16 Picture Books to Teach Children About Giving to Others
by Iva-Marie Palmer
Generosity is one of those simple-but-big concepts that manifests itself in many ways — explaining to children that it goes way beyond gifting big material presents can be a challenge, particularly during the holiday season. Children’s books are fantastic resources when talking to kids about the importance of giving. To facilitate conversations with your little ones about being generous, pick up one of these children’s books, which showcase different ways to give the best of ourselves — every day and every way we can.
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Give
Available from:With sparse text and gorgeous illustrations, this nearly wordless picture book celebrates the joy of giving. Though small but meaningful acts of kindness — like replacing a lost ribbon or offering a scarf on a chilly day — readers will see the positive snowball effect such deeds have on others.
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The More You Give
Available from:A great alternative to The Giving Tree,
shares the multigenerational legacy of love and nurturing, as a boy's grandmother imparts gifts of wisdom and care, which he, in turn, passes down to his daughter, fostering a chain of affection that echoes through time and generations, Sanna's graphics are gorgeous while Campbell's storytelling prowess shines through, leaving readers with a profound sense of the impact of tender nurturing on the interconnectedness of life. Also available from: -
Sea of Constellations
Available from:When the ocean unexpectedly goes dark, Whale shark Maren, the biggest, brightest fish in the sea, embarks on an epic quest to bring back the light. She makes new friends along the way, offering her light to those in need. Readers are sure to be moved by the beautiful illustrations and captivating story about the power of kindness and selflessness.
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Give It!
Available from:The Moneybunny Book collection is perfect for teaching kids the value of earning, saving, and spending money, with Give It! focusing on charitable giving. Chummy wants to spend his allowance on a superhero costume, but his grandma reminds him he can be a true hero by putting that money toward helping others.
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One Small Spark
Available from:This poetic book explores the Jewish concept of tikkun olam, or taking part to repair the world. Follow a young girl as her small act to create change inspire others to do the same. A lovely story about the power of many helping hands.
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A Hat for House
Available from:When House’s hat is swept away by a gusty wind, his friends try but fail to find the right replacement. Finally, a group of neighbors steps in with a perfect hat solution. Heartfelt and humorous, this tale highlights how community strength shines through during hard times.
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It’s Mine!
Available from:Lionni is the master of picture books with simple, inspiring messages that never feel preachy. And a lesson on sharing is the first one kids need on their way to generosity. In this one, three selfish frogs spend their days arguing with the same refrain: “It’s mine!” Then a bad storm (and a big brown toad) teach them that sharing is indeed more rewarding than trying to lay claim to everything for ourselves.
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The Berenstain Bears Think of Those in Need
Available from:This charming family of bears is an excellent go-to for teaching kids a life lesson or two. In this book, the Berenstain Bears realize they have too much stuff and decide to donate their unneeded items to those in need. The Bear family feels doubly good donating not just their hand-me-downs, but also their time and energy to help others in the community.
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Strega Nona’s Harvest
Available from:Strega Nona tries to show Big Anthony the importance of order in gardening, but he has other ideas. He plants his own garden that quickly grows out of control, producing more vegetables than he could possibly eat. Anthony secretly leaves piles of veggies at his grandmother’s doorstep each night and she, in turn, decides to share the bountiful harvest by hosting a feast for the villagers. This book is a great lesson in sharing one’s blessings with others.
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Give This Book Away
Available from:This book is all about giving, teaching kids how to give (through the repeated call to give the book away), and what it feels like to give (it feels great!) As kids move from page to page, they'll see the actual book in their hands pass from one reader to the next. Lines in the front and back of the book offer space for book recipients to write down their name and city — a fun way to see how far the book has traveled!
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The Spiffiest Giant in Town
Available from:Sure, new clothes can be great, especially if you’re a giant who can’t often find a look you like. But in this tale, George the formerly scruffy gets all suited up and becomes the most smartly attired giant. It’s on a walk through town, encountering creatures in need, that he realizes each of his new purchases could really help others. If you’re trying to teach children the reason to donate toys or clothing they no longer need, this is a good place to start. (Note: This book is also sold under the title The Smartest Giant in Town.)
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What Is Given from the Heart
Available from:This final book by the late McKissack is a sweet and poignant story about a poor boy who doesn’t realize how much he has to give. James Otis and his mama have fallen on hard times, but that doesn’t stop Mama from turning her cherished tablecloth into an apron for a family that has lost everything in a fire. What does James Otis have that’s worth giving? It just needs to come from the heart.
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Harold Loves His Wooly Hat
Available from:When a crow snatches Harold’s prized woolly hat off his head, he offers worms, berries, and shiny objects in a desperate attempt to win it back. Harold then climbs the crow’s tree intent on taking back his hat and instead discovers others who need it more.
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The Invisible Boy
Available from:Kids are perhaps not caught up on the writing of Simone Weil, but she was spot-on when she said that attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity. It’s all too easy for kids to overlook a shy classmate, like the book’s main character Justin. There’s a sweet but not cloying message at hand when Brian extends a hand of friendship and helps Justin shine during a class project.
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Pass It On
Available from:In this delightfully upbeat picture book, author-illustrator Sophy Henn shows children that passing along a smile or sharing a moment of joy is often the best gift of all. Perfect for read-aloud sessions, the story will have kids excitedly reciting the refrain of “pass it on!” at every turn of the page — and in real life, too.
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The Thank You Letter
Available from:After Grace receives a bounty of birthday gifts from friends and family, she sits down to write each of them a note of thanks. Soon, Grace discovers that expressing gratitude feels pretty wonderful, so she starts to write thank you letters to everyone in her community. Grace’s gratitude snowballs into a thankful town in this sweet picture book about giving and receiving.
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Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in 2016 and updated in 2024.