Blessings are all around in these gentle picture books that exalt sharing and gratitude in a manner accessible to children.

Florian, Douglas. Thank You, Sun. illus. by Douglas Florian. 40p. S. & S./Beach Lane. Mar. 2026. Tr $19.99. ISBN 9781665966757.
PreS-Gr 3–Florian’s new anthology of poems gives thanks to aspects of the natural world. Each spread is a single poem on one page and a full-color illustration on the other. The poems all address something in the natural world; the first poem offers gratitude for the sun, but there are others thanking the moon, the songbirds, the soil, rivers, trees, and more. There are a variety of structures, including circle poems and free verse, but most are rhymed couplets with a strong cadence. The artwork is modern, with vibrant colors created with colored pencils and gouache on brown paper bags; this gives the pages a childlike feel, making the poems easily accessible for even the youngest readers. For reading aloud or a unit on the natural world, this is also a great introduction to poetry. VERDICT An excellent addition to any library’s poetry collection, and good for teaching about the gifts of the natural world.–Debbie Tanner

Funk, Josh. A Celebration of You. illus. by Kip Alizadeh. 32p. Bloomsbury. Mar. 2026. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9781547606689.
PreS-Gr 3–This exuberant book is all about gratitude and celebration—not for big things, like birthdays and holidays, but for the ordinary wonderfulness of life. Using lyrical, rhyming text, this book extolls the virtues of small things: a few minutes alone, the beauty of the outdoors, and gratitude for the usual things that fill each day. The carefully chosen text offers some terrific teachable vocabulary words for young readers, like mundane and domain, amid more simple words: sniff and whiff. Highly graphic, vivid artwork shows a mom with tan skin and her two young children (one with tan skin, one with brown skin) engaged in their daily activities, including having lunch and painting and playing outside. The book would be an excellent mentor text for social-emotional learning goals like gratitude and appreciation or as a Thanksgiving story with a similar theme. VERDICT This wonderful book would be a solid addition to any library as a reminder for all ages to appreciate the small things.–Debbie Tanner

Gutta, Razeena Omar. Zamzam for Everyone: Sharing Water at Hajj. illus. by Bassent Dawoud. 32p. Barefoot. Jan. 2026. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9798888592366.
Gr 1-3–A little girl narrates her first experience of Hajj, a time to “do good, share, and be thankful.” Mariam tells of her decision to share her Zamzam water, believed to be blessed in the Muslim tradition, with anyone who needs it on the five-day pilgrimage from Makkah to Mina to the plains of Arafah, Muzdalifah, and then back to Mina and Makkah. In doing so, she encounters Muslims from the world over and receives food, drink, and thanks from people of many different cultures. When she gives her last drops of Zamzam to an overheated bus driver, he in turn gives her a whole new bottle of Zamzam, so that she has enough to take home to those who weren’t able to make the journey. Gutta captures a child’s excitement at being able to participate in the pilgrimage. The mingling of many cultures joining together for a practice they commonly revere is also effectively conveyed. Dawoud’s digital collages amplify the goodwill; her characters exude kindness, while a judicious use of patterns on hijabs, flooring, and walls gives life to the bustling scenes. Helpful back matter explains further about Zamzam water, Hajj, and proper attire. Glossaries, pronunciation guides, and photos and descriptions of the foods fill out the appended information along with author and illustrator notes. VERDICT This joyful collaboration will be equally enjoyed by children who already know about Hajj and by those who are learning of it for the first time.–Jan Solow