Gratitude Books for Kids That Inspire Everyday Thankfulness

Reading children’s books about gratitude is an easy way to nurture gratitude at home or in the classroom. Gratitude books for kids offer simple lessons in thankfulness and a gentle way to approach gratitude for life.

Gratitude books for kids help toddlers, preschoolers, and elementary-aged children explore what it means to be thankful. Through engaging stories and familiar experiences, children can learn to notice everyday kindness, appreciate the people who care for them, and find their own ways to say thank you.

This collection includes gratitude board books for little ones and picture books to enjoy together at home or in the classroom. Along with thankfulness, these stories explore caring, sharing, friendship, generosity, and love. Some are a natural fit for Thanksgiving, while others invite conversations about gratitude throughout the year.

Reading children’s books about gratitude also lets you connect each story to your child’s life. During or after a read-aloud, try asking, “Who helped you today?” or “How could you show someone you appreciate them?” Keep the conversation playful and open—gratitude takes practice, and children don’t have to feel thankful every moment to begin noticing the good around them.

Browse the thankfulness books for kids below, followed by gratitude books for parents and teachers. To build on your reading, explore these gratitude activities, crafts, and games, and simple ways to encourage good manners in everyday life.

Thankful Books for Kids: Best Picture Books on Gratitude

Reading gratitude books for kids is a simple way to introduce toddlers, preschoolers, and elementary-aged children to thankfulness. Some of these stories celebrate Thanksgiving, while others make wonderful read-alouds any time of year.

Gratitude means noticing and appreciating the good in our lives, from the people who care for us to small moments of kindness. It doesn’t mean we have to feel happy all the time. Children can learn to appreciate what they have while still making room for disappointment and other big feelings.

Sharing children’s books about thankfulness can help make this idea more concrete. Stories give kids familiar situations to explore and opportunities to talk about friendship, generosity, and appreciation. Try asking, “What is something you felt thankful for today?” or “How could you show someone you appreciate them?”

Thanksgiving and the winter holidays offer natural opportunities for these conversations, but families can practice gratitude year-round. Below, you’ll find thankful books for kids, followed by resources for parents and educators on raising grateful children. You might also enjoy these kids’ books that teach important life lessons.

Related: 40 Thanksgiving Gratitude Activities and Crafts

Gratitude Books for Kids that Inspire Thankfulness

Below, we have listed the best gratitude books for kids. Read these gratitude picture books with your children to inspire thankfulness at Thanksgiving and all year at home or in the classroom. Look for these thankful books for kids at your local library or used bookstore.

If you can not find any of these kids’ books about gratitude, I have included affiliate links for your convenience. You might also enjoy Thanksgiving Traditions and Fun Things to Do on Thanksgiving.

1. The 3 Minute Gratitude Journal for Kids: A Journal to Teach Children to Practice Gratitude and Mindfulness: by Modern Kid Press:

Gratitude journals help children see how much there is to be grateful for and reflect on. Writing about what they are thankful for can help children learn to show gratitude, develop a more positive attitude, and treat others with compassion.

The 3 Minute Gratitude Journal is a self-exploration tool that helps kids focus on what they’re thankful for, from big things in life to simple joys. Make it a habit to recognize the small blessings in your life with a gratitude journal. You might also enjoy this printable gratitude coloring page, this list of gratitude journal prompts for kids and adults, and these gratitude activities, crafts, and games for children and adults.

2. Giving Thanks: A Native American Good Morning Message by Chief Jake Swamp (Author), Erwin Printup (Illustrator):

Giving Thanks is a modified version of the Thanksgiving Address, a gratitude message commonly spoken each morning, adapted for children by a Mohawk chief. A tribute to Mother Earth and the beauty of the natural world, the “good morning message” is traditionally delivered at the beginning of each day and at special ceremonies. Its simple, timeless message reflects Native American reverence for nature and a sense of unity with all living beings—an essential message to share with children today.

