Learning to share is an important milestone in childhood that takes practice and time. Books are a wonderful way to introduce concepts like taking turns, showing kindness, and thinking about how our actions make others feel. We hope these books spark meaningful conversations about all of these important skills!
Even Steven by Kathryn Cristaldi
This story follows two friends who couldn’t be more different. Steven likes things neat, orderly, and “even,” while Todd enjoys being messy, creative, and silly. When their differences cause a problem, they learn an important lesson about accepting others despite our differences. With silly characters and fun illustrations, this is a great book for encouraging kindness and flexibility!
Zip! Zap! Wickety! Wack! by Matthew Diffee
This book begins like many other children’s books about animal sounds, but quickly takes a silly turn when Goat and Sheep begin to argue about who the sound “baa” belongs to. With the help of an alien friend, they learn about sharing and compromise. This one will surely have your little one giggling along the way!
Blocks by Irene Dickson
Blocks is the perfect story for even the youngest readers to relate to. Ruby is playing with red blocks and Benji is playing with blue, but things get tricky when Benji suddenly wants to use a red block. With a simple, clear message and engaging illustrations, your child will love reading this story, and it is sure to spark wonderful conversations about sharing.
Can I Play Too? by Samantha Cotterill
This is another simple yet impactful book for children who are learning to consider their friends’ feelings. When two children are playing with trains and an argument ensues, they work through the issue with the help of a teacher. This is a wonderful book for talking about the big feelings that can come with sharing and learning how to work through them.
Should I Share My Ice Cream? by Mo Willems
Should I Share My Ice Cream? is the perfect way to bring some silliness to the concept of sharing. We can all relate to Gerald as he considers whether or not he should share his beloved ice cream with his friend Piggie. In a sweet turn of events, Piggie shows Gerald just how wonderful sharing can be. Can I Play too? by Mo Willems is another great Elephant & Piggie tale to pair with this concept!
Did you find this blog post helpful? We think you will love these too:
1.) Books That Make Kids Laugh Out Loud
2.) Do NOT Let Your Child Read These Books
3.) The Best Interactive Books for Toddler and Preschoolers
…and if you want to take the guesswork out of how to get the best new books in front of your child each month, check out Beloved Books, my monthly love letter to readers ages 0-12 with all the best book suggestions delivered right to your inbox.
Written by Kathleen Koester and Becca Thiemann
