LOS ANGELES — Ahead of Thanksgiving, PragerU debuts “Otto’s Tales: Today is Thanksgiving.” The beautifully illustrated storybook teaches why we celebrate the holiday with gratitude, generosity, and family. The book is the fifth installment in PragerU’s series of illustrated children’s books that teaches children ages 3 to 8 traditional American values through the rambunctious adventures of young Dennis Prager and his trusty sidekick, Otto the bulldog. Like each previous release in the series, “Otto’s Tales: Today is Thanksgiving” has already reached the top of the Amazon new release charts and currently ranks as the #1 New Release in Schools and Teaching. 

“Many schools continue to cancel and prohibit ‘pilgrim and native celebrations,’ calling them ‘offensive appropriation,’” said Jill Simonian, Director of Outreach for PragerU Kids. “‘Today is Thanksgiving’ is an encouraging portrayal of the first Thanksgiving and shows children why gratitude, generosity, and family are important values.”

PragerU also released a new storytime video, “Otto's Tales — Today is Thanksgiving.” The video animates the story, in which Dennis and Otto the bulldog travel back in time to the first Thanksgiving to learn why we celebrate the first Thanksgiving and why we should all be grateful for family, God, and country. 

“Otto’s Tales” are part of PragerU’s K-12 educational initiative PragerU Kids. The storybook series offers families creative ways to pass on important values to their young children through American holidays and traditions. Examples of holidays and values taught in “Otto’s Tales” include:

• Martin Luther King, Jr. Day: A colorblind nation where everyone is created equal in God’s image.  

• Presidents’ Day: Freedom, American exceptionalism, nationalism.    

• The American Trinity: Liberty, In God We Trust, e pluribus unum. 

• Mother’s Day: Traditional role of mothers in the home.  

• Father’s Day: The importance of fathers.

• Flag Day: Heritage, honor, pride. 

• Independence Day: Bravery and liberty.

• The National Anthem and Pledge of Allegiance: Patriotism, tradition, God. 

• Patriot Day (Sept. 11): Heroism, strength, unity.

• Columbus Day: Curiosity, determination, perseverance.   

• Veterans Day: Respect, gratitude, nationalism, reverence, remembrance. 

• Thanksgiving: Gratitude, generosity, family.  

• Christmas: God, family, and faith.  

“Otto’s Tales” storybooks are available for purchase through Amazon. Each storybook is paired with a storytime show featuring Jill Simonian, PragerU’s mascot Otto, or a very special celebrity guest.

Parents, guardians, and educators can check out more free PragerU Kids content, including “Otto’s Tales” storytime show, the DIY craft and history series “Craftory”, PragerU’s first-ever fully-animated kids show “Leo & Layla’s History Adventures,” the funny and educational “TBH (to be honest) History” series, “How To” videos for middle and high schoolers, digital magazines, parent action guides, and other curated resources. To receive exclusive access to the PragerU Resources for Educators and Parents (PREP) online discussion forum, live virtual events, and breaking news announcements, become a member at prageru.com/prep.

More information on PragerU is available here.