Bookshelf

Have you heard about the five love languages?

When my husband and I were newly married, we took a class based on the book The Five Love Languages written by Gary Chapman.  Here’s the basic concept – each person has a “love tank” and that tank can be filled in five ways:  acts of service, receiving gifts, physical touch, quality time, and words of affirmation.  I highly recommend the book and you can check out the website, which has a wealth of information too.

One of my primary love languages is receiving gifts and, honestly, I love giving gifts as much as I enjoy receiving them!  My mother, my daughter, and my best friend also have gifts as their primary love language, so my life is full of women who love to give and receive.  They are all so great at putting time and effort into searching for meaningful gifts that create a personal connection. 

My mother is also incredible at exemplifying acts of service, and when you combine gifts with acts of service an incredible dose of generosity results! When I first read the new picture book Little Mole’s Christmas Gift by author Glenys Nellist, I was reminded of how those combined love languages create such a powerful impact!

Adorably illustrated by Sally Garland, Little Mole wants to give his mother the best, most beautiful mushroom he’s ever seen in the forest.  The mushroom is so big, he has to drag his perfect gift home.  Along the way, Little Mole encounters other little woodland animals who have bigger needs.  By the time he arrives home, Little Mole feels sad because he no longer has a big, beautiful gift for his mother as he’s given most of the mushroom away.  With a theme of generosity during the holidays, Little Mole’s kindness results in the best Christmas gift he could ever give his Mama.

You never know … Little Mole’s Christmas Gift might just be the perfect gift for someone in your life this holiday season!

Bonus: Beaming Books, the publisher of Little Mole’s Christmas Gift, has released a lovely companion activity pack that you can access here.

All reviews are completely my own and I only recommend books I truly believe are worthy of sharing with others. (Believe me, I read many books I do not recommend, which means you won’t see me writing about them!)

This post contains Amazon affiliate links. This means if you use these links to make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

I love Christmastime and will be the first to admit that one month is just not long enough to enjoy decades of amazing Christmas music. 

I also love decorating and gift-giving and getting into the holiday spirit.  However, I’m just not ready to pull out the Christmas decor yet and jump right over Thanksgiving.  (No judgment for those you who are already decking the halls!)

My heart really needs a little extra dose of thankfulness this year.  With this in mind … I’ve compiled a list of books that include a little something for everyone – just in case others are feeling that longing too! 

And even if you are already decorating your home for Christmas and singing “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” (pun intended) – the theme of developing a grateful heart will still fit right in!

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Five Little Thank-Yous by Cindy Jim and illustrated by Dawn M. Cardona

Shaped like a little turkey hand, this short and sweet board book is the perfect Thanksgiving book for the little ones in your family.  With five reasons to be thankful and a simple rhyming text, you can count your blessings from even the youngest of ages. Plus, you can use this cover as inspiration to make a fun “hand”-made craft with your little turkeys.

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A Very Thankful Prayer by Bonnie Rickner Jensen and illustrated by Natalia Moore

This board book is a bouncy, rhythmic prayer of thanksgiving for friends, family, and all the wonderful aspects of fall – including Thanksgiving.  The illustrations feature adorable woodland characters and the rhyming text make this a delightful and quick read.

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Thankful by Eileen Spinelli

Promoting creative play and imagination, a brother and sister find things to be thankful for throughout their day. As they water the garden the text reads, “the gardener’s thankful for…” and as they draw, “the artist is thankful for…” and as their dad makes dinner, “the chef if thankful for…” showcasing not just their creativity, but the various roles and occupations they imagine themselves in.  This delightful book is available in both a picture book and shortened board book format. 

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Thanksgiving in the Woods by Phyllis Alsdurf and illustrated by Jenny Lovlie

Based on the true story of a family from upstate New York who has celebrated Thanksgiving with a big outdoor feast for over twenty years, this book is a wonderful addition to any Thanksgiving book collection!  Filled with family, faith, and friendship this book is also an inspiration for gathering outdoors, even when we might not think it could be possible.  This one totally has me thinking outside the box!

