Five Books on Gratitude!

The Kidville Playground is our digital platform where we stream joy and foster connection through interactive LIVE experiences. Our programming is built on the foundation of DO MORE GOOD! This mission is designed to inspire families to promote positivity, kindness, and care in their everyday lives through actionable prompts and challenges to motivate our tiniest citizens.

The Kidville Playground kicks off each week with a FREE interactive LIVE art class, ART WITH A HEART, which was created and is led by Kidville Garden City’s Ms. Elizabeth. This LIVE class experience is part mini TED talk around a purposeful theme and part DIY intentional art exploration. Each class concludes with a DO MORE GOOD challenge of the week that will have your family working together around a common goal.

Our families have been challenged this week to build an attitude of gratitude by fostering a daily gratitude family ritual. Find a dedicated time to practice gratitude as a family unit and feel the positivity levels rise at home.

WHY SHOULD YOU CONSIDER DEVELOPING A GRATITUDE PRACTICE?

Practicing gratitude daily is scientifically proven to improve mental and physical health by blocking negative emotions, reducing stress, and improving self-worth.
Gratitude makes children happier, less materialistic, and more optimistic.
Gratitude reduces jealousy and the requests for more.
Gratitude fosters resiliency during difficult times.

Here are some titles to help boost your bookshelf and spark deep conversation as you build more opportunities for gratitude inside your family home.

The Thankful Book!

🌈 The Thankful Book Hardcover – Picture Book, by Todd Parr

Age Range: 3 – 6 years
Grade Level: Preschool – 1

The Thankful Book celebrates all the little things for which children can give thanks. From everyday activities like reading and bath time to big family meals together and special alone time between parent and child, Todd inspires readers to remember all of life’s special moments. The perfect book to treasure and share, around the holidays and throughout the year.

“Parr explores the idea of gratitude in this picture book: “Every day I try to think about the things I am thankful for.” Those “things” include personal characteristics-“I am thankful for my hair because it makes me unique”; music- “because it makes me want to dance”; nature, and so on. Readers are sure to get a laugh out of the notion of being thankful for underwear-“because I like to wear it on my head.” Parr’s signature illustrations employ bold outlines and bright colors and feature an array of characters both human and animal. The theme is ripe for discussion and lends itself to extension activities in which readers create their own “I’m thankful for” pictures. – School Library Journal

Those Shoes

🌈 Those Shoes Paperback – by Maribeth Boelts (Author), Noah Z. Jones (Illustrator)

Age Range: 5 – 8 years
Grade Level: Kindergarten – 3

All Jeremy wants is a pair of those shoes, the ones everyone at school seems to be wearing. Though Jeremy’s grandma says they don’t have room for “want,” just “need,” when his old shoes fall apart at school, he 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 soon sees 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.

“A contemporary urban story that shows the spirit of sharing with economy of language and superior craftsmanship.” —Contra Costa Times

Last Stop on Market Street

🌈 Last Stop on Market Street Hardcover –by Matt de la Peña (Author), Christian Robinson (Illustrator)

Age Range: 3 – 5 years

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
USA Today Bestseller

Winner of the 2016 Newbery Medal
A 2016 Caldecott Honor Book
A 2016 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Book
A New York Times Book Review Notable Children’s Book of 2015
A Wall Street Journal Best Children’s Book of 2015

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.

“That material poverty need not mean spiritual or imaginative poverty becomes beautifully clear in the quietly moving pages of ‘Last Stop on Market Street,” a picture book by Matt de la Peña filled with Christian Robinson’s vibrant naïf illustrations.”—The Wall Street Journal

The Thank You Book

🌈 The Thank You Book (An Elephant and Piggie Book) by Mo Willems (Author, Illustrator)

Age Range: 6 – 8 years
Grade Level: 1 – 3

Gerald is careful. Piggie is not.
Piggie cannot help smiling. Gerald can.
Gerald worries so that Piggie does not have to.

Gerald and Piggie are best friends.

In The Thank You Book!, Piggie wants to thank EVERYONE. But Gerald is worried Piggie will forget someone . . . someone important.

“A sweet and pitch-perfect swan song to a wildly popular series. Reflecting on her good fortune and many blessings, Piggie decides to thank everyone who is important to her. Gerald thinks this is a bad idea, in that she runs the very big risk of forgetting someone. Piggie will not be dissuaded and embarks on her “Thank-o-rama!” She gives a shout-out to the Squirrels, Snake, the Pigeon, and other characters from the series, including Mouse, Birdies, Rhino, Hippo, Hippo’s Big Sister, Barky Dog, Pelican, Bears, and Worms. Piggie turns into a thanking machine. Whale, Ice Cream Penguin, Doctor Cat, and Brian Rat all make appearances. Last, but hardly least, she remembers to acknowledge her partner in crime, Gerald, but there’s still one important group that the effusive Piggie neglects to mention-their readers! Willems’s brilliant, minimalist cartoon illustrations are as expressive and charming as ever. VERDICT The 25th installment in the winning series is a must-have for every collection and will lead kids to go back and revisit the earlier titles again and again. Thanks, Mo Willems, you’ve helped a whole generation learn to be proficient readers with Gerald and Piggie. Hugs all around!” – School Library Journal

Today I Am Grateful: Adventures in Gratitude

🌈 Today I Am Grateful: Adventures in Gratitude by Lorraine Miller (Author)

Today I Am Grateful was created to inspire children of all ages to experience the incredible power of gratitude. By taking the time to think about all the wonderful things that happen each day, children gain an appreciation for what matters most to them in their own lives. Following the lead of Milo, young readers can take part in this mindful practice using the activities provided at the end of the story. A special section for parents provides insight into the many benefits cultivating an attitude of gratitude will play in their child’s life.

“Children can be made more grateful when the adults in their lives teach them how. Today I am Grateful is the perfect springboard for parents and educators to start helping kids see all of the goodness in their life.” —Jeffrey J. Froh, associate professor of psychology at Hofstra University and coauthor of Making Grateful Kids: The Science of Building Character

Learn more about this topic and more!

You are invited to register your kiddo for FREE each week in our Art with a Heart virtual class hosted on The Kidville Playground. We release a NEW schedule every Saturday morning and you can access a supply list and instructions to join upon registration. Each week is a NEW project built around a consistent class routine that will have your little one participating, engaging, and inspiring action at home!