out for Thanksgiving, Brandt and Carter host a secret backyard feast for their otter friends. Together with Oliver's colony and their friends Maya and Jasper, they share a gentle, crisis-free evening about gratitude and the traditions worth keeping.
- Ages
- 5–7
- Length
- 38 min, 5 chapters
- Feel
- Gentle
- Wi-Fi to play
- Not needed
Why parents pick it
Two brothers plan their own Thanksgiving party in the backyard before a trip to Grandma's, and the guest list includes some unusual friends. It's a cozy holiday story where the children cook, set the table and take turns saying what they're thankful for. Midway, an elder tells the history of the Ohlone people, who first lived on the land that became Berkeley.
Good fit if your child…
- likes stories about cooking, decorating and hosting a party
- is curious about the people who lived on the land before their town was built
- enjoys the idea of a secret that only a few friends share
Listen to a preview
From Chapter 1
The smell of cinnamon and apples drifted through the house as Mom worked on pie crusts. Brandt sat at the dining room table writing his homework about Thanksgiving. Carter sprawled on the floor nearby, drawing a turkey with every crayon color he could find.
"What are you writing about?" Carter asked, adding orange stripes to his turkey's feathers.
"Mrs. Chen asked us to think about what we're thankful for this year," Brandt said, tapping his pencil. "It's actually kind of a long list."
"Like what?"
"Well..." Brandt glanced toward the kitchen and lowered his voice to barely a whisper. "You know. All our adventures this year."
Carter nodded. They both knew better than to talk about the secret where their parents might hear.
What happens
Brandt and Carter will be at Grandma's on Thanksgiving Day, and they cannot bear to leave their otter friends out of the celebration. So they hatch a half-secret plan. Mom and Dad know about a backyard party with Maya and Jasper, while a few extra guests from the tunnels receive a cryptic, leaf-shaped invitation. The boys practice grilling salmon and trout (the first try burns), hang twinkling lights, and wait for dark.
Parents will enjoy a cozy, funny evening that gently explores what gratitude really means. Oliver shares otter memories of Berkeley's Ohlone past, and the friends take turns saying what they are thankful for.
For the grown-up
What they get from it. Children hear a simple picture of Ohlone life along the creeks, taking only what you need and giving thanks every day, and the idea that being grateful can mean looking after what you value. They also see friends include everyone, and treat mistakes as something to fix.
Before you play it. It stays gentle from start to finish, with no real danger. One chapter is a quiet history talk that mentions Ohlone people being pushed off their land and creeks being buried, which is told sadly but briefly. The brothers also keep part of their guest list from their parents, which may start a conversation.
Ask your child afterwards:
- What are three things you would say you're thankful for at the backyard table?
- Oliver said gratitude is something you do, not just something you feel. What could you do to show you're grateful?
- Why do you think the brothers wanted to share Thanksgiving with their friends before they left?
Chapters
- The Secret PlanBrandt and Carter dream up a Thanksgiving party with a guest list only some grown-ups know.
- Preparing the FeastFish on the grill, a burnt first try, and invitations delivered to two very different friends.
- The Backyard GatheringAs dark falls, shadows slip through a loose fence board and the feast begins.
- Grateful HeartsBetween bites of pie, an old story about the land under their feet.
- A New TraditionCleaning up before Mom and Dad get home, and a promise to do it all again.
Themes
Common questions
- What age is The Secret Thanksgiving for?
- It is written for ages 5–7.
- How long is The Secret Thanksgiving?
- 5 chapters, about 38 min in all.
- Is The Secret Thanksgiving scary?
- It stays gentle from start to finish, with no real danger. One chapter is a quiet history talk that mentions Ohlone people being pushed off their land and creeks being buried, which is told sadly but briefly. The brothers also keep part of their guest list from their parents, which may start a conversation.
- Does it need Wi-Fi?
- No. Once it is on the Pal, it plays without Wi-Fi.
Playing it on the Pal
Press the button to play or pause. Tap left or right to skip back or ahead 15 seconds, double-tap for the previous or next chapter, or triple-tap left to start the book over. Up and down switch to another book. It picks up where you left off.