Children’s Books About Gratitude and Appreciation

Life looks a lot brighter when we take time to be grateful for what we have.  This list of books for kids will model characters living gratitude and appreciation.  Let’s dive right into this list of children’s books about character strengths of gratitude and appreciation.

“It’s wonderful to be grateful. To have that gratitude well out from deep within you and pour out in waves. Once you truly experience this, you will never want to give it up.” – Srikumar Rao

Here is a sneak peek at what you’ll find in this post.

1. Favorite books that focus on the theme of GRATITUDE/APPRECIATION including a FREE printable book list.
2. A list of discussion questions/conversation starters about the character strength- GRATITUDE/APPRECIATION which you can also print.
3. Resources for families to hold a Family Dinner Book Club on the GRATITUDE/APPRECIATION theme including menu ideas, activities, and a family service project.

BOOKS ABOUT GRATITUDE/APPRECIATION

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Thankful by Elaine Vickers is a beautiful story of being thankful.  Each year, a young girl makes a thankful paper chain. From thankful for parents who read stories to a friend who waits for you at recess, there are so many little things to be grateful for.  Plus, the illustrations in this book are so fun.  They are hand-built 3-dimensional sets that were photgraphed.

Sometimes it is the most simple things we are most grateful for in When I Was Young in the Mountains by Cynthia Rylant

Reading The Thank You Book by Mary Lyn Ray is like wrapping yourself in a big thankful hug. It is so sweet and tender and truly illustrates the feeling of thankfulness.

Elmore by Holly Hobbie reminds us to be thankful for our gifts and to share them with others. Elmore is a porcupine and his quills seem to scare others. But, once Elmore starts to appreciate the gift that makes him a porcupine and then shares that gift with others.

Thankful by Eileen Spinelli takes us on a celebration of blessings in different lives from comfortable shoes for a waitress to a honey bee for the beekeeper.

In Giving Thanks by Jonathan London, a young boy and his father take a walk practicing gratitude for all the gifts of nature.

Todd Parr’s books pop up on my character strength book lists a lot.  The Thankful Book is bold, bright, simple and powerful book of thanks.

We Are Grateful by Traci Sorell is a beautiful story of gratefulness for all during each season of the year in the Cherokee culture. The story is set in modern time but with respect and reflection to the past.

Teachers are amazing and under appreciated. The masterful storyteller, Patricia Polacco, thanks a powerful teacher in her life in her book Thank You, Mr. Falker.

Imagine waking each morning and starting your morning with gratitude. That’s just what happens in Tomie dePaola’s book, Look and Be Grateful.

A thankful person is often a happy person. My Heart Fills With Happiness is a board book that packs a powerful message about being thankful for all the things that make us happy. A good pick for the toddler and preschool crowd.

Thank you, Mr. Panda by Steve Antony teaches our kids the power of using good manners and saying thank you for gifts.  This is a good pick for the toddler and preschool crowd.

Thanks for Thanksgiving by Julie Markes invites us all to appreciate the things that fall and the Thanksgiving season has to offer.  Another good pick for preschoolers.

Gracias/Thanks by Pat Mora is a bilingual (English and Spanish) about a young boy sharing all of the things he is grateful for in the world.

Nikki Grimes gives us 16 poems about thankfulness in Thanks a Million.

Apple Cake a Gratitudeby Dawn Casey showcase the gratitude for all the things and people who help to create a delicious apple cake. A recipe is also included for apple cake.

The Thank You Letter by Jane Cabrera is a perfect pick for young writers. Grace busily writes thank you notes for her birthday presents which then leads to lots more thank you notes because there is just so much to be grateful for in life. In turn, she is rewarded with lots of love notes. You’ll definitely want a big stack of paper and notecards for thank you notes galore to be written.

Get your downloadable printable list of all the books on this list below. Take it to the library or copy it for families.

GRATITUDE/APPRECIATION DISCUSSION STARTERS

Whether you pick one book to read on the list or many, you can use these conversation starters to talk about the character strength of GRATITUDE/APPRECIATION. You can also print the list out below.

-I am thankful for__________.

-Name someone you said thank you to today.  Why did you thank the person?

-Who is someone that you appreciate at home or school?

–What is a talent or ability you have that you are grateful for?

-What is your favorite season? What things about that season do you appreciate?

-When you think about this last week, what are you most grateful about?

PRINT THE GRATITUDE/APPRECIATION BOOK LIST AND DISCUSSION STARTERS

Print out the book list and discussion starters. Take it to the library or copy it for families.

You’ll also enjoy our 30 conversation starters all about gratitude.—>SEE THE GRATITUDE CONVERSATION STARTERS

GRATITUDE/APPRECIATION FAMILY DINNER BOOK CLUB

This book list and theme make a great start for families to hold their own Family Dinner Book Club.

What is a Family Dinner Book Club?

Each month:

• On the first of each month, we provide all the details for your dinner.
• Sarah from Chef Sarah Elizabeth shares a themed menu to compliment the theme for the month.
• Laura from Sunny Day Family shares an activity and a family service project.
• And, I share a book list that compliments the themes plus conversation starters.

For our theme of  GRATITUDE/APPRECIATION,  you have found the book list and discussion starters on this page.

Check out the themed menu from Chef Sarah Elizabeth.—> MENU

And, visit Sunny Day Family for an activity to do with the theme.—> SEE THE GRATITUDE ACTIVITY

Also, follow our Family Dinner Book Club Facebook Page.  We love for you to share pictures from your GRATITUDE/APPRECIATION Family Dinner Book Club.