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Apple Cake: A Gratitude by Dawn Casey and illustrations by Genevieve Godbout

Beautifully illustrated, the simplicity of this text includes a young girl saying thank you as she encounters each wonder in nature.  By the end she gathers the ingredients for her mom to make Apple Cake.  This book is perfect for young readers to share in the reading experience.  A bonus recipe for apple cake is also included at the end.

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Thank You, Omu! by Oge Mora

Omu makes a delicious stew that draws everyone from the neighborhood.  She generously opens her door and offers food to all who are hungry.  However, when Omu goes to eat there is none left.  Just when Omu thinks she will have to go without, everyone she’s shared her stew with returns with a meal of thanks.  This is a delightful story of how living with a generous heart brings people together.

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For the Beauty of the Earth by Folliot S. Pierpoint and illustrated by Lucy Fleming

As an illustrated version of the classic hymn, I absolutely adore this book!  For the Beauty of the Earth is a song of thanksgiving – for nature found here on earth and in the sky, and for the love found in friends and family.  Each time I read this, I find myself humming the tune all day long … and if you’re not familiar with this hymn, the music and lyrics are included.

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The Thank You Letter by Jane Cabrera

This might not be the first book that comes to mind when thinking about the Thanksgiving holiday, but that’s okay – I love the practical application and the message of this adorable book.  After Grace has a birthday party, she begins to write thank-you notes for the gifts she received.  The illustrations are adorable, with all the thank you notes written in Grace’s handwriting.  Once Grace writes her birthday thank-you notes, she doesn’t stop there. She begins writing them to others in her life and soon she is spreading appreciation all over town – making everyone feel valued. 

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The Very Fairy Princess: Attitude of Gratitude by Julie Andrews and Emma Walton Hamilton, and illustrated by Christine Davenier

From The Very Fairy Princess series, this book demonstrates what it’s like to choose a thankful heart all day long – even when things don’t always go your way.  I love that this book highlights that gratefulness is something we often have to choose.

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We Are Grateful by Traci Sorell and illustrated by Frane’ Lessac

Author Traci Sorell is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation and in this book we learn all about Otsaliheliga, a Cherokee word that is used to express gratitude.  A book rich with gratitude, there’s also the opportunity to learn about Cherokee culture and vocabulary.  I also appreciated the pages at the back with additional definitions, an author’s note, and the Cherokee syllabary.

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The Most Thankful Thing by Lisa McCourt and illustrated by Cyd Moore

As a mama and daughter spend time looking through old scrapbooks and photo albums, the daughter attempts to guess what could be mama’s most thankful thing.  Mama has many, many things to be thankful for throughout her life, but her most thankful thing is revealed once she opens her daughter’s baby book.

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The Best Part of the Day by Sarah Ban Breathnach and illustrated by Wendy Edelson

Written about her own family’s bedtime tradition, author Sarah Ban Breathnach shares the story of playing a favorite game called, “the best part of the day!” As they recall every good thing – “was it getting our pumpkins or painting their faces?” – they use this activity as a way to give thanks and find joy in each day.

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Look and Be Grateful by Tomie dePaola

This little picture book by Tomie dePaola is an illustrated poem he wrote about being grateful.  With very simple text, that is easy to read, this book would also be perfect as a shared reading with an emergent reader.  “Today is today, and it is a gift. So, be grateful.”

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Bear Says Thanks by Karma Wilson and illustrated by Jane Chapman

A tribute to friendship and sharing, Bear is lonely and missing his friends.  One-by-one they all stop by with food to share for a meal, but Bear’s cupboards are bare and he’s sad because he has nothing to give.  This easy-to-read picture book is a great addition to the topic of gratefulness.