3. The Things I’m Grateful For… by Arnie Lightning

Gratitude and appreciation can make life wonderful. This children’s gratitude book is the first in a three-book series by Arnie Lightning that can help guide children toward a life filled with gratitude and Thankfulness.

Each book in this children’s gratitude series features five short stories that teach children to appreciate what they have. The stories are beautifully crafted and include morals and lessons on gratitude, along with fun activities. Each story is perfect for gratitude discussions, bedtime reading, and reading aloud with friends and family!

4. Llama Llama Gives Thanks by Anna Dewdney:

Here’s a fun Llama Llama book for kids at Thanksgiving. With short, simple rhyming text, the Llama Llama board books teach concepts like gratitude to babies and toddlers before they are ready for longer full-length stories. In Llama Llama Gives Thanks, Llama Llama and his family give thanks for everything they have. Even though Thanksgiving comes only once a year, Llama’s family gives thanks all year long!

5. The Thank You Book by Mo Williams:

Children familiar with the Mo Williams characters Elephant and Piggie often enjoy this book most, but its message of gratitude resonates with everyone who reads it. It is fun to share The Thankful Book with the kids in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving and discuss the different ways to express gratitude.

6. I Am Thankful: A Story About Gratitude and Family by Sheri Wall:

This heartfelt, poetic story teaches young readers the meaning of giving and sharing. I Am Thankful is a charming, rhyming storybook that follows three families as they celebrate the holiday with their own traditions, acts of kindness, and ways to give back. Kids will learn to be thankful for the people and world around them as they enjoy sweet illustrations that showcase diverse families and exciting Thanksgiving adventures. 

7. Thankful by Eileen Spinelli (Author), Archie Preston (Illustrator):

This picture book on gratitude combines sweet rhymes and whimsical illustrations to convey the importance of being thankful for everyday blessings. Like a gardener is grateful for every green sprout, readers will find gratitude for the many blessings in their lives.

8. An Awesome Book of Thanks by Dallas Clayton:

Teaching children about gratitude can be challenging. The Thankful book shows kids how to look around and appreciate the beautiful things in their lives. This timeless story is perfect for children of all ages and will become an instant classic at home or in the classroom. It is an excellent reminder of just how beautiful life can be.

9. The Thankful Book by Todd Parr:

This fantastic book about thankfulness helps kids share gratitude around the holidays and throughout the year, from everyday activities to special moments shared only with family. Todd inspires readers to remember all the little things they can be thankful for.

10. Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are? by Dr. Seuss: 

This classic book provides the perfect antidote for readers of all ages who feel down in the dumps (or ungrateful for what they have). Thanks to Dr. Seuss’s extraordinary gift for rhyme, readers can see just how lucky they are!

11. The Secret of Saying Thanks by Douglas Wood (Author) and Greg Shed (Illustrator):

This gratitude book is one of our favorite Children’s books about Thankfulness. In simple language, it shares a profound message with everyone who hears it: Gratitude is the secret to happiness.

12. Thanks A Million by Nikki Grimes (Author), Cozbi A. Cabrera (Illustrator):

This gratitude book for kids helps children express thanks to the people in their lives. The author uses poems about everyday things to speak directly to young children’s hearts about the meaning of gratitude.

13. The Blue Daisy: A Lesson in Gratitude by Stacie Theis:

Parents and teachers can share this sweet, rhyming gratitude book with young children. Like the little blue daisy, we take things for granted, like the warm sunshine and friendship. This gratitude book can teach kids to be grateful and how important it is to listen to family and friends.

14. Grateful: A Song of Giving Thanks by John Bucchino (Author), Anna-Liisa Hakkarainen (Illustrator):

This lovely children’s book about gratitude joyfully celebrates the beauty of the seasons, the wonders of nature, and the blessings of faith—a gift to be treasured by children and adults of all ages. This gratitude book for kids includes an accompanying CD recorded by Art Garfunkel.

14. Let’s Be Thankful by P.K. Hallinan:

This simple children’s book about gratitude is for toddlers and kids of all ages, with a positive lesson about the power of Thankfulness. “Let’s Be Thankful” acknowledges people, animals, and activities that bring joy into a child’s life. Parents and educators can read this book with their children to reinforce gratitude.

