How to Play - Thanksgiving
Read, explore, complete challenges, uncover clues, and help Charlie Brown discover what Thanksgiving is really all about.
A New Story Appears
Halloween was over, the Headless Horseman had disappeared, and Charlie Brown thought things might finally return to normal.
Then the mysterious book opened again.
New words began appearing across the blank pages, along with pictures of cornfields, ships, forests, and a harvest.
“Good grief,” said Charlie Brown. “Here we go again.”
As Thanksgiving approached, everyone seemed to be talking about food.
Turkey. Mashed potatoes. Cranberries. Pumpkin pie.
Charlie Brown looked at the mysterious book.
“Is that what Thanksgiving is really all about? Eating?”
Suddenly, the pages began showing scenes from long ago. Charlie Brown recognized the Pilgrims and the harvest gathering of 1621.
“It’s the First Thanksgiving!” he said.
But then another page appeared.
This one showed the Wampanoag people, whose story was an important part of what happened.
Charlie Brown scratched his head.
“I thought I already knew this story.”
“Maybe you only knew part of it,” Linus said.
As more people read, more of the story appeared.
Turkeys. Gratitude. Harvest. The Wampanoag People.
Charlie Brown began to realize that Thanksgiving might be about more than what was on the table. Maybe it was also about being grateful, learning from the past, and listening to all the people who are part of the story.
“Maybe the most important part of Thanksgiving dinner isn’t the food after all,” Charlie Brown said.
Snoopy looked hopefully toward the kitchen.
Charlie Brown smiled.
“I said maybe.”
Read & Level Up
The mysterious book has opened to a brand-new chapter, and once again, your reading is helping the story appear.
More words appear. More pages are added. And more of the Thanksgiving story comes to life.
You do not have to read books we choose, and you do not have to read books about Thanksgiving or the reading program theme.
Read whatever you want!
Mysteries, fantasy, graphic novels, picture books, nonfiction, audiobooks—it all counts! Every minute you read helps Charlie Brown and his friends fill the blank pages of the mysterious book and discover more about what Halloween is really all about.
Simply record your reading minutes as you go.
Kids can read to Level 5 during the program by reading 1,000 minutes.
Teens & Adults can read to Level 5 during the program by reading 2,000 minutes.
Each time you reach a new level, you’ll unlock another part of the story and earn rewards. Every level earns you 1 Drawing Ticket, plus a growing number of Coins—the higher the level, the more Coins you earn!
And just because you reach Level 5 doesn’t mean you have to stop reading!
As the pages fill, help Charlie Brown discover that Thanksgiving may be about much more than turkey and pie. It can also be about gratitude, learning from the past, understanding the people who are part of the story, and appreciating the people gathered around us.
So choose something you love to read, log your minutes, and keep those mysterious pages turning!
Rewards:
🎟️ 1 Drawing Ticket at every level
🪙 Coins increase with each level
Complete Challenges
Throughout November, you’ll find several Thanksgiving Challenges to complete. Each one explores a different part of the holiday through fun activities, discoveries, and stories.
At the beginning of each challenge, Charlie Brown has a question about what that Thanksgiving tradition really means.
Complete the challenge, and one of his friends will help him see that there may be more to it than he thought!
Not interested in the extra activities? That’s okay! You can choose the Thanksgiving Reading Challenge instead and explore Thanksgiving simply by reading.
Rewards:
For every challenge you complete, you’ll earn:
⭐ Bonus Points
🎟️ 1 Drawing Ticket
🪙 1 Coin to spend in the Prize Store
The Turkey Hunt
Something has gone terribly wrong with Thanksgiving!
Charlie Brown and his friends were talking about their Thanksgiving plans when someone mentioned the most important part of the meal...
Turkey.
Unfortunately, the turkeys overheard.
“Good grief!” cried Charlie Brown. “I think they got the wrong idea!”
