Is your family talking about giving back this Thanksgiving holiday through acts of kindness or service work? The New Orleans Public Library has many books on giving back –– from picture books that illustrate the joys of sharing and community, to inspiring stories for those looking for ways to enact real change.
Children
In Give Back by Gina Bellisario and Alicia Mas, young readers can celebrate kindness and sharing through a heartwarming story. The book follows a little girl and her multigenerational family as they prepare for a community meal and clothing drive, discovering the many ways they can give to those around them.
At Our Table by Patrick Hulse and Madelyn Goodnight is all about sharing, community, family, food, and respect for America’s first inhabitants. In this lyrical, colorful book, children can explore the countless ways we give to others on Thanksgiving— from preparing food to honor farmers and Native communities to creating memories with those we love.
When a neighborhood park needs repair in 1 2 3 Counting on Community by Annemarie Riley Guertin and Cory Reid, the community comes together to give it new life. From raking leaves to painting benches and planting a communal garden, everyone joins forces to beautify their shared space in this inspiring story about working together.
Middle Grade
Make Your Mark, Make a Difference: A Kid’s Guide to Standing Up for People, Animals, and the Planet by Joan Marie Galat shows middle grade readers how to take the first steps into activism. This comprehensive guide empowers readers to choose and become knowledgeable in a cause they are most passionate about and to create meaningful change.
In Gayle Forman’s Not Nothing, Alex is working at a nursing home when he meets Josey, a 107-year-old Holocaust survivor who stopped talking years before. But, as the two form an unlikely bond, Alex starts to believe he can make a difference in the world.
For the young activists in your family, Charlene Rocha, Mary Beth Leatherdale, and Drew Shannon’s You Can Be an Activist: How to Use Your Strengths & Passions to Make a Difference is a great read. It covers everything from choosing a cause and doing the research, to deciding on a goal, and getting it done. Along the way, readers get practical tips on handling specific tasks, like creating a petition and leading a team.
Young Adult
For teens looking for real-world inspiration, try Don’t Wait: Three Girls Who Fought for Change and Won by journalist Sonali Kohli. The book follows three girls of color on the front lines of the fight for equal rights and how their efforts helped make their communities safer, healthier places.
In We Don’t Have Time for This by Brianna Craft, Issa Brown, co-president of her high school’s environmental justice club, wants to make real change. But, her infuriating co-president, hustler Darius Freeman, wants to do things his own way, and as they constantly clash over everything, both their hearts and their communities are at risk.