Teaching kids to say thank you or practice gratitude, in general, is an essential part of their upbringing. These picture books about gratitude show kids how it’s done. Whether it’s Thanksgiving or not, use these delightful books to help your kids develop a practice of gratitude.
The Best Children’s Picture Books About Gratitude
Here are some of the best picture books about gratitude:
Gratitude is My Superpower
Published: July 7, 2021
Do you want to teach your children how to be grateful for the things they already have?
Little Betsy will learn that happiness is made up of simple things in life, both small and big. With the help of the magic stone, she will begin to feel gratitude for her parents, friends, and toys. But what happens when little Betsy forgets to use the magic of her stone? She will realize that the power of gratitude is hidden in her heart.
“Gratitude is my superpower” will teach your little ones to appreciate the warmth of home, time spent playing with friends, and family relationships.
Taylor the Thankful Turkey
Published: September 2, 2021
Taylor the Thankful Turkey is an easy-to-read children’s book about giving thanks and being grateful.
The goal of this book is to teach kids that being thankful is more than just being grateful for you have, but also showing others your appreciation. This helps to build self-esteem and confidence, and makes
you a positive and uplifting person.
After all, gratitude is the best attitude, and there is always something to be thankful for.
Zen Pig: The Art of Gratitude
Published: March 30, 2020
In the first book of Mark Brown’s critically acclaimed children’s book series Zen Pig teaches our children the importance of gratitude, mindfulness and compassion in a way that’s easy for them to understand. A great daily read full of wisdom that’s paired with simple, beautiful art perfect for children and adults alike.
“Care for each other,
As much as yourself.
And never lose sight,
That love is true wealth.”
With entitlement, expectation, and materialism running rampant in children’s media, there has never been a greater need for Zen Pig.
I Am Thankful (Little Golden Book)
Published: September 7, 2021
A Little Golden Book perfect for reading at the Thanksgiving table! When their teacher asks them to share what they’re thankful for, each child in this wonderfully-diverse classroom mentions their favorite things in rhyme: I am thankful for my grandma’s pies, her cookies, and her sweet-potato fries. I am thankful for my puppy’s tricks, my comfy slippers, and kitty-cat’s licks. The fun text and illustrations with inspire preschoolers and their families to share what they are most thankful for too!
Grateful Ninja
Published: August 21, 2020
With the help of a friend, Grateful Ninja learns all about cultivating an attitude of gratitude.
In a 5 Day Gratitude Challenge, Grateful Ninja focuses on being thankful for the simple things in life, both big and small. Find out what happens in this comedic book about developing a heart of thankfulness.
Thankful
Published: September 7, 2021
I am thankful for a home where I am safe and warm.
Thankful for parents who read me stories and comb my hair gently, gently.
Who whisper the same poem every night when they tuck me in.
When the first snow falls, a little girl writes down the things she’s thankful for on strips of paper and links them together. As one idea leads to another, her chain grows longer. There’s so much good in her life: a friend, things that are warm, things that are cold, color, things that can be fixed. This beautiful story is a much-needed reminder to observe and honor life’s small joys.
I Am Thankful
Published: July 28, 2022
Thanksgiving books for kids teach us about coming together with our loved ones and to give thanks for all that we have. I Am Thankful is an adorable, rhyming storybook that follows three different families as they celebrate the holiday with their own traditions, acts of kindness, and ways of giving back.
Kids will learn how to be thankful for the people and world around them as they delight in the sweet illustrations that show diverse families and exciting Thanksgiving adventures. This heartfelt, poetic story will show young ones the meaning of giving and sharing.
Go beyond other Thanksgiving books for kids, with:
I Turned My Mom Into a Unicorn: A Funny Thankful Story
Published: October 1, 2019
What happens when you turn your mom into a unicorn?
This book is bursting with confetti, magic, rainbows, sparkles and fun! Ted’s mom is always asking him to do chores – like brush his teeth and clean up his toys. Maybe if he turns his mom into a super fun unicorn, everything will be awesome!