15. I Am Thankful Each Day by P.K. Hallinan: 

This children’s gratitude book reminds kids that the whole world offers reasons to be thankful, from the glorious sunset to the beauty of the seashore, trees, and flowers.

16. There Is a Flower at the Tip of My Nose Smelling Me by Alice Walker (Author), Stefano Vitale (Illustrator)

This beautiful book celebrates the moments that make you stop and realize how much is happening around us that we don’t notice. Through this book’s simple text, we learn that beauty is all around us, ready to be recognized, connected with, and appreciated with gratitude at all times.

17. Thankful Together by Holly Davis (Author), Valerie Sokolova (Illustrator):

Thankful Together is a sweet little book about Thankfulness that can help children learn about gratitude and how blessed they are. This gratitude book for children includes references to God, but you can easily substitute other words if you’d rather not use it.

18. The Blessings Jar: A Story About Being Thankful by Colleen Coble 

In this sweet story, bestselling author Colleen Coble celebrates the bond between grandparents and grandchildren and teaches little ones to recognize and be thankful for all of God’s blessings. You can also gift children with their own blessings jar with paper hearts to record those things that children are most grateful for. Or make a heart lantern to use as a gratitude jar!

19. It Could Always Be Worse by Margot Zemach 

This gratitude book for kids retells a classic Yiddish tale. It teaches children that it can always be worse. Knowing this can help them feel thankful for the life that they are given.

20. Those Shoes by Maribeth Boelts (Author), Noah Z. Jones (Illustrator)

Children love this gratitude book for kids because they can relate to it. It can help teach children to be mindful and considerate about the economic situations of other families that may not be as fortunate. This sweet story also shares a compelling message about giving selflessly.

21. The Most Thankful Thing by Lisa McCourt (Author), Cyd Moore (Illustrator)

Sharing our gratitude for our children is a great way to help them develop grateful thinking. In this sweet story, a little girl asks her mom what her “most thankful thing ever” is. I bet you can guess. So, if you have a child who needs to feel wanted, this book can help.

22. Today I am Grateful: Adventures in Gratitude by Lorraine Miller: 

Children can learn to be more grateful when adults show them how to find gratitude. This book about Thankfulness is designed to inspire children of all ages to experience the incredible power of gratitude. By taking time to reflect on the wonderful things that happen to them each day, children can learn to appreciate what matters most.

Related: Books About Feelings and Emotions for Kids

How to Raise Grateful Kids: Gratitude Books for Parents

Use the gratitude books and resources for parents below to help cultivate Thankfulness and raise grateful kids.

1. Raising Grateful Kids in an Entitled World by Kristen Welch 

In Raising Grateful Kids in an Entitled World, Kristen shares her family’s ups and downs. She discovered that it is best not to give their kids everything. Teaching them the difference between “want” and “need” is the first step in the right direction.

With practical tips and anecdotes, the author shares how to say yes to the ultimate goal: raising grateful kids who serve others and grow into hardworking, fulfilled, and successful adults.

2. Growing Grateful Kids by Susie Larson 

Amidst the wealth of “stuff” that many children have, discontentment and competition seem to be on the rise. The author of this gratitude book for parents reminds us that we don’t need to bend backward to please our children. Instead, she teaches parents how to instill perspective and gratitude in their children.

Raising Grateful Kids with Children’s Books About Thankfulness

Reading thankfulness books together is a simple way to make gratitude part of everyday life. Thanksgiving is a natural starting point, but children can practice noticing kindness, appreciating others, and expressing thanks year-round.

After a story, invite your child to share something they appreciate or think of someone they’d like to thank. Then help them put that appreciation into action with a kind word, a drawing, or a helping hand. Small moments like these connect the lessons in books to children’s own experiences.

Keep the inspiration going with these gratitude activities and crafts for children, or explore more books that teach kids important life lessons.

Learn more about Rhythms of Play on our About page, or meet the author, Nell Regan Kartychok.

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