30 Picture Books about Appreciation and Thankfulness

Scroll down to view picture books about appreciation, as well as videos and resources related to appreciating others and the beauty around us.

Picture Books about Appreciation

Teaching appreciation through picture books promotes the wonder and beauty we see through a book’s words and illustrations. They also provide outstanding examples of why we should appreciate the people around us and the things they do.

In these books about appreciation, you will find characters who (or are working towards):

wonder about the world around them
recognise and value what people do for them and others
express happiness more easily
observe what is going on around them
enjoy spending time with family and friends
face difficulties with courage and grace
have a positive mindset and increased engagement
establish positive relationships
increase performance and creativity
inspire others

Suggested Picture Books about Appreciation

The Acrobat by Gabriel Alborozo

A circus acrobat feels unappreciated. He tries to capture the attention of children playing in a park by juggling, balancing and pretending to fall. After being ignored, he feeds the birds and grabs everyone’s attention when he is covered with colourful birds.

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The Bear and the Piano by David Litchfield

A bear discovers a piano in the forest and returns every day to practise. A chance encounter takes him to the city where he plays sold-out concerts. When he gets homesick, he makes the hard decision to return to the forest and his friends. Promotes a sense of belonging, courage, perseverance and wellbeing.

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The Beckoning Cat by Koko Nishizuka

The Beckoning Cat is a Japanese symbol of luck that welcomes visitors into shops and restaurants. A boy shows kindness to a stray cat, and in return the cat attracts customers to the family business, helping them care for the sick father. Read to discuss harmony, balance, appreciation and gratitude.

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Belonging by Jeannie Baker

This wordless book explores a growing community in Australia who plant grass and trees to rescue their environment from urban growth. Promotes appreciation, community, cooperation and conservation.

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Blackout by John Rocco

One hot summer night in the city, all the power goes out. One family go up to the roof to escape the heat and without the city lights, they can see the stars. Out on the street, neighbours are talking and playing, enjoying not being busy with technology. When the electricity come back on, everything goes back to normal... well almost.

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Bob The Artist by Marion Deuchars

Bob is made fun of because of his skinny legs. His lack of self-esteem leaves him deflated until he visits an art gallery and gets inspired! Promotes a growth mindset, relationship skills, creativity and appreciation.

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Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes

Chrysanthemum loves her name but on her first day of school, she gets teased for its uniqueness. When her music teacher reveals she is naming her baby Chrysanthemum, everyone wants to change their name to a flower. Promotes identity, friendships and self-management.

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A Color of His Own by Leo Lionni

In A Color of His Own a chameleon searches for his identity. He wants his own colour just like the other animals but soon realises that having a colour of his own is not as important as friendship. Promotes belonging, growth mindset and acceptance.

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Finding Wild by Megan Wagner Lloyd

Two children discover a world of beauty on an adventure into nature. As they return to their urban home they realise the wild exists all around them.

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The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

Over the course of a boy’s life, he asks a tree to help him and she gives him everything she has. It is only on reflection, as an old man, he feels gratitude and thankfulness towards the tree.

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The Hello, Goodbye Window by Norton Juster

Everything happens outside Nanna & Poppy’s Hello, Goodbye Window in the kitchen. This window is magical for a young girl when she visits her grandparents. Promotes family relationships, perspectives and a sense of belonging.

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Here and Now by Julia Denos

Here and Now describes mindfulness techniques and encourages the reader to slow down and notice the world around them.

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Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth by Oliver Jeffers

Travel over mountains and oceans, space and constellations, and the animals and people who populate the Earth. The handwritten facts throughout the book are a gentle plea to care for the planet and each other.

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I am an Artist by Marta Altés

A boy creates art all over his home including drawing on and making holes in walls, painting chairs and breaking mirrors. He doesn’t understand why his mother doesn’t appreciate his creativity. Reinforces themes of appreciation, creativity and imagination.

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Ish by Peter Reynolds

In Ish, Ramon loves to draw. It is what he does. When his brother makes a negative on his drawing, Ramon loses his passion for drawing. It takes his little sister to show Ramon that there are more important things than being perfect.

