Teaching preschoolers about gratitude and thankfulness helps them develop important skills that go far beyond simply remembering to say “thank you.” Gratitude is a social-emotional skill worth nurturing every day. When preschoolers learn to notice kindness, appreciate others, and recognize the good things around them, they’re building skills that support friendships, emotional growth, and a caring classroom community—all year long. This book list can help preschoolers being to notice and appreciate.
Teaching Gratitude to Preschoolers
Preschoolers learn best through repetition, modeling, and meaningful everyday experiences. When teachers weave gratitude into daily routines, conversations, stories, and play, children have ongoing opportunities to practice noticing and appreciating the good things around them. Everyday experiences–thanking a classroom helper, talking about something that makes us smile, or noticing when a friend does something kind–builds an understanding of gratitude. These books help preschoolers think about gratitude and appreciation for things from different perspectives.
Books About Gratitude for the Preschool Classroom
While these books would be great to read during November, thankfulness and gratitude are not confined to just one time of year. The books on this list can be used anytime in your classroom.
Apple Cake: A Gratitude by Dawn Casey – A girl walks through the countryside, gathering ingredients and thanking each part of nature. Then her family makes an apple cake from the ingredients.
Bear Says Thanks by Karma Wilson – A celebration of friendship and family featuring Karma Wilson’s beloved bear character.
Being Thankful by Mercer Mayer – Grandma shows Little Critter why thankfulness is important and helps any situation happier.
Finding Grateful by Dianne White – This book encourages kids to slow down and pay attention to the small things. Find gratitude right here and right now.
Gracias, Thanks by Pat Mora – A young boy tells about some of the everyday things for which he’s thankful. Text in Spanish and English.
Gratitude Is My Superpower: A children’s book about Giving Thanks and Practicing Positivity by Alicia Ortego – Discover the magic of gratitude and happiness that can be found in relationships and our daily lives.
Books About Being Thankful
When children learn to recognize and appreciate what others do for them, they begin to understand how their actions affect others. Gratitude encourages them to notice kindness and look for ways to show kindness in return.
The Gratitude Jar by Katrina Liu – Mina noticed the good things that others had but she didn’t. Her family began a gratitude jar, seeing the things they were grateful for.
Look and Be Grateful by Tomie de Paolo – A short and gentle reminder to be thankful for each day and what it holds.
Thank You by Jarvis – This uplifting picture book encourages children to think about the endless possibilities for giving thanks.
The Thank You Letter by Jane Cabrera – Grace writes notes and letters to people all over town, thanking them for gifts and for the things they do.
Thank You, Omu! by Oge Mora – Learn how food can bring people together in this heartwarming story of sharing and being thankful.
Thankfulness and Gratitude Books
One important consideration: Gratitude should never mean children have to feel happy all the time or ignore difficult emotions. We can help children appreciate the good things in their lives while still making room for sadness, frustration, and disappointment. A classroom where children regularly notice kindness, express appreciation, and celebrate one another (and express whatever emotions they feel in a safe environment) can become a more welcoming and supportive place to learn.
Thankful by Elaine Vickers – Writing things on strips of paper and making a thankful chain helps a family celebrate gratefulness.
The Thankful Book by Todd Parr – From bestselling author Todd Parr, The Thankful Book celebrates all the little things children can give thanks for. Parr’s distinctive illustrations and relatable text make this a must have for all early childhood classrooms.
The Thankful Fox by Dream Forge Books – Finnley is too busy to notice the things around him. Hia friends talk about thankfulness, and Finnley doesn’t know what they mean. He learns to slow down and discover the moments of each day.
Thanku: Poems of Gratitude by Miranda Paul (editor) – Gratitude isn’t something we save up for one time a year. We can grateful right now, today. This anthology of different poetic forms from diverse contributors celebrates gratitude for everything, from hot cocoa to the sky itself.
We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga by Traci Sorell – Celebrate diversity, community, and gratitude in this beautifully illustrated book about one group of Native Americans.
Seeds of Success SEL Curriculum for Pre-K
Build more social=emotional skills with our Seeds of Success Curriculum.