Or maybe not? Do not miss the twist at the end!
Our Table
Published: November 2, 2021
Violet longs for the time when her family was connected: before life, distractions, and technology pulled them all away from each other. They used to gather at the table, with food and love, to make memories, share their lives, and revel in time spent together. But now her family has been drifting apart, and with nobody to gather around it, the table grows smaller and smaller.
Can Violet remind her family of the warmth of time spent together, and gather around the table once more?
A mystical fable that feels at once timeless and utterly of the present moment, Our Table is renowned, bestselling creator Peter H. Reynolds at his best. Exquisite, expressive watercolor tells a tender story, growing from monochrome into luscious, joyful color as Violet’s family is reunited around the beloved table. An ode to traditions that unite families, Our Table brings readers together with a universal message of gratitude.
Dr. Seuss’s Thankful Things
Published: November 16, 2021
Written in super-simple rhyme, this sweet, sturdy board book features Thing One and Thing Two as they celebrate all there is to be thankful for–from things to learn and games to play, to pies and each other! A perfect gift for Thanksgiving, birthdays, baby showers, or any time of year, this sixth book in the Things seasonal board book series is an ideal way to introduce the very youngest children to the concept of gratitude and to the magical world of Dr. Seuss!
Grunt the Grizzly Learns to be Grateful
Published: October 27, 2020
Is it possible to be happy even when things aren’t going your way?
Yes! ♥ That’s what being thankful can do! ♥
Grunt the Grizzly was a grumpy bear. But his grumpiness was making him miserable.
Luckily, he has amazing friends, Punk the Skunk, Sloan the Sloth, and Brave the Beaver, who teach him that he can be in charge of his own happiness. Maybe their mantra can help him see past the negative and focus on the positive.
“Grumpies, grumpies, go away.
I would rather smile today.
When I’m grateful, I can see
All the good surrounding me.”
Will Grunt learn that it’s possible to be happy even when things are going wrong?
A Little Thankful SPOT
Published: February 13, 2020
A story that celebrates everyday blessings and practices thankfulness. Diane Alber’s bestselling books have taught kids about kindness, unconditional love, respecting people, and so much more! In A Little Thankful SPOT, you will follow a little yellow SPOT around as he shows you what he’s thankful for in hopes that it will inspire YOU to write your very own THANKFUL list! From everyday activities like reading and stomping in puddles to the joy he has with his big HAPPY family, you will start to think about all that YOU’RE thankful for.
Five Little Thank-Yous
Published: September 3, 2019
Shaped like a handprint turkey art craft, this colorful rhyming board book is all about the important things to be thankful for on Thanksgiving!
Thank you for this food we share
made with tender love and care.
This Thanksgiving book of five important thank yous is the perfect way for parents to celebrate and share the meaning of the holiday with their child.
My Attitude of Gratitude
Published: October 21, 2019
WHAT WILL YOU DO IF YOUR CHILD GETS SAD AND UPSET BECAUSE YOU WON’T BUY HIM A NEW TOY?
HOW CAN YOU TEACH HIM TO BE THANKFUL FOR WHAT HE ALREADY HAS?
In this story, Grandma teaches her grandson how to cope with unfulfilled desire by making a gratitude jar into which to put reminders each night of everything good that has happened during the day.
With gentle verses, this book will teach your child to be grateful for what he has, appreciate the warmth of home, and family relationships. This story is intended for bedtime reading to focus the child on positive memories.
With this book, you can teach your children about the meaning of gratitude. Each page of this children’s happiness notebook contains a gentle push for your child to remind about a few things to be thankful for. Playful mindfulness reading will help your child express their creativity and ingenuity.
Buy now and start making your own gratitude jar and your gratitude practice with your child.
