A Month of Thankful Books

I cannot even believe that we are talking about November, can you? This fall is going by in the blink of an eye, even though I’m trying to savor every drop. November is always a crazy-busy month. As we prepare for holiday gatherings and gift giving, sometimes it can turn into a stressful month with too many obligations and too little time for the simple things in life.

This month, I’d like to focus on being thankful for the simple joys in this life. You know the ones: those calm moments with kids when your heart feels full, an amazing surprise hug from a little one, a cute saying, a huge slice of pumpkin pie.

In an effort to keep things simple, I’ve selected some of our favorite books that focus on gratitude. They aren’t long books, but they carry an important message. They will be easy to read on even the most chaotic of days. I hope they will bring a smile to the end of your day, and gratitude to your heart. So, without further ado, I present to you a month of thankful books!

Week of November 1st:

The THANKFUL Book by Todd Parr

My children love Todd Parr and they have been begging me to include one of his books in our monthly book club lists. Parr is known for his happy-go-lucky, brilliantly colored, and simple to read texts. Each book comes with an important message and you can’t help but smile when you close the cover at the end of your read aloud.

Week of November 8th:

Just So Thankful (Little Critter) by Mercer Mayer

I have loved Mercer Mayer since I was a little girl. I love There’s a Nightmare in My Closet, There’s an Alligator Under my Bed, There’s Something in my Attic, and I could go on and on and on. I also loved Little Critter as a child. The poor guy always means well, but he usually causes a lot of chaos. Now, as a mom, Little Critter reminds me of my little critters. He never fails to make my kids belly laugh and belly laughs are something to be thankful for!

Week of November 15th:

Grateful: A Song of Giving Thanks by John Bucchino

We recently received this book as a gift and it has quickly become a family treasure. With beautiful illustrations, Grateful carries an important message of love and gratitude. The book comes with the song on CD, sung by Art Garfunkel. New to me, the song itself has been around for a while. My kids love it and I’m glad we’ve discovered this perfect-for-Thanksgiving gem.

Week of November 22nd:

Thanks for Thanksgiving by Julie Markes

A family friend gave me this book on my first Thanksgiving as a mother, and it has become a beloved family classic. We read it every year together. Perfect for the week of Thanksgiving, this sweet little story will get your children in the holiday spirit!

Take the learning to the next level with these activities:

Gratitude Journals

Grandparent Journals

Thankful Tree (link will go live soon)

Family Kindness Buckets

Top Ten Ways for Kids to Give Back

Or, keep it super-simple and watch this movie together:

I’m thankful for…

Last week, I took my kids on an impromptu vacation. We went up to my parents’ place in the mountains. I do this from time to time. When life starts to feel too crazy, I head up for some space and peace of mind. Anyway, while we were up there we rediscovered the joys of Storyline, and one of the books that we enjoyed via the site was this one:

Have you read it? Folks, how have I not read this one before? I don’t even want to ruin it by telling you too much about it. Do you know a phenomenal teacher? Do you know a child struggling to read? Give them this book! I’m thankful to have discovered it and I’m happy to share it with others.

Tell me, folks: What is your favorite Thanksgiving book? Share here!

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