Authors reflect on their favorite books on gratitude
There are many wonderful children’s books on gratitude. From rhyming board books that introduce thankfulness to toddlers to beautifully illustrated picture books that explore appreciation with older readers, books can create meaningful moments for kids to think about their own lives and the things for which we are grateful.
I reached out to a few authors of very beloved books exploring the theme of gratitude—among them, When Grandma Gives You a Lemon Tree, Those Shoes, Ten Beautiful Things, Thankful, The Thank You Book, and Thank You, Mr. Panda—and asked them about some of their own favorite children’s books inspiring gratitude.
Jamie L. B. Deenihan, author of When Grandma Gives You A Lemon Tree, says, “my all-time favorite book (in general, and also in terms of gratitude and friendship) is A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip C. Stead. I love it because Amos, without it being too didactic, is so genuinely grateful for all the little things in his daily life: his fresh-pressed uniform, his breakfast, walk to work, and, most importantly, his zoo friends. He is kind to them without expecting anything in return, but it is returned to him by his friends at the end.
I love books that celebrate the simplicity in our lives, because to me, in the end, it’s the small, simple moments and people in our lives that matter most.”
Maribeth Boelts, author of Those Shoes, writes, “one of my favorite children's books is All the World, written by Liz Garton Scanlon and illustrated by Marla Frazee. I cannot read this book aloud without being returned to a place of calm, loving connectedness. Somehow, the words and illustrations make me so grateful not only to be alive, but also to be able to love and be loved.
The ending lines:
Everything you hear, smell, see...
All the world is everything.
Everything is you and me.
Hope and peace and love and trust.
All the world is all of us.
Sob. (A wave of gratefulness washes over.)”
Molly Beth Griffin, author of Ten Beautiful Things, named We are Grateful as one of her favorites. “I love it because it shows gratitude as a daily, year-round practice, and it inspires the reader to make a sort of list poem of our own.”
“I also love Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña, and illustrated by Christian Robinson, as a gratitude story. It is about appreciating what we have, and sharing with others. It shows us that we can find beauty anywhere if we only remember to look for it—and in that way I think it's a great companion book for my own Ten Beautiful Things which explores similar themes in a rural setting.”
Eileen Spinelli, author of Thankful, said, “one of my favorite children's books exploring gratitude is Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery. Anne has an endearing way of being grateful for the smallest things… of finding beauty all around.”
Danna Smith, author of The Thank You Book, says, “as a nature lover, I am forever grateful to our planet and the beautiful gifts it shares with us every day. So, I'd have to say my favorite book for children on gratitude is April Pulley Sayre's Thank you, Earth. Written in rhyme and illustrated with stunning photography, it's breathtaking!”
Steve Antony, who wrote Thank You, Mr. Panda and Please, Mr. Panda, one of my kids’ early favorites, says, “there are so many great books on gratitude but one that springs to mind is Dr Seuss's Thankful Things.”
Alicia Ortego, author of Gratitude is My Superpower, named My Attitude of Gratitude (Oliver's Tips for Kids #1) by Melissa Winn as her top choice. “The book teaches kids to focus on the positive and good things they already have. I really like how the main character lists down everything he is grateful for. I do this myself in times of sadness and despair. So this book can teach a lot not only to kids ages 3-5 but to adults as well.”
Thank you for sharing your time and recommendations.
Many more wonderful books that build awareness and mindfulness about gratitude are listed in Gratitude guide.
Happy reading!
