BOOK MARKED
Give Thanks with
Books About
Gratitude Start off the holiday season on a grateful note with
these books about giving thanks and giving back.

Discover stories that point out everyone we can
thank in our lives and explore the nuances behind
the history of the first Thanksgiving.

BY JENNIFER ROTHSCHILD, COLLECTION ENGAGEMENT MANAGER
ARLINGTON PUBLIC LIBRARY
PICTURE BOOKS
“Thank You, Neighbor!”
by Ruth Chan
A young girl walking her dog reminds readers to not
only feel grateful for all people in their lives but to
also tell them “thank you” as well. As the girl and
dog stroll through the neighborhood, she notices all
the people that make her community stick together,
from the firefighters rescuing a kitten and the
sanitation workers collecting garbage to the letter
carrier delivering the mail. She says “thank you” to
all of them, reminding us that this simple phrase can
help make people feel part of their community.

“We Give Thanks”
by Cynthia Rylant,
illustrated by Sergio Ruzzier
A frog and rabbit explore their town to issue a
special invitation to everyone they come across. On
each step of their travels, they also find something
to be thankful for. At the end of the day, everyone
gathers for a giant feast. Told in rhyming couplets
with watercolor illustrations, this story offers a
gentle reminder to be thankful for many of the
things we often take for granted.

“We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga”
by Traci Sorell, illustrated by Frane Lessac
Members of Cherokee Nation say “otsaliheliga”
(oh-jah-LEE-hay-lee-gah) to express gratitude,
something the family in this book does frequently
as they go through a year of Cherokee festivals,
holidays and celebrations. Sorell, a member of the
Cherokee Nation, includes several other Cherokee
32 Washington FAMILY NOVEMBER 2021
words and cultural symbols in the text. More
information is included in the book.

EARLY ELEMENTARY
“I Am Thankful”
by Suzy Capozzi, illustrated by Eren Unten
On Thanksgiving, a young boy spends his day
listing the things he’s thankful for. A busy day
of helping in the kitchen, running a turkey trot,
playing football and eating lead to many things to
be grateful for. Some things are small, like having
the day off school, and some things are bigger, like
being thankful that his firefighter father and his
co-workers work to keep the town safe, even if it
means he has to miss the family feast.

“Volunteering (Spreading Kindness)”
by Brienna Rossiter
Vibrant photographs and clear, simple text
introduce different ways beginning readers can
help their communities, such as cleaning up litter
or distributing food. This empowering text shows
younger kids concrete ways they can give back,
despite their age.

“The Thank You Book” (An Elephant
and Piggie Book, 25)
written and illustrated by Mo Willems
In Elephant and Piggie’s final adventure, Piggie
tries to thank everyone she can, but Gerald is
worried she’ll forget to thank the most important
person of all. Piggie embarks on her “Thank-a-
Rama” anyway, and with Gerald’s help, she makes
sure everyone is recognized.




MIDDLE GRADE
“Nancy Drew Clue Book:
Turkey Trot Plot”
by Carolyn Keene,
illustrated by Peter Francis
The Nancy Drew Clue Books feature Nancy,
Bess and George as elementary school
students, investigating mysteries in a format
that invites readers to help solve the case.

For this year’s turkey trot race, the friends
hope to win the costume contest and get
the chocolate turkey prize. But when the
turkey goes missing, the owner of the fancy
new chocolate shop bans kids from her store
forever, unless Nancy and her friends can
find the real thief.

“If You Lived During the
Plimoth Thanksgiving”
by Chris Newell,
illustrated by Winona Nelson
In this accessible book written by a member
of the Passamaquoddy tribe, the facts and
myths surrounding relations between the
Wampanoag and English colonists and
the story of the first Thanksgiving are
thoroughly explored and examined. While
focusing on life in and around the Plimoth
colony, the story also covers the creation
of the national Thanksgiving holiday and
similar celebrations in other cultures.

several ideas for ways teen readers can also
get involved in the solutions.

“A Smart Girl’s Guide: Making a
Difference: Using Your Talents and
Passions to Change the World”
by Melissa Seymour,
illustrated by Stevie Lewis
Full of lists, quizzes, tips and inspiration,
this book is a complete guide to finding
what readers are interested in and how they
can use their talents to make a difference in
their communities and the wider world. By
breaking down the steps and providing plenty
of guidance along the way, middle-grade
students can turn the otherwise daunting
task of “changing the world” into realistic and
doable actions.

“Dear Haiti, Love Alaine”
by Maika Moulite and Maritza Moulite
After a school presentation gone wrong ends
up with Alaine getting suspended, she’s shipped
off to Haiti—a land she knows from her
parents’ stories but has never explored herself.

While there, she spends her days volunteering
for her aunt’s charity, which helps children in
economic need in stark juxtaposition with the
estate Alaine’s family lives on. Along the way,
she gains a deeper knowledge and appreciation
for Haiti and learns more than she imagined
about her family’s past.

TEENS “It’s Your World: Get Informed,
Get Inspired & Get Going”
by Chelsea Clinton
Chelsea Clinton dives into several issues
facing the world today, including poverty,
global warming and gender equity. After
a data-filled introduction to an issue, she
shows how young people are currently
working to alleviate the problems and has
“Be a Changemaker: How to Start
Something That Matters”
by Laurie Ann Thompson
Thompson uses her experience in nonprofit
work to create a practical guide for teens who
want to give back to their communities. In
addition to inspiration and tips for helping
readers find what they want to do, Thompson
outlines items like business plans, fundraising
and legal issues they may need to know.

Discover this guide that inspires readers while
not shying away from the small details. P
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