Are you looking for children’s books about helping others? This post shares popular children’s books about helping others that elementary teachers often use as read alouds. All of the picture books on this list lend themselves to this topic really well. Take a peek below to learn more about these children’s books about helping others!
5 Children’s Books about Helping Others
Below is a list of some of our favorite children’s books about helping others. Check them out below!
1. Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett
Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett is about how Annabelle lives in a dark and dreary little town. One day, she discovers a box filled with colorful yarn. She decides to knit herself a sweater, and when there is leftover yarn she knits one for her dog. Everyone starts to notice Annabelle’s colorful sweaters so she begins to make them for others: her neighbor, teacher, classmates, and animals. Each time she knits something, there is still extra yarn! Word spreads about Annabelle and her magic yarn, and people begin visiting the town. An archduke even comes and offers Annabelle large amounts of money for the box of yarn, but she declines. The archduke is angry and decides to have robbers steal the box of yarn. When he returns home, the archduke is surprised to find the box is empty. He throws the box out the window and curses Annabelle. However, the box makes its way back to Annabelle and she continues to knit.
Check out these Extra Yarn lessons and activities to help you plan and deliver highly engaging interactive read aloud lessons!
2. Kamala and Maya’s Big Idea by Meena Harris
Kamala and Maya’s Big Idea by Meena Harris is about how Kamala and Maya had the great idea of turning the courtyard in their building into a playground. After all, it wasn’t being used and it would give the children a place to play. They asked their mother how they could make it happen and she told them to talk to the landlord about it. The girls wrote a letter and drew a picture and brought them to the landlord to discuss their idea. Right away he told them no. While the girls were disappointed, they kept thinking about how to change his mind.
The girls talked to the other children in the building who were just as excited about the idea of a playground. Later, they all returned with a longer letter and again he told them no. He did tell them they could build the park if they do it on their own. Determined, the girls got started on the project. They talked to their parents, made posters, and knocked on doors. Unfortunately they got the same answer from everyone: no. One neighbor, Mr. Green, did stop to talk. He offered to get some scrap lumber and sand from work to build a sandbox. Another neighbor brought an old tire for a teeter-totter. Slowly, more and more people started to help turn the courtyard into a park. The neighbors, children and landlord were all impressed with Kamala and Maya and what they were able to accomplish. This book teaches students to follow their dreams, never give up and the power of working together.
Check out these Kamala and Maya’s Big Idea lessons and activities to help you plan and deliver highly engaging interactive read aloud lessons!
3. A Hat for Mrs. Goldman by Michelle Edwards
A Hat for Mrs. Goldman by Michelle Edwards is about Mrs. Goldman and Sophia. Mrs. Goldman knits hats for many people and she teaches Sophia how to knit and add pom-poms to the hats. Sophia loves spending time with Mrs. Goldman.
One day, Sophia and Mrs. Goldman walk Mrs. Goldman’s dog in the cold winter weather and Sophia notices that Mrs. Goldman doesn’t have a hat to wear. Mrs. Goldman tells Sophia that she gave her hat to Mrs. Chen. Sophia decides that she will make Mrs. Goldman a hat.
Sophia works very hard on the hat over many days. When she finishes, she notices big holes in it and uses pom-poms to cover the holes. She surprises Mrs. Goldman with the hat and Mrs. Goldman loves it.
Check out these A Hat for Mrs. Goldman lessons and activities to help you plan and deliver highly engaging interactive read aloud lessons!
4. Just Help! by Sonia Sotomayor And Angela Dominguez
Just Help! by Sonia Sotomayor and Angela Dominguez is a story about children making their community a better place. Readers will be encouraged to find the small, simple ways they can help others each day.
Each morning, Sonia’s mother asks her what she will do to help that day. Sonia looks up to her mother who is a nurse at the hospital. At school that day, Sonia and her friends were making care packages for soldiers fighting overseas. Everyone brought in items to add to the care packages. Later, she and her friends work together to clean up the park. Each small act of kindness inspired someone else to help in a different way. Brooklyn started a recycling program at school, Jasper donated toys to patients at the children’s hospital, and Maya gave a sweater away to her friend.
At the end of the day, Sonia’s mother asks her what she did to help that day. Sonia thinks back on all the things she and her friends did to help their community. But she also reflects on all of the people that helped her and their community. Sonia Sotomayor’s book is sure to get children inspired to help!
Check out these Just Help! lessons and activities to help you plan and deliver highly engaging interactive read aloud lessons!
5. Amos McGee Misses the Bus by Philip C. Stead
Amos McGee Misses the Bus by Philip C. Stead is about how Amos McGee is so excited for his outing the next day that he is up all night unable to sleep. When he wakes up the next day, he is in a rush to get to work and isn’t thinking clearly. Amos makes a lot of mistakes that prevent him from getting to work early enough to finish his chores so he can go on an outing.
Amos tells the animals that he was so tired from not being able to sleep and very disappointed about missing his outing. The animals let Amos nap and work together to do his chores when he is sleeping. When Amos wakes up he discovers his chores are all done and he and the animals can go on an outing together.
Check out these Amos McGee Misses the Bus lessons and activities to help you plan and deliver highly engaging interactive read aloud lessons!
Grab the Free Reading Resources!
In closing, we hope you found this list of children’s books about helping others helpful! They are part of our Starts With a Story collection. If you want to get more book ideas to read aloud to your elementary students, then grab this reading freebie. It includes read aloud books lists, reading logs, and reading challenges for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade classroom teachers. It will have you covered for the entire school year, as well as the summer months! Grab this free elementary reading packet now!
