Skip to main content

Picture Books About Gratitude

Today is Thanksgiving Day, a day that is used as a day to express our gratitude for what we have, the experiences we enjoy, and the people that we love. Gratitude helps to change our perspective on life and bring more joy! Each of these picture books below tell stories about gratitude and how to more fully appreciate the good around us. Happy Thanksgiving! 

Thankful
Written by Elaine Vickers
Illustrated by Samantha Cotterill
New York : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2021.

Throughout the year, a little girl creates a thankful chain by writing what she is grateful for on slips of paper and linking them together. Her chain grows longer and longer as more ideas come to her about what to be grateful for. The illustrations in this picture book are very unique, using paper-folding, photography, and drawing to create beautiful scenes on each page.


Our Table
By Peter H. Reynolds
New York, NY : Orchard Books, an imprint of Scholastic Inc., 2021.

Our Table is all about a girl who misses gathering around the dinner table together as a family. Each family member seems to now be distracted by different technology, the television, phones, and video games. The less time they spend together, the smaller the table becomes until it vanishes. Once it is gone, the girl gets her family to work together to build a new table, so that they may once again gather around it without distractions. A perfect reminder of what matters most and being grateful for the time we have together.


Written by Cynthia Rylant
Illustrated by Sergio Ruzzier
New York : Beach Lane Books, 2021.

A frog and a rabbit give thanks as they go throughout their day, for all the little things. For family members, for bugs, for weather, and all the things that bring them joy. At the end of their day, they gather all of their friends together for a giant feast to show their gratitude. This cute rhyming picture book helps readers to be grateful for the little things that are often overlooked. 


Thanks for Nothing!
By Ryan T. Higgins
Los Angeles : Disney-Hyperion, 2021.

As Bruce attempts to make a traditional Thanksgiving feast, his mice friends are making the process a bit difficult. They thank Bruce for each of the ingredients as they eat them or play in them before he can cook anything. Once it is time for dinner, they realize that there is nothing left to eat! But they are still grateful for what they have.


Pearl and Squirrel Give Thanks
Written by Cassie Ehrenberg 
Illustrated by Ryan Ehrenberg
New York : Orchard Books, an imprint of Scholastic Inc., 2020.

Pearl and Squirrel are best friends that live in a box and explore the city during the day. One day they are taught about Thanksgiving and what it means to be grateful. They start to practice being grateful by expressing their thanks for their favorite things as they go throughout their day, even during the difficult parts of the day. 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Review: Umami

  Umami By Jacob Grant New York: Viking, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, 2024. Picture Book. Umami is a little penguin who is sick of eating the same thing everyday, cold fish --ugh! She becomes determined to find new foods and flavors, so Umami begins a journey across the sea in search of something different to eat. She reaches a place with a plethora of delicious options, and tries bitter, sweet, sour, and foods with umami (just like her name!) among others. Umami decides to bring all these delicious new flavors back for the other penguins to try in a feast. But, will the other penguins enjoy this new experience?  Filled with charm and humor, Umami is a diverse romp through a universal experience --am I willing to try something new? What will it be like? The idea of trying new foods and flavors make it especially relatable, and the appealing illustrations will have many readers ready to hop out on a culinary adventure. A humorous and sweet ending, caps off this delig...

Review: Faker

Faker By Gordon Korman New York: Scholastic Press, 2024. Fiction. 214 pages. 12-year-old Trey is used to starting over at a new school -- he has the routine perfectly memorized: make new friends, introduce his dad to the wealthy parents of his new friends, and "Houdini" themselves out of there before they get caught running their latest scam. Trey's dad is a master con artist, and Trey has just been promoted to full-partner. Their new scheme for the next big score brings them to the affluent suburb of Boxelder, TN where Trey's dad has cooked up a fake electric car company for investors to buy into. The only problem is that Trey is starting to grow tired of moving around and never putting down roots, especially after forming a fast friendship with Logan and developing a crush on Kaylee, a socially conscious girl in his class. As Trey longs for a normal life, is there any way he can convince his dad to get out of the family business? Gordon Korman is a perennial favorit...

Five Faves: Picture Books with Festive Treats

In my family, December marks the beginning of the holiday season, where we get to spend time together and do all of our favorite traditions. And, of course, eat lots of yummy food. I love that holidays look different for different families, but so many families have special foods they eat during the holidays. These are some of my favorite picture books about families making (and eating!) special holiday treats. These books might even give you new ideas of festive treats to try! The Last Tamale Written by Mendiola Orlando Illustrated by Teresa Martinez New York: Harper, 2024. Picture Book. Once a year, Luis' whole family gets together for their annual tamalada -- a party where they make tamales using a super-secret recipe. It's all love, family, and tradition until there is only one tamale left. Who will get it? It's an all-out family battle to decide who gets the last tamale. Colorful and humorous, this story is perfect for the holidays or whenever your family likes to enjo...