The Best Children’s Books About Giving

“What are the best Children’s books about Giving?” We looked at 62 of the top Kids Giving books, aggregating and ranking them so we could answer that very question!

The top 12 titles, all appearing on 2 or more “Best Kids Giving ” book lists, are ranked below by how many lists they appear on. The remaining 50 titles, as well as the lists we used are in alphabetical order at the bottom of the page.

Happy Scrolling!

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Top 12 Best Children’s Books About Giving

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12 .) Boxes for Katje written by Candace Fleming and Stacey Dressen-McQueen

Lists It Appears On:

• Barnes & Noble
• Grow Your Giving

Simple seeds of friendship grow into something extraordinary After World War II there is little left in Katje’s town of Olst in Holland.

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11 .) Last Stop on Market Street written by Matt de la Pena

Lists It Appears On:

• BuzzFeed
• Doing Good Together

Every Sunday after church, CJ and his grandma ride the bus across town. But today, CJ wonders why they don’t own a car like his friend Colby. Why doesn’t he have an iPod like the boys on the bus? How come they always have to get off in the dirty part of town? Each question is met with an encouraging answer from grandma, who helps him see the beauty—and fun—in their routine and the world around them. This energetic ride through a bustling city highlights the wonderful perspective only grandparent and grandchild can share, and comes to life through Matt de la Pena’s vibrant text and Christian Robinson’s radiant illustrations.

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10 .) The Gift of Nothing written by Patrick McDonnell

Lists It Appears On:

• Barnes & Noble
• Read Brightly

Mooch the cat tries to think of a gift to give his friend Earl the dog.

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9 .) The Invisible Boy written by Trudy Ludwig

Lists It Appears On:

• BuzzFeed
• Read Brightly

A simple act of kindness can transform an invisible boy into a friend… Meet Brian, the invisible boy. Nobody ever seems to notice him or think to include him in their group, game, or birthday party… until, that is, a new kid comes to class. When Justin, the new boy, arrives, Brian is the first to make him feel welcome. And when Brian and Justin team up to work on a class p A simple act of kindness can transform an invisible boy into a friend

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8 .) The Quilt Maker’s Gift written by Jeff Brumbeau

Lists It Appears On:

• Self Sufficient Kids
• UMC Disciple Ship

When a generous quiltmaker finally agrees to make a quilt for a greedy king but only under certain conditions, she causes him to undergo a change of heart.

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7 .) Under the Lemon Moon written by Edith Hope

Lists It Appears On:

• Barnes & Noble
• Self Sufficient Kids

The theft of all the lemons from her lemon tree leads Rosalinda to an encounter with la Anciana, the Old One, who walks the Mexican countryside helping things grow, and to an understanding of generosity and forgiveness.

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6 .) One Hen: How One Small Loan Made a Big Difference written by Katie Smith Milway

Lists It Appears On:

• Grow Your Giving
• Read Brightly
• UMC Disciple Ship

Inspired by true events, One Hen tells the story of Kojo, a boy from Ghana who turns a small loan into a thriving farm and a livelihood for many.

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5 .) The Berenstain Bears Think of Those in Need written by Jan and Stan Berenstain

Lists It Appears On:

• Barnes & Noble
• Grow Your Giving
• Read Brightly

Stuff in the closets, stuff in the drawers, stuff in the attic–too much stuff everywhere! Mama Bear convinces the family that cleaning out the house can not only simplify their cluttered lives, but also benefit those who are in need!

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4 .) Those Shoes written by Maribeth Boelts

Lists It Appears On:

• BuzzFeed
• Doing Good Together
• UMC Disciple Ship

But all the kids are wearing them! Any child who has ever craved something out of reach will relate to this warm, refreshingly realistic story. “I have dreams about those shoes. Black high-tops. Two white stripes.” All Jeremy wants is a pair of those shoes, the ones everyone at school seems to be wearing. But Jeremy’s grandma tells him they don’t have room for “want,” just “need,” and what Jeremy needs are new boots for winter. When Jeremy’s shoes fall apart at school, and the guidance counselor gives him a hand-me-down pair, the boy is more determined than ever to have those shoes, even a thrift-shop pair that are much too small. But sore feet aren’t much fun, and Jeremy comes to realize that the things he has — warm boots, a loving grandma, and the chance to help a friend — are worth more than the things he wants.

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3 .) The Spiffiest Giant in Town written by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler George

Lists It Appears On:

• Barnes & Noble
• Grow Your Giving
• Read Brightly

George wishes he wasn’t the scruffiest giant in town. So one day he visits a new shop that’s full of spiffy clothes. He buys new pants, a new shirt, a striped tie, and shiny shoes, and soon George is the spiffiest giant in town. But on his way home, George meets various animals who desperately need his help…and his clothes!

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2 .) The Giving Book: Open the Door to a Lifetime of Giving written by Ellen Sabin

Lists It Appears On:

• Barnes & Noble
• Grow Your Giving
• Self Sufficient Kids

This spiral-bound, book combines colorful illustrations and entertaining narrative with fun learning activities, inspiring youngsters to give back to the world.