What Is Given from the Heart
Published: January 8, 2019
“Misery loves company,”” Mama says to James Otis. It’s been a rough couple of months for them, but Mama says as long as they have their health and strength, they’re blessed. One Sunday before Valentine’s Day, Reverend Dennis makes an announcement during the service– the Temples have lost everything in a fire, and the church is collecting anything that might be useful to them. James thinks hard about what he can add to the Temple’s “”love box,”” but what does he have worth giving? With her extraordinary gift for storytelling, McKissack–with stunning illustrations by Harrison–delivers a touching, powerful tale of compassion and reminds us all that what is given from the heart, reaches the heart.
Thank You, Omu!
Published: October 2, 2018
Everyone in the neighborhood dreams of a taste of Omu’s delicious stew! One by one, they follow their noses toward the scrumptious scent. And one by one, Omu offers a portion of her meal. Soon the pot is empty. Has she been so generous that she has nothing left for herself?
Around The Table That Grandad Built
Published: September 10, 2019
This is the table that Grandad built.
These are the sunflowers picked by my cousins,
set on the table that Grandad built.
In a unique take on the cumulative classic “This Is the House That Jack Built,” a family gathers with friends and neighbors to share a meal around a table that brims with associations: napkins sewn by Mom, glasses from Mom and Dad’s wedding, silverware gifted to Dad by his grandma long ago. Not to mention the squash from the garden, the bread baked by Gran, and the pies made by the young narrator (with a little help). Serving up a diverse array of dishes and faces, this warm and welcoming story is poised to become a savored part of Thanksgiving traditions to come.
Apple Cake: A Gratitude
Published: September 24, 2019
Thank you, hedge, / Thank you, tree. / Thank you, flower, / Thank you, bee. / Thank you, rain, / Thank you, sun. / Thank you, farmers, / every one.
In this simple rhyming story from the author of Held in Love, a child says thank you for the gifts nature provides, from hazelnuts in the hedge to apples from the tree, eggs from the hens to milk from the cow. Eventually, the family has enough ingredients to make something special…a delicious apple cake!
Otis Gives Thanks
Published: September 5, 2017
Being thankful is a year-round blessing for Otis the tractor!
Giving thanks makes Otis happy. He gives thanks for the land and country he loves. Otis is thankful for time to play games like hide-and-seek and ring-around-the-rosy. He cherishes his farm friends who make life on the ranch as happy as can be. And most of all, everyone’s favorite tractor is thankful for the greatest thing in life: love.
Told with a sense of warmth, heart, and above all else, gratefulness, this is an uplifting tale that speaks to the soul of Otis’ character and reminds readers that taking the time to appreciate our lives is a virtue in itself. From the creator of the Otis series, and the illustrator of The Little Engine That Could and Of Thee I Sing by President Barack Obama.
We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga
Published: September 4, 2018
The word otsaliheliga (oh-jah-LEE-hay-lee-gah) is used by members of the Cherokee Nation to express gratitude. Beginning in the fall with the new year and ending in summer, follow a full Cherokee year of celebrations and experiences. Written by a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, this look at one group of Native Americans is appended with a glossary and the complete Cherokee syllabary, originally created by Sequoyah.
My First Gratitude Journal
Published: December 17, 2019
Grateful kids are happy kids!
Practicing gratitude increases happiness, improves self-esteem, and lowers levels of stress—and this easy-to-use journal is sure to help kids tap into that extraordinary power for the first time. Through writing and drawing, children will learn to give daily thanks for the good in their lives. Every ten days they’ll respond to more in-depth prompts that ask them to think about gratitude on a broader scale. Best of all, they’ll develop a healthy habit for the rest of their lives.
A Very Thankful Prayer
Published: January 11, 2022
From watching the autumn leaves fall to picking pumpkins from the patch, from sharing a Thanksgiving meal with loved ones to learning how to give–there’s so much to be thankful for! Cultivate a grateful heart in your little one with this thank-you prayer to God, who gives us every good thing.
Thanks from The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Published: August 15, 2017
Perfect for Thanksgiving or any day of the year, this charming book of pictures is the colorful way to tell loved ones “thanks!” Featuring art from the World of Eric Carle, this joyful book follows The Very Hungry Caterpillar and celebrates all that makes us most thankful.
