Best Children’s Books About Gratitude (2026): 5 Picks

Finding the best children’s books about gratitude means matching the theme to the reader’s age. This list compares five picture books on what each listing states: theme, print length, listed reading age and grade level.

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The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	God Gave Us Thankful Hearts by Bergren	9.7/10	Buy on Amazon
2	Being Thankful by Mayer	9.7/10	Buy on Amazon
3	I'm Glad for What I Have by Cruze	9.7/10	Buy on Amazon
4	The Gratitude Jar by Liu	9.6/10	Buy on Amazon
5	Apple Cake: A Gratitude by Casey	9.6/10	Buy on Amazon

1

God Gave Us Thankful Hearts by Bergren

Lisa Tawn Bergren·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A 40-page God Gave Us series book where Lil Pup learns thankfulness, listed for ages 2 to 6 years.

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Pros

• 40 pages, illustrated edition stated
• Reading age 2-6 and grade Preschool-2 stated
• Part of the God Gave Us series

Cons

• Reading age marked as from customers
• Series book, not standalone
• Faith framing may not suit every family

2

Being Thankful by Mayer

Mercer Mayer·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A 24-page paperback Little Critter story about thankfulness, listed for ages 3 to 6 years.

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Pros

• Paperback format stated
• Reading age 3-6 and grade Preschool-1 stated
• Little Critter series character

Cons

• Reading age marked as from customers
• 24 pages, the fewest here
• Faith-based framing per description

3

I'm Glad for What I Have by Cruze

Rachel Cruze·9.7/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A 32-page picture book about appreciating what you have, with thick pages for little hands.

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Pros

• 32 pages with thick pages stated
• Reading age 2-6 and grade Preschool-2 stated
• Animal cast from diverse habitats

Cons

• Reading age marked as from customers
• First illustrated children's book per listing
• Faith framing per description

4

The Gratitude Jar by Liu

Katrina Liu·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A 27-page picture book about a family starting a gratitude jar, listed for ages 4 to 6 years.

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Pros

• Gratitude jar activity in the story
• Reading age 4-6 stated
• Listing states a 2024 Readers' Favorite Book Award

Cons

• Reading age marked as from customers
• No grade level stated
• 27 pages, shorter than most here

5

Apple Cake: A Gratitude by Casey

Dawn Casey·9.6/10 Shelf Score

i

The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A 32-page rhyming picture book about thanking nature, with an apple cake recipe at the end.

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Pros

• Apple cake recipe at the end stated
• Rhyming text stated
• Illustrated edition stated

Cons

• Grade level listed only as 'Preschool -'
• Reading age marked as from customers
• No series or companion books stated

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More picks to compare

• Thankful by Vickers48 pages, ages 5-8, a lullaby of everyday thanks.Check on Amazon
• Teach Your Dragon Gratitude by HermanBook 56 of the My Dragon Books series, ages 4-10.Check on Amazon
• The Grumbles by Goyer32 pages, ages 6-8, a family learns to stop grumbling.Check on Amazon
• The Gratitude Tree by DeLeon27 pages, ages 3-5, Emma learns thankfulness.Check on Amazon
• Counting My Blessings by Schlueter32 pages, ages 4-8, a rhyming story of blessings.Check on Amazon

Compare the picks

Book details as published on each listing, collected 22 October 2026.

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs fit for the reader, contents and edition, value, and the listed reading age or level. All five picks list a reading age, each marked as from customers; four also list a grade level. How we pick explains the weights.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each book’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Reading age or level counts on a list where at least one listing gives one, and a book whose listing gives none then scores zero on it. Where no listing gives one, the score is taken over the other 85 points. Books carry no warranty, so warranty is not scored.

How to choose the best children’s books about gratitude

Match the reading age to the reader

Every listed age is marked as from customers, not the publisher. The range runs 2 to 6 years on three picks, 4 to 6 on The Gratitude Jar. For a neighboring theme, see our books about feelings.

Series or standalone

God Gave Us Thankful Hearts belongs to the God Gave Us series, and Being Thankful features Little Critter. The other three stand alone.

Faith-based or general

Three descriptions mention God or faith: God Gave Us Thankful Hearts, Being Thankful, and I’m Glad for What I Have. The other two keep the theme general. For a related theme see our books about kindness.

Before you buy

• Check print length and format; the picks run 24 to 40 pages, and Being Thankful is a paperback.
• Confirm the reading age against the reader.
• Note the series: two picks belong to series.

Frequently Asked Questions

What age are these gratitude books for?

Listed reading ages run 2 to 6 years, with The Gratitude Jar at 4 to 6. All are marked as from customers.

Which of these books are part of a series?

God Gave Us Thankful Hearts belongs to the God Gave Us series, and Being Thankful features Little Critter. The other three stand alone.

Do any of these books mention faith?

The descriptions for God Gave Us Thankful Hearts, Being Thankful and I’m Glad for What I Have mention God or faith. The Gratitude Jar and Apple Cake do not.

Still deciding? Our top pickGod Gave Us Thankful Hearts by Bergren

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Related lists

See every picture book list and all kids and teens lists.

More lists: books about family, books about love, books about nature.