The nervous turkeys flapped, gobbled, and scattered in every direction. Now they’re hiding all around the library, hoping no one can find them before Thanksgiving dinner.
Don’t worry, turkeys—you’re not on the menu!
Charlie Brown needs your help to bring them all back to safety.
Search the library and find all 20 runaway turkeys. Each turkey has a secret code. Enter the codes as you find them and help round up the whole flock.
Keep your eyes open. These turkeys are very good at hiding!
Find every turkey and make sure the whole flock has a safe place to spend Thanksgiving.
Rewards:
Find all 20 turkeys to earn:
🎟️ 1 Drawing Ticket
🪙 10 Coins
Ask Lucy for Advice
Lucy’s Psychiatric Help Booth usually costs 5¢ for advice, but Lucy has agreed to offer one special Thanksgiving question for free.
She has even given the Library Team permission to hand out her very important advice.
During the month of November, visit the library and ask:
“What is the meaning of Thanksgiving?”
Lucy has prepared several pieces of her very confident Thanksgiving advice, so you never know which answer you’ll receive. Her answer might be helpful. It might be silly. And Lucy will definitely think it’s correct!
Your card also contains a secret code to enter into the reading program.
But does Lucy really know what Thanksgiving is all about?
Linus may have a different idea.
Rewards:
Ask Lucy’s Halloween question and enter your secret code to earn:
🎟️ 1 Drawing Ticket
🪙 1 Coin
Attend Library Events
During November, attend the Midweek Matinee on November 18 and look for the special event secret code.
Enter the code into the reading program to record that you were there and add another Thanksgiving memory to your adventure.
Attend 4 events by the end of the program to complete the event challenge.
After all, Charlie Brown is beginning to discover that some of the best parts of Thanksgiving are simply coming together, having fun, and making memories with others.
Rewards:
Attend 4 events to earn:
🎟️ 1 Drawing Ticket
🪙 5 Coins
NEW! Spend Your Coins in the Prize Store
You’ve been reading, completing challenges, solving mysteries, and earning Coins along the way.
Now comes the fun part...
Spend them on prizes!
Visit the Prize Store to see what is available. Each prize has a Coin price, so you can decide whether to spend your Coins now or save them for something you really want.
See something you like?
Choose the prize and purchase it with your Coins. If the item is still available, it will be saved for you and added to My Prizes so you can pick it up at the library.
Some prizes have limited quantities, so if you see something you really want, don’t wait too long!
Once you purchase a prize, check My Prizes for your pickup deadline. Be sure to pick up your prize by that date so we can keep it reserved just for you.
If you aren’t able to pick it up by the deadline, the prize will be returned to the Prize Store and the Coins you spent will automatically be returned to your account. If the prize is still available, you’re welcome to purchase it again.
Your Coins are yours to spend, so choose wisely—and have fun rewarding yourself for all that reading!
Remember:
🪙 Coins = Buy prizes from the Prize Store
📅 Check My Prizes for your pickup deadline
NEW! Enter to Win Drawing Prizes
Those Drawing Tickets you’ve been earning have a special purpose too!
In the program you’ll find Drawing Prizes that you can enter to win.
Browse the available prizes, choose the ones you would most like to win, and decide where to put your Drawing Tickets.
The more tickets you put toward a prize, the more entries you’ll have in that drawing!
You can put all of your tickets toward one favorite prize or spread them among several prizes. It’s completely up to you!
As long as the drawing is still open, you can check your entries and decide how you want to use your available tickets.
When it’s time for the drawings, winners will be chosen from all the entries for each prize.
So keep reading, complete those challenges, and collect as many Drawing Tickets as you can.
You never know—you might be our next winner!
Remember:
🎟️ Drawing Tickets = Enter to win Drawing Prizes
🪙 Coins = Buy prizes from the Prize Store
Want another chance to win?
You can also spend your Coins on extra Drawing Tickets! Each additional drawing entry costs 5 Coins, giving you another way to use your Coins toward a prize you really want.