When Grandma Gives You a Lemon Tree
Published: March 5, 2019
“When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” In this imaginative take on that popular saying, a child is surprised (and disappointed) to receive a lemon tree from Grandma for her birthday. After all, she DID ask for a new gadget! But when she follows the narrator’s careful—and funny—instructions, she discovers that the tree might be exactly what she wanted after all. This clever story, complete with a recipe for lemonade, celebrates the pleasures of patience, hard work, nature, community . . . and putting down the electronic devices just for a while.
Llama Llama Gives Thanks
Published: August 15, 2017
In Llama Llama Gives Thanks, it’s Thanksgiving time for Llama Llama and his family! That means yummy foods and autumn leaves and being thankful for everything from pumpkin pies to blue skies. Thanksgiving may only come once year, but in Llama’s family, giving thanks is always here!
With short and simple rhyming text, the Llama Llama board books introduce Llama Llama to babies and toddlers before they’re ready for longer full-length stories. And their small size and durable pages are perfect for little hands.
Llama Llama Gives Thanks was one of Anna’s final projects before she passed on in 2016. Her love of language, playful sensibility, and ability to entertain and comfort young children are evident in all of her books.
My Heart Fills With Happiness
Published: May 11, 2021
The sun on your face. The smell of warm bannock baking in the oven. Holding the hand of someone you love. What fills your heart with happiness? This beautiful book, with illustrations from celebrated artist Julie Flett, serves as a reminder for little ones and adults alike to reflect on and cherish the moments in life that bring us joy.
God Gave Us Thankful Hearts
Published: August 23, 2016
Adventurous Lil Pup is bummed that hibernating season will soon be coming to the Great North Woods. Why should so many of his friends have to go in for the winter and leave Lil Pup without pals? Mama reminds her little wolf that not all animals hibernate, and how he can be grateful for the beautiful autumn season – for jumping in leaf piles, eating apple treats, and celebrating the wonders of fall with his forest friends. And she points out…
I’m Thankful For ….. : A Book About Being Greatful!
Published: October 8, 2015
What are you grateful for?
Are you looking for a children’s book that is highly entertaining, great for early readers, and includes morals and lessons about caring, sharing, and love? This children’s storybook has it all!
This is an excellent read for beginning and early readers. Each story is easy to read and exciting with cute and bright illustrations for younger readers.
This book is especially great for traveling, waiting rooms, and read aloud at home.Also available in paperback and audiobook formats!
- 5 cute bedtime stories for kids
- Just for fun activities and crafts
- Morals and lessons about being grateful
- Excellent for beginning and early readers
- Fun games and mazes included
This storybook is great for a quick bedtime story and to be read aloud with friends and family.
Being Thankful ( Little Critter)
Published: August 5, 2014
Join Little Critter® as he learns why it’s important to be thankful for what he has—not to be upset about what he doesn’t.
Since 1975, Mercer Mayer has been writing and illustrating stories about Little Critter® and the antics he stumbles into while growing up. Tommy Nelson is thrilled to bring this beloved brand to the Christian market with the Inspired Kids line of faith-based books featuring Little Critter.
In Being Thankful, Little Critter isn’t gettinganything he wants. Gator gets cool brand-new sneakers, while Little Critter is stuck with his boring blue ones. Tiger’s dad has a boat—but not Little Critter’s dad. And even at the ice cream shop, Little Critter can’t enjoy his chocolate ice cream cone because he would rather have a huge ice cream sundae instead. But on a trip to the farm, Grandma shows Little Critter why thankfulness is so important and helps make any situation seem so much happier.
Thankful
Published: September 1, 2015
Celebrate everyday blessings, practice thankfulness, and observe the wonderful acts of service that keep us going each and every day. Eileen Spinelli, bestselling and award-winning children’s author, charms with rhymes and whimsy in Thankful, perfect for any young reader and their family.
