What do we give thanks for in December? Usually, we think of family, friends, food, and health. But there’s another gift worth celebrating: stories that shape how we see the world.
Reading builds gratitude in ways we don’t always recognize. When we read about characters who face challenges and persevere, we develop appreciation for our own resilience. When we encounter different perspectives and cultures on the page, we grow grateful for the diversity around us. When we finish a book that moved us, we’re thankful for the author’s skill and creativity.
For young readers especially, books can be a gateway to gratitude. Picture books teach toddlers to appreciate friendship. Chapter books show elementary students how kindness creates connection. Young adult novels help teens understand that their struggles have meaning and value.
This Holiday season, consider starting a new tradition: Grateful Reader Fridays. Gather your students and ask each person to share one book character, scene, or lesson they’re grateful for. What did that story teach them? How did it change their thinking? When we talk about reading with intentionality, we deepen both our love of books and our sense of gratitude.
After all, the best part of reading isn’t just the entertainment—it’s the transformation. And for that, we should all be truly thankful.