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1 .) The Giving Tree written by Shel Silverstein

Lists It Appears On:

• BuzzFeed
• Grow Your Giving
• Read Brightly

“Once there was a tree…and she loved a little boy.” So begins a story of unforgettable perception, beautifully written and illustrated by the gifted and versatile Shel Silverstein. Every day the boy would come to the tree to eat her apples, swing from her branches, or slide down her trunk…and the tree was happy. But as the boy grew older he began to want more from the tree, and the tree gave and gave and gave. This is a tender story, touched with sadness, aglow with consolation. Shel Silverstein has created a moving parable for readers of all ages that offers an affecting interpretation of the gift of giving and a serene acceptance of another’s capacity to love in return.

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The 50 Additional Best Kids Books About Or Featuring Giving

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#	Books	Authors	Lists
13	A Chair for My Mother	Vera Williams.	Doing Good Together
14	A Kid’s Guide to Giving	Freddi Zeiler	Grow Your Giving
15	A Shelter in Our Car	Monica Gunning	Doing Good Together
16	A Sick Day for Amos McGee	Philip C. Stead and Erin E. Stead	BuzzFeed
17	Changing Places: A Kid’s View of Shelter Living	Judy Wallace	Doing Good Together
18	Dear Mr. Rosenwald	Carole Boston Weatherford	Doing Good Together
19	Don’t Say a Word, Mama	Joe Hayes	Self Sufficient Kids
20	Each Kindness	Jacqueline Woodson	BuzzFeed
21	Enemy Pie	Derek Munson	BuzzFeed
22	Fly Away Home	Eve Bunting	Doing Good Together
23	Give Me Half!	Stuart J. Murphy	Grow Your Giving
24	Giving Thanks	Jonathan London	Self Sufficient Kids
25	Giving Thanks: a Native American Good Morning Message	Chief Jake Swamp	Self Sufficient Kids
26	Great Joy	Kate DiCamillo	Doing Good Together
27	Harold Loves His Wooly Hat		Read Brightly
28	Have You Filled a Bucket Today? A Guide to Daily Happiness for Kids	Carol McCloud	BuzzFeed
29	Horton Hears a Who	Dr. Seuss	BuzzFeed
30	Hungry Planet: What the World Eats	Peter Menzel	Doing Good Together
31	I’m Thankful Each Day!	P. K. Hallinan	Self Sufficient Kids
32	It’s Mine!		Read Brightly
33	Lily and the Paper Man	Rebecca Upjohn	Doing Good Together
34	Maddi’s Fridge	Lois Brandt	Doing Good Together
35	Mama, I’ll Give You the World	Roni Schotter	Grow Your Giving
36	Me First		UMC Disciple Ship
37	One Potato, Two Potato	Cynthia DeFelice	Doing Good Together
38	Ordinary Mary’s Extraordinary Deed	Emily Pearson and Fumi Kosaka	BuzzFeed
39	Rude Cakes	Rowboat Watkins	BuzzFeed
40	Rufus and Ryan Give Thanks	Kathleen Long Bostrom	Grow Your Giving
41	Sam and the Lucky Money	Karen Chinn	Doing Good Together
42	Should I Share My Ice Cream?	Mo Willems	Self Sufficient Kids
43	Strega Nona’s Harvest		Read Brightly
44	Thankful	Eileen Spinelli	Self Sufficient Kids
45	Thanks a Million	Nikki Grimes	Self Sufficient Kids
46	The Berenstain Bears and the Joy of Giving	Jan & Mike Berenstain	Self Sufficient Kids
47	The Berenstain Bears Learn to Share		UMC Disciple Ship
48	The Case of Stuart’s Ship: A Lesson in Stewardship		UMC Disciple Ship
49	The Clown of God		UMC Disciple Ship
50	The Give-Away: A Christmas Story in the Native American Tradition		UMC Disciple Ship
51	The Good Garden: How One Family Went from Hunger to Having Enough	Katie Smith Milway	Doing Good Together
52	The Lady in the Box	Ann McGovern	Doing Good Together
53	The Man in the Clouds		Read Brightly
54	The Mitten Tree		UMC Disciple Ship
55	The Teddy Bear	David McPhail	Doing Good Together
56	The Thankful Book	Todd Parr	Self Sufficient Kids
57	The Three Questions	Jon J Muth	BuzzFeed
58	Tight Times	Barbara Shook Hazen	Doing Good Together
59	Too Many Toys		UMC Disciple Ship
60	Uncle Willie and the Soup Kitchen	DyAnn DiSalvo-Ryan	Doing Good Together
61	We All Sing With the Same Voice	J. Philip Miller and Sheppard M. Greene	BuzzFeed
62	What Is Given from the Heart		Read Brightly

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7 Best Giving Children’s Book Sources/Lists

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Source	Article
Barnes & Noble	6 Picture Books About the Joy of Giving
BuzzFeed	13 Children’s Books That Encourage Kindness Toward Others
Doing Good Together	Picture Books that Illuminate Hunger, Poverty, & Homelessness
Grow Your Giving	10 Children’s Books About Giving
Read Brightly	11 Picture Books to Teach Children About Giving to Others
Self Sufficient Kids	12 of the Best Children’s Books About Gratitude and Generosity
UMC Disciple Ship	Children’s Books on Giving, Sharing, and Generosity