# 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. 5 chapters, about 38 minutes.

## 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.

## 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.

## Chapters

1. The Secret Plan
2. Preparing the Feast
3. The Backyard Gathering
4. Grateful Hearts
5. A New Tradition