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100 Ways to be Thankful by Lisa M. Gerry

This book is perfect for those non-fiction lovers out there! By National Geographic Kids, this one includes great ideas on how to be thankful, with full-color photos and lots of additional fun facts. My kids LOVED receiving the National Geographic Kids magazine when they were younger and with four kids, it was one we subscribed to for years.  True to form, this book does not disappoint!

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A Thank You Walk by Nancy Loewen and Hazel Quintanilla

This Bright Start board book about gratitude is meant to support the development of emotional intelligence.  Using simple two-color illustrations (black line and pops of orange), a mother and daughter take a thank you walk … looking for the many ways they are able to say thank you along the way.  Finding appreciation in the littlest things, this short and sweet book is a great way to foster a thankful heart in young kids!

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Thankful Together by Holly Davis and illustrated by Valerie Sokolova

Written in rhyming prose, this story of thankfulness is about a mother and daughter squirrel who pause to give thanks to God throughout their day.  For example, after they run, jump, skip, and hop they say, “Thank you, God, for the games that we play.” Based on Psalm 30:12 – O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever – this book would be a wonderful bedtime devotional or could be used as a mentor text to create your own prayers of thanksgiving.

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Around the Table That Grandad Built by Melanie Heuiser Hill and illustrated by Jaime Kim

Let’s be honest, a huge part of celebrating Thanksgiving is coming together around the table with those we love.  There are so many things to love about this book – including the diversity in both faces and festive food.  This book was also included in a list of books that are perfect for celebrating grandparents, which you can read about here.

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The Blue Table by Chris Raschka

The simplicity of this book, with very few words, highlights the artistic work of Caldecott award-winning illustrator Chris Raschka.  Simple, yet the message is fantastic – the table that we use every day is the one where we gather together … and as the illustrations demonstrate one where we hold hands to give thanks.  This book could also be used to teach metaphorical inferencing, as the blue table could be interpreted as a representation of our world.

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Grow Grateful by Sage Foster-Lasser and Jon Lasser and illustrated by Christopher Lyles

Kiko goes on a school camping trip and discovers that being grateful is much deeper than simply saying thank you.  Not only does her concept about gratefulness develop throughout the book, she learns about friendship and helping others too.  A story by Magination Press, published by the American Psychological Association, this book includes pages of advice and tips for parents on how to grow gratitude in children.

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Giving Thanks: More than 100 ways to say thank you illustrated by Ellen Surrey

Andy, a young boy, is asked, “Who would you like to say thank you to?” So he shares fifteen people he would like to thank in his life. On each two page spread that follows, there are prompts such as, “What would you like to thank them for?” and “If you could share an afternoon with them, what would you do?” and “If you could take them anywhere, where would you go?” Andy shares the many ways he would show gratitude! This book would be a great mentor text, for kids to brainstorm how they can thank the people in their lives. Plus, there are great ideas for creating a gratitude jar and making personalized cards included at the end of the book!

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The Blessing Jar: A Story About Being Thankful by Colleen Coble and illustrated by Rebecca Harry

Punky Grace is in a grumpy mood.  Things are not going her way, so her grandmother shares with her the perfect cure for her grumpies … the Blessings Jar.  Grammy then takes Punky on an adventure to fill the jar with little reminders of God’s blessings. By the end of the day, Punky realizes that she was so focused on finding God’s blessings that her grumpies completely went away.  Based on the author’s own real-life story, this book could be used as an inspiration to start your own blessings jar and to look for reminders of God’s goodness in your own life.

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Pete the Cat: Rock On, Mom and Dad! by James Dean

I know this isn’t your typical book about Thanksgiving, but for Pete the Cat lovers out there this book certainly helps to foster an attitude of appreciation.  In this book, Pete finds a meaningful way to say thank you to his Mom and Dad for all the ways they care for him.  If you are looking for books that grow an attitude of gratitude, this one certainly deserves to be included.

