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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. 

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