Want to teach your child to give back? Want your kids to have global perspective? These 9 books that teach children to give back are GREAT ways to start a conversation and create little world changers!

“Stay where you are. Find your own Calcutta. Find the sick, the suffering, and the lonely right there where you are — in your own homes and in your own families, in your workplaces and in your schools. You can find Calcutta all over the world, if you have the eyes to see. Everywhere, wherever you go, you find people who are unwanted, unloved, uncared for, just rejected by society — completely forgotten, completely left alone.” -Mother Teresa

I was an a dinner a few months back, with a group of absolutely extraordinary women.  News anchor, actresses, well known influencers, and the like.  To be honest, I felt VERY intimated.  Why was I included in this intimate dinner? How did I compare to them?  The dinner was to celebrate an amazing charity, and the conversation turned towards family.  Our own families.  We began to discuss how to teach our own children to be grateful.  And then I realized why I was at this dinner.

Teaching my own daughter to serve those around her is MY THING.  And doing it in a way that is empowering? Appropriate for her age? Positive? That’s the challenge.   One of my goals with our blog is to share ways that we give back as a family.  From simple family service projects to amazing brands that we support with our retail dollars……I love sharing that we (a regular family) are trying to make a difference in our very normal, day to day life.

One of the best ways I know to share important topics with your children? Through children’s books.  They create an open environment for conversation, and encourage kids in their own language.  So today, I wanted to share a group of children’s books that teach children to give back.  If you’re trying to raise a world changer, these are must haves!

SHOP OUR OUTFITS:
Mommy: // pajama pants (also available in a great red for valentine’s day) // top //
Lydia: // pajama pants / top / wreath //
photos by Cindy Green Photo

9 Books that Teach Children to Give Back

Sofia’s Dream: This adorable book about shares Sofia’s experience as she befriends the moon and sees the earth from the moon’s perspective.  It has great messages about caring for our planet and gives a portion of it’s proceeds to the Starlight Children’s Foundation.

One Hen: One Hen is the true story of a boy from Ghana who turned a small loan into a thriving farm, supporting many in his village.  It’s amazing way for children to see how a small bit of help makes a hue difference, and proceeds from the book support the One Hen foundation….an organization that works with youth in poor communities to start Youth Self Help Groups, generate savings, start small businesses, and become change agents in their communities.

The Berenstain Bears Think of Those In Need: Our favorite characters are BACK! This sweet story shares the concept of giving away items that you don’t NEED to those who need them more than you.  A great way to talk about local giving!

If the World Were a Village: This book is eye-opening and SUPER kid friendly.  If our world were a village of 100 people, it shares statistics on health, food security and more.  This second edition has been published in 17 languages.

A Chair for My Mother:  This was one of my FAVORITE books growing up, it’s a lovely story of a family home destroyed in a fire and how their own community gives back to help them.  The illustrations are stunning!

Uncle Willie and the Soup Kitchen: The sweet story of a boy who visits his “uncle” everyday at an urban soup kitchen…..a great read before a family day volunteering at YOUR local soup kitchen.

Who Put the Cookies in the Cookie Jar: How does a cookie get into the cookie jar? This book shares the journey of milking the cow, growing the wheat, etc and is a GREAT way to discuss where our products COME FROM.

Wangari’s Trees of Peace: A True Story from Africa:  This true story of a Nobel Peace Prize winner shares one girl’s journey to replant trees in her homeland (and it’s printed on 100% recycled paper).

The Giving Book: Open to Door to a Lifetime of Giving: We just ordered this workbook ourselves, it’s filled with fun learning activities that inspire children to come up with their OWN ways to give back.

BONUS: The Saggy Baggy Elephant is one of our favorite books that teaches the power of kindness and community!

For more ways to serve as a family check out:

// 27 family activities that give back / disney acts of kindness / 5 ways to teach your toddler to give back //
What are your favorite books that teach children to give back? 

Now, one more thing.  Molly and I are teaming up to do more than host our link up.  We are teaming up to share brands that we love……brands that give back.  Each week we’ll be collaborating with one of our favorite brands to share the cause they support, and their amazing products.

This week we are teaming up to tell y’all about Sudara.  Founded in 2005, Sudara began when their founder Shannon took a trip to India.  Her time in India’s Red Light Districts opened her eyes to the stories of women and children being sold into the sex trade.  Many were held against their will, trapped by poverty, and stigmatized when they did escape.  When Shannon returned home, she knew these women had little chance of surviving outside the brothels without safe employment.  In 2006, along with a team of like-minded partners…..Sudara hired their first 6 employees in their sewing center.  These women created the first pair of PUNJAMMIES® loungewear.  Today? Sudara has multiple sewing centers and employees hundreds of women to make their stunning (and comfortable) loungewear.

Now, on to you guys…..our favorites last week?

/ sweater weather / red stripes /

gjiving back reading to kids