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Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña

A grumpy CJ and his nana ride a city bus full of wonderful characters. He wonders aloud why he doesn’t have the things his friends do and why they have to volunteer at the soup kitchen every week. His nana’s straightforward and positive responses help CJ see and appreciate what he has and what he can give.

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The Little Gardener by Emily Hughes

A little gardener goes into a deep, long sleep wishing he had help. His beautiful zinnia inspires two children to care for the garden. He wakes to discovers his garden has transformed into a beautiful, blooming landscape. Promotes caring for the environment, perseverance and kindness.

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Maybe Something Beautiful: How Art Transformed A Neighborhood by F. Isabel Campoy

Based on the true story of the Urban Art Trail in San Diego, California. Mira is inspired by a mural artist to transform her grey city into colour. She, in turn, inspired the community to add their voice to the mural.

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Papa, Do You Love Me? by Barbara M. Joosse

A Masai father calls his son Tender Heart. The boy questions his Papa about how much he love him and is reassured he will love him unconditionally.

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Quiet by Tomie DePaola

Be still and present with the world around you and each other. With an absence of technology, watch the birds flying, the zooming dragonflies and the waving trees. Promotes appreciation, mindfulness and a love of nature.

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A River by Marc Martin

A young girl watches a river from her bedroom window. She imagines where the water would take her once it leaves the city behind Promotes open-mindedness, a love of nature, and appreciation.

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A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip C. Stead

Zookeeper, Amos McGee, always found time to visit his good friends in unique and compassionate ways. One day, Amos wakes up with a cold and can’t make it into work. His friends, the tortoise, penguin and owl, return his kindness by visiting him.

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Sidewalk Flowers by JonArno Lawson

A girl picks colourful flowers poking up through the cracks in the pavement. She places her flowers on a dead sparrow, a sleeping man and into a dog’s collar. At home, she places flowers in her mother’s hair and a few on her brother’s head. This wordless book promotes kindness, generosity, making a difference and inferring.

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Sulwe by Lupita Nyong'o

Sulwe’s skin is darker than everyone in her family and at school. She wants to lighten her skin, the colour of midnight, so she is no longer teased. Her mama empowers Sulwe by telling her a story that helps her love who she is and dismisses the negative opinions of others.

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The Thank You Book by Mo Willems

In their last book. Piggie is determined to thank all the important people in her life. A sceptical Gerald is certain she will forget someone very important – him! At first, he is hopeful and then visibly upset when Piggie does forget him. She realises her error she apologises for her mistake only for Gerald to prompt her to thank someone else… the reader!

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The Thank You Letter by Jane Cabrera

Grace spreads gratitude throughout her community by writing thoughtful and humorous letters. She thanks everyone who has made a difference in her life no matter how big or small. In return, Grace receives hundreds of notes, cards and letters all responding to her thoughtful letters. Read to discuss appreciation, letter writing, thankfulness and kindness.

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The Thankful Book by Todd Parr

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This Book Is Gray by Lindsay Ward

Gray feels left out when the other colours ignore him, so he creates his own all-grey book. A book that promotes a sense of belonging, storytelling, different perspectives, appreciation and colour concepts.

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Tiny, Perfect Things by M.H. Clark

A grandfather and grandchild walk through their neighbourhood keeping their “eyes open for tiny, perfect things.” They find a falling leaf, a glistening spiderweb, a discarded bottle top among many other wonders.

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Windows by Julia Denos

On an autumn evening, a boy takes his dog for a walk. He catches a glimpse of neighbours lives through their windows. Windows promotes a sense of belonging and different perspectives.

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Appreciation Discussion Questions

What does appreciation look like to you?
What can of things you appreciate?
How does it make you feel to appreciate something?
How does it feel when someone appreciates you or things you do?
How does appreciation affect people and their life?
How does appreciation affect your community of the wider world?
How does appreciation affect the environment?
When and where do you feel more appreciated?

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