Best Thankful Books for Storytime (Preschool, Kindergarten, First Grade)

Looking for thankful-themed books that keep preschool and early elementary groups engaged during storytime? Check these out!

The Thank You Book (2022)

By Danna Smith · Illustrated by Juliana Perdomo · Published by Little Simon
Poetic and cheerful all at the same time, this book pairs perfectly crafted rhyming verse with gorgeous, colorful art to explain beautifully and concisely all of the many ways to give thanks. An absolute must-read for early childhood classrooms. The text can be chanted, sung to a number of classic melodies, or you could make up your own tune!

 Thank You, Omu! (2018)

By Oge Mora · Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
A modern classic, this gorgeous book is perfect for food, community, kindness, and generosity themes. I like to have students sign “thank you” as we say the repeated phrase, “Thank You, Omu!” We also pantomime stirring the soup, spooning it out, and eating it - as well as knocking on the door. There are also good opportunities for characterization and predicting who will be at Omu’s door.

Thank You Bear (2007)

By Greg Foley · Published by Viking Books for Young Readers
The entire Bear series by Greg Foley is excellent, and this Charlotte Zolotow award-winner is a standout. The soft, sweet illustrations, perfect text-to-page ratio, and gentle emotional journey really captivate young children. A charming fable about how one animal’s throwaway box can be another’s treasure, and how a true friend’s gratitude can make you feel seen.

The Thankful Book (2012)

By Todd Parr · Published by Little, Brown and Company
Always masterful at explaining big concepts with his signature simple, sweet, whimsical style, Todd Parr delivers a winner once again. He highlights things to be thankful for that children really connect with like shadows, bubble baths, pets, walks, and more. Reading it reminds me to slow down and be thankful for all of the things grown-ups sometimes overlook. An absolute gem.

At Our Table (2023)

By Patrick Hulse · Illustrated by Madelyn Goodnight · Published by Little, Brown and Company
A gorgeous book with a modern portrayal of gatherings that celebrate family, community, food, and diversity. The text is lyrical, and there are many opportunities for pausing to reflect how the images connect with the words. This book also provides several springboards for discussion, which make it a great fit in classroom settings for ages kindergarten and up.

Thanks a Ton! (2021)

Story by Sabrina Moyle · Pictures by Eunice Moyle · Published by Abrams Appleseed
Finding grateful words can be tough - so Elephant comes up with tons of ideas for grateful stuff! Bold, colorful illustrations and silly rhyming, rhythmic text make this an excellent read-aloud for talking about gratitude and how to say thank you! Once the kids have picked up the rhythm, I like to pause and let them fill in the rhymes.

Bear Says Thanks (2012)

By Karma Wilson · Illustrated by Jane Chapman · Published by Margaret K. McElderry Books
This dynamic author/illustrator duo always delivers, and this is one of my favorite titles in this series! The gorgeous acrylic illustrations always go over well with young audiences, and the rhyming verse holds their attention so well. The repeated phrase “and the bear says thanks” gives children an opportunity to participate. In the end, there is a great message about different ways you can give, highlighting most of all the joy of togetherness.