6 Children’s books about thankfulness

6 Children’s books about thankfulness

Reading Time: 5 minutes

Soon it will be Thanksgiving, but you can teach your child about being thankful all year round with these children’s books about thankfulness! It is not always easy trying to teach certain concepts and behaviors to our children. However, I have found a good book read often can reinforce the values you are modeling.

I tried to select a variety of stories and styles from the books our kids really enjoy. Also at the end, I have included a special gift idea for all the tired moms and dads out there who need a little encouragement.

Without further ado, let’s dive right in! Here are six children’s books about thankfulness, especially for toddlers and preschoolers.

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Thankful Board book 

By Eileen Spinelli
Illustrated by Archie Preston

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.

Thanks for Thanksgiving

By Julie Markes
Illustrated by Doris Barrette

Thanksgiving is a time for giving thanks! This book is a great introduction for younger readers. Everyone knows that Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks—the question is, where to begin? Julie Markes reminds kids and adults alike about the little details that make each day enjoyable, while Doris Barrette’s beautiful and striking illustrations bring her thoughtful words to life.

God Gave Us Thankful Hearts

By Lisa Tawn Bergren
Illustrated by David Hohn

God Gave Us Thankful Hearts by Lisa Tawn Bergren

Adventurous Lil Pup is bummed that hibernating season will soon be coming to the Great North Woods. 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 think the trick to having a thankful heart is thinking about the things that make us happy, rather than the things that don’t.”

The Blessings Jar

By Colleen Coble
Illustrated by Rebecca Harry

The Blessings Jar by Colleen Coble

Can a jar full of blessings change a day full of the grumpies? Punky Grace is having a really grumpy morning. But when Grammy suggests they have an adventure and fill her Blessings Jar to the top, Punky discovers that God’s blessings are enough to outweigh any bad day. In this sweet story, bestselling author Colleen Coble celebrates the bond between grandparents and grandchildren and teaches little ones an important lesson about recognizing all of God’s blessings.

Bear Says Thanks (The Bear Books)

By Karma Wilson
Illustrated by Jane Chapman

Bear Says Thanks by Karma Wilson

What better way for Bear to say thanks, than to have a big dinner with all his friends! But he has a problem – his cupboards are bare! Karma Wilson’s playful text and Jane Chapman’s charming illustrations bring to life this celebration of family and friendship. Young readers will delight in discovering the special gift Bear has to share.

Mateo Finds His Wow: A Story of Wonder and Gratitude

By Gabi Garcia
Illustrated by Charity Russell

We can all get stuck focusing on what’s not going right. Mateo is bored and cranky on a rainy Saturday morning. He can’t find anything to do so he sits and sulks. His brain feels stuck. Young readers follow along as Mateo discovers that appreciating what’s right in front of him can help turn the page on a grumpy day.

You can teach your child about being thankful all year round by reading to them. Here are six awesome children’s books about thankfulness! Click To Tweet

The 3 Minute Gratitude Journal for Kids

If your child is preschool age or early elementary, you can also try introducing a gratitude journal. The 3 Minute Gratitude Journal is a guide to cultivate an attitude of gratitude for children. It is a self exploration journal designed to focus on being thankful for what we have, the big things in life, as well as the simple joys.

Each well designed and kid-friendly daily spread contains space to list out three things you are thankful for, a person who brought you joy and how you felt about your day. If your child is not writing on their own yet, you can write for them or have them answer aloud.

A special gift for the moms and dads

Help In Daily Living by Ellen G. White

For the tired Mom or Dad who needs a little bit of encouragement, I recommend Help In Daily Living by Ellen G. White. It is a practical guide to everyday blessings. This booklet is powerful yet short and easy-to-read. If you want lasting relationships, a genuine godly character, and a practical everyday faith that fills your life, you need this book.

If your life is currently busy with little ones and you don’t have time to read, check out the Help In Daily Living DVD set by Fountainview Academy Orchestra and Choir. 

This DVD set’s uses music and personal testimonies to share a practical experience with Christ. It was filmed in the natural beauty of Kauai, Hawaii, and filled with the grand strains of familiar hymns. This DVD set is a great way to help others and yourself encounter Christ in an experiential and practical way.

If you want lasting relationships, a genuine godly character, and a practical everyday faith that fills your life, you need this book… Click To Tweet

Books about thankfulness

The six books on thankfulness suggested above are great for toddlers and younger preschoolers. You don’t have to limit reading them to just this time of year either. But this is by no means an exhaustive list.

What are your family’s favorite children’s books about thankfulness? Share in the comments below!

Are you a bibliophile? Love to read to your kiddos? You might also be interested in twelve books that our two-year-old loves. Happy reading!

Here are five awesome children’s books about thankfulness!

Featured Photo by Kelli McClintock on Unsplash.

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