Last Stop on Market Street
Published: January 8, 2015
Every Sunday after church, CJ and his grandma ride the bus across town. But today, CJ wonders why they don’t own a car like his friend Colby. Why doesn’t he have an iPod like the boys on the bus? How come they always have to get off in the dirty part of town? Each question is met with an encouraging answer from grandma, who helps him see the beauty—and fun—in their routine and the world around them.
Thank You, Mr Panda
Published: January 12, 2017
Generous Mr. Panda is giving away presents to all his animal friends, including a mouse, an octopus, an elephant, and a lemur, but they aren’t being very grateful about the gifts they receive. It may be because the presents aren’t quite right. Mouse receives a sweater that’s too big, and Octopus gets six colorful socks even though he has eight legs. Fortunately, thoughtful little Lemur knows that even if the present isn’t perfect, it’s the thought that counts most of all.The popular picture book is now available in a board book edition!
The Thankful Book
Published: October 16, 2012
I am thankful for music because it makes me want to dance.
I am thankful for my feet because they help me run and play.
I am thankful for kisses because they make me feel loved.
Todd Parr’s bestselling books have taught kids about unconditional love, respecting the earth, facing fears, and more, all with his signature blend of playfulness and sensitivity. Now, The Thankful Book celebrates all the little things children can give thanks for. From everyday activities like reading and bathtime to big family meals together and special alone time between parent and child, Todd inspires readers to remember all of li
Bear Says Thanks
Published: September 4, 2012
What better way for Bear to say thanks, than to have a big dinner with all his friends!
Bear has come up with the perfect way to say thanks—a nice big dinner! When Bear decides to throw a feast, his friends show up one by one with different platters of delicious food to share. There’s just one problem: Bear’s cupboards are bare! What is he to do?
Firenze’s Light: A Children’s Book about Gratitude, Compassion and Appreciation
Published: July 31, 2014
Firenze’s friends love her light, but Firenze doesn’t think it’s so great. How can she when it’s nearly impossible to play a good game of hide-and-seek?!! When Firenze’s light and a new friend’s artwork unexpectedly combine, she must decide whether she will keep her light hidden or find the courage to let it shine.
An Awesome Book Of Thanks!
Published: November 18, 2010
Inspired by the idea of being thankful for all that you have, An Awesome Book of Thanks! is a beautifully written, fantastically illustrated walk through a world of magical unicorns, robotic dinosaurs, and all of life’s simple moments, great and small. Crafted for children ages 0-1000, this timeless story is sure to be an instant classic, at home in the hands of anyone looking for the perfect reminder of just how beautiful life can be.
A Sick Day for Amos McGee
Published: May 25, 2010
The Best Sick Day Ever and the animals in the zoo feature in this striking picture book debut. Friends come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. In Amos McGee’s case, all sorts of species, too! Every day he spends a little bit of time with each of his friends at the zoo, running races with the tortoise, keeping the shy penguin company, and even reading bedtime stories to the owl. But when Amos is too sick to make it to the zoo, his animal friends decide it’s time they returned the favor.
All The World
Published: September 8, 2009
All the world is here.
It is there.
It is everywhere.
All the world is right where you are.
Now.
Following a circle of family and friends through the course of a day from morning till night, this book affirms the importance of all things great and small in our world, from the tiniest shell on the beach, to warm family connections, to the widest sunset sky
Those Shoes
Published: October 11, 2016
All Jeremy wants is a pair of those shoes, the ones everyone at school seems to be wearing. Though Jeremy’s grandma says they don’t have room for “want,” just “need,” when his old shoes fall apart at school, he is more determined than ever to have those shoes, even a thrift-shop pair that are much too small. But sore feet aren’t much fun, and Jeremy soon sees that the things he has — warm boots, a loving grandma, and the chance to help a friend — are worth more than the things he wants.
Gracias /Thanks
Published: October 20, 2009
In a series of poetic sentences, a young boy (biracial Mexican/Caucasian) tells about some of the everyday things for which he is thankful. Come share the joy, and think about all the things for which you can say, ¡Gracias! Thanks!
There they are: 40+ sweet picture books about gratitude! Which of these books have you read? What did I miss?
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