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Duck and Hippo Give Thanks by Jonathon London and illustrated by Andrew Joyner

Hippo is really looking forward to an old-fashioned Thanksgiving.  In fact, that’s all he wants.  However, Thanksgiving Day comes and he does NOT get his good, old-fashioned celebration because his friends surprise him with something else.  In a season of flexibility and learning to make near-daily adjustments, this book is a fantastic reminder that we can be grateful and find joy … even when things don’t go our way or Thanksgiving looks a little different!

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The Thank You Book by Mo Willems

In true-to-style, comical Elephant and Piggie Book form, in this book Piggie realizes he has a lot to be thankful for and wants to thank EVERYONE.  Except, Elephant is certain Piggie will leave someone out.  Great for fostering critical thinking through the use of making predictions, this book truly is funny … and includes an unpredictable twist at the end.

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BOOKS of POETRY

Father, We Thank You by Ralph Waldo Emerson and illustrated by Mark Graham

Illustrator Mark Graham uses an impressionist style of artistry, creating beautiful illustrations to compliment the poem written by American poet Ralph Waldo Emerson.  From everything from nature to health to food and friends, this book is a breathtaking book of thanksgiving.

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Thanku: Poems of Gratitude Illustrated by Marlena Myles and edited by Miranda Paul

This creative compilation of poems is an anthology of gratitude written by a diverse and talented group of writers.  Reading through them left me feeling more and more grateful.  As a teacher, I also LOVE that over 30 poetic forms and literary devices are featured!  The poetic form is identified with each poem throughout the book, PLUS there’s a paragraph description included for each form at the back. 

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The Book of Giving: Poems of Thanks, Praise and Celebration collected and illustrated by Kay Chorao

Featuring over sixty poems from beloved writers, both the poems and artistry make this feel like a treasured gift-book.  Uplifting and encouraging, the poems range from light and fun to ones that could effortlessly be used as bedtime prayers.

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Thanks A Million written by Nikki Grimes and illustrated by Cozbi A Cabrera

A compilation of sixteen poems, this book features so many things we can be thankful for.  The absolutely lovely illustrations include diverse characters, and the variety of poetic forms – from haiku to rebus to riddle to a poem for two voices – also makes this book a great teaching tool.

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All reviews are completely my own and I only recommend books I truly believe are worthy of sharing with others. (Believe me, I read many books I do not recommend, which means you won’t see me writing about them!)

This post contains affiliate links. This means if you use these links to make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

When I was two, almost three, I stayed with my grandparents for 14 days.  Those two weeks left a big impact on me and that time is one of my earliest life memories.  My grandmother had a big garden and a large strawberry patch.  Every day I was able to help her pick strawberries and we would eat them as they were picked … and every night we ate strawberries for dessert.  Oh, how I loved those strawberries, and to this day I LOVE freshly picked strawberries!

The love grandparents share is oftentimes so very special. In honor of Grandparent’s Day, I’m sharing books that celebrate grandparents.  However, you don’t need a special holiday to enjoy these books because they are ones that can be enjoyed all year long!

Finding Grandma’s Memories by Jiyeon Pak

In this sweet book, Grandma is beginning to lose her memory.  Through a simple, but thoughtful storyline a granddaughter shows grace and compassion by posting reminders around the house, making a chain for her grandmother’s glasses, and looking through photo albums together.  She especially loves picking out a favorite teacup from her grandmother’s collection to share special tea-time with her grandmother.  This book would be wonderful to help a family with young children to address the issue of memory loss or dementia. Although my grandmother did not suffer from memory loss, I found this book special because my grandmother had a teacup collection.  Jiyeon Pak also wrote a book titled My Grandpa’s Chair that I’ve not read, but from the description looks pretty great too! 

Around the Table that Grandad Built by Melanie Heuiser Hill and illustrated by Jaime Kim

I love this book for so many reasons (including the diversity around the family table), but it is especially great for those with a grandpa who is a woodworker or builds wonderful creations.  I shared more about this book on my Father’s Day book list, so you can read more about it here.

