"When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around."
---Willie Nelson
One of the key components to having a happy life is gratitude. Is there a better time of the year to start a gratitude practice than during Thanksgiving?
Here are some books that I have loved with a gratitude theme...
Children's Books about Gratitude
Thank You, Mr. Falker by Patricia Polacco
"The real-life, classic story of a dyslexic girl and the teacher who would not let her fail."
The Thank You Book (Elephant & Piggie #25) by Mo Willems
"In The Thank You Book!, Piggie wants to thank EVERYONE. But Gerald is worried Piggie will forget someone . . . someone important."
The Thankful Book by Todd Parr
"From everyday activities like reading and bathtime to big family meals together and special alone time between parent and child, Todd inspires readers to remember all of life's special moments."
Gracias / Thanks by Pat Mora
"A young boy tells about some of the everyday things for which he is thankful. Come share the joy, and think about all the things for which you can say, ¡Gracias! Thanks!"
Stories and Poems about Gratitude
Ties That Bind: Stories of Love and Gratitude from the First Ten Years of StoryCorps by Dave Isay
"Against unspeakable odds, at their most desperate moments, the individuals we meet in Ties That Bind find their way to one another, discovering hope and healing."
Thanks a Thousand: A Gratitude Journey by AJ Jacobs
"Author A.J. Jacobs discovers that his coffee—and every other item in our lives—would not be possible without hundreds of people we usually take for granted: farmers, chemists, artists, presidents, truckers, mechanics, biologists, miners, smugglers, and goatherds. By thanking these people face to face, Jacobs finds some much-needed brightness in his life."
How to Love the World: Poems of Gratitude and Hope edited by James Crews
"How to Love the World, which contains new works by Ted Kooser, Mark Nepo, and Jane Hirshfield, invites readers to use poetry as part of their daily gratitude practice to uncover the simple gifts of abundance and joy to be found everywhere."
How-to Books about Gratitude
365 Thank Yous: The Year a Simple Act of Daily Gratitude Changed My Life by John Kralik
"Inspired by a beautiful, simple note his ex-girlfriend had sent to thank him for his Christmas gift, John imagined that he might find a way to feel grateful by writing thank-you notes. To keep himself going, he set himself a goal--come what may--of writing 365 thank-you notes in the coming year."
Help, Thanks, Wow: The Three Essential Prayers by Anne Lamott
"It is these three prayers – asking for assistance from a higher power, appreciating what we have that is good, and feeling awe at the world around us – that can get us through the day and can show us the way forward."
Living Life as a Thank You: The Transformative Power of Daily Gratitude by Nina Lesowitz and Mary Beth Sammons
"Authors Nina Lesowitz and Mary Beth Sammons present a simple, but comprehensive program for incorporating gratitude into one's life, and reaping the many benefits that come from doing so."
Thanks! How the New Science of Gratitude Can Make You Happier by Robert A. Emmons
"A proponent of the field of positive psychology offers a close-up study of the positive influence on people's lives of the systematic cultivation of gratitude, explaining how the practice of grateful thinking can increase one's chances for happiness and help one cope more effectively with stress, recover more quickly from illness, enjoy better physical health, improve relationships, and other benefits."
Gratitude Daily: 21 Days to More Joy and Less Stress by Nataly Kogan
"What do happier people all have in common? Gratitude. Time and again, gratitude has been scientifically proven to be a critical ingredient for a happy, healthy life, and in Gratitude Daily, happiness expert Nataly Kogan takes you on a 21-day audio journey to build your gratitude skills."
Instant Happy Journal: 365 Days of Inspiration, Gratitude, and Joy by Karen Salmansohn
"Jam-packed with 365 'happiness prompters,' this colorful journal is sure to brighten your day."
Attitudes of Gratitude: How to Give and Receive Joy Every Day of Your Life by M. J. Ryan
"In this inspirational audio book, author M.J. Ryan helps listeners identify the areas in their everyday lives where they can experience the positive effects of practicing gratitude."
Do you have any to add to my list?
Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. Each Tuesday That Artsy Reader Girl assigns a topic and then post her top ten list that fits that topic. You’re more than welcome to join her and create your own top ten (or 2, 5, 20, etc.) list as well. Feel free to put a unique spin on the topic to make it work for you! Please link back to That Artsy Reader Girl in your own post so that others know where to find more information.
