“What are the best Children’s books about Helping Others?” We looked at 163 of the top Kids Helping Others books, aggregating and ranking them so we could answer that very question!

The top 21 titles, all appearing on 2 or more “Best Kids Helping Other” book lists, are ranked below by how many lists they appear on. The remaining 125+ titles, as well as the lists we used are in alphabetical order at the bottom of the page.

Happy Scrolling!

Top 21 Children’s Books About Helping Others

21 .) 14 Cows for America written by Carmen Agra Deedy

Lists It Appears On:

• Goodreads
• Pragmatic Mom

Maasai tribal members, after hearing the story of the September 11th attacks from a young Massai, who was in New York on that day, decide to present the American people with fourteen sacred cows as a healing gift.

20 .) A Chair For My Mother written by Vera B. Williams

Lists It Appears On:

• A Literary Feast
• Pragmatic Mom

A child, her waitress mother, and her grandmother save dimes to buy a comfortable armchair after all their furniture is lost in a fire.

19 .) Kindness Is Cooler, Mrs. Ruler written by Margery Cuyler

Lists It Appears On:

• Look For Little Helpers
• Read Brightly

Mrs. Ruler guides her students in discovering ways of being kind to their family members, their community, and each other. When Mrs. Ruler asks five of her kindergarteners to miss recess, she’s got a special plan up her sleeve. She’s about to teach a new golden rule: Kindness is cool! Soon the entire class is doing so many good deeds that their kindness bulletin board barely fits their classroom! From clearing the table after dinner, to helping the elderly, one kindergarten class is proving that kids really can make a difference. Count along with Mrs. Ruler’s class. Can all their good deeds really add up to 100 acts of kindness?…

18 .) Maddi’s Fridge written by Lois Brandt

Lists It Appears On:

• A Mighty Girl
• Goodreads

Maddi’s fridge is almost empty, while Sophia’s fridge is full of food. How can Sophia help her friend Maddi without breaking her promise not to tell anyone?

17 .) Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon written by Patty Lovell

Lists It Appears On:

• Goodreads
• Read Brightly

Even when the class bully at her new school makes fun of her, Molly remembers what her grandmother told her and she feels good about herself.

16 .) The Berenstain Bears Think of Those in Need written by Jan and Stan Berenstain

Lists It Appears On:

• Barnes & Noble
• Grow Your Giving

When Mama Bear decides that the family has accumulated too many old toys, books, and games, they sort through all their extra stuff and take it to the Old Bears Home, the Beartown Children’s Hospital, and the Bears-Who-Care store.

15 .) The Giving Book written by Ellen Sabin

Lists It Appears On:

• Barnes & Noble
• Grow Your Giving

The Giving Book is filled with activities that let you think about your hopes and dreams for the world. You can do “tons” of cool things and have so much fun while you help people and the world around you!

14 .) The Little Engine That Could written by Watty Piper

Lists It Appears On:

• A Literary Feast
• Goodreads

When the other engines refuse, the Little Blue Engine tries to pull a stranded train full of dolls, toys, and good food over the mountain.

13 .) The Spiffiest Giant in Town written by Julia Donaldson

Lists It Appears On:

• Barnes & Noble
• Grow Your Giving

George wished he wasn’t the scruffiest giant in town. So, one day, when he sees a new shop selling giant-sized clothes, he decides it’s time for a new look. With smart trousers, a smart shirt, stripy tie and shiny shoes, George is a new giant. But on his way home, he meets various animals who desperately need his help … and his clothes!…

12 .) We All Sing With the Same Voice written by J. Philip Miller and Sheppard M. Greene

Lists It Appears On:

• BuzzFeed
• Look For Little Helpers

This joyful