Drawn Together by Minh Le and illustrated by Dan Santat

Sometimes the gap between generations feels so wide, almost too wide to find common interest.  This incredibly illustrated book by Caldecott Medalist Dan Santat has very few words and could almost be categorized as a wordless picture book, showcasing two people separated by culture, language, and age.  But some books do not need many words to tell a story, especially when a grandfather and grandson are drawn together by their love of art.  I love this book so much and find some new detail with every read – making it the perfect book to read again and again.

Tiny, Perfect Things by M. H. Clark and illustrated by Madeline Kloepper

This book has a simple, rhyming text and beautifully drawn illustrations that follow a grandfather and granddaughter as they walk together, soaking in all of the tiny, perfect things along the way. The book includes a foldout two-page spread near the end with a search and find section for you to find your own little details. I also love the cultural diversity featured in the illustrations.  This book is a delight!

Hey Grandude! By Paul McCartney and illustrated by Kathryn Durst

Ready for a little fun and adventure?  The day is dreary and dull until Grandude pulls out his magical compass and takes his “Chillers” (what he lovingly calls his grandkids) on a magical adventure to far away places.  With whimsy and fun, this book will take you on a wild ride, but will have you back home again … just in time for bed.

Grandpa’s Stories: A Book of Remembering by Joseph Coelho and Allison Collpoys

With bright and cheerful illustrations, this may be the most beautifully illustrated book about loss I’ve ever read.  Not everyone can hug and squeeze their grandparent … and especially holidays that celebrate grandparents may be bittersweet.  Yet, this book is truly about remembering and celebrating each season and keeping wonderful memories alive.  Grandpa’s Stories could be a special part of the healing process and I agree that this story “shows how losing a loved one can be an invitation to celebrate life.”

My Singing Nana by Pat Mora and illustrated by Alyssa Bermudez

Are you familiar with Magination Press?  They are books for kids published by the American Psychological Association.  Their books often deal with heavier topics at an age-appropriate level and often include additional notes and resources for parents or educators at the back.  My Singing Nana is a lovely book about a family dealing with dementia.  I appreciate the caring and compassionate way they address this topic, treating Nana with love and respect.  Check out additional resources at maginationpress.org

Grandma Gatewood Hikes the Appalachian Trail by Jennifer Thermes

This book is not your typical book about grandmother.  At the age of sixty-seven, Emma “Grandma” Gatewood became the first woman to hike the entire Appalachian train (2,160 miles) alone!  Amazingly illustrated with colored pencil and watercolors, this book is a wonderful story packed full of facts for non-fiction fans of any age.  I learned so much reading this book, but I love that it showcases how grit and determination does not have an age limit!

Grandma Snuggles by Glenys Nellist and illustrated by Gail Yerrill

This lovely, poetic board book features a variety of grandma animals loving on little ones.  This book brings out all the warm fuzzies.  For a full review, you can read more about this delightful little book here.

Quiet by Tomie dePaola

“To be quiet and still is a special thing.” In a world where everything is in such a hurry, grandfather takes time to sit with his grandchildren outside to show them the wonderful things you notice when you are quiet and still.  As a fan of Tomie dePaola, I stand in awe at his many works and the creativity he brought to life in books time and gain.  His passing this year has left a huge hole in the world of children’s literature!  You can read more about his life, art, and books at his official website here.

Down by the River by Andrew Weiner and illustrated by April Chu

This realistically illustrated book is a beautiful story about a grandfather, mother, and grandson who spend the day fly fishing together.  Both informative and sentimental, grandfather enjoys sharing stories while teaching his grandson about his craft.  There’s’ also a section at the back to teach the reader all about fly fishing, and the end papers include over 40 amazingly illustrated flies (which are the fancy “hooks” used instead of lures or bait). 

All reviews are completely my own and I only recommend books I truly believe are worthy of sharing with others. (Believe me, I read many books I do not recommend, which means you won’t see me writing about them!)

This post contains affiliate links. This means if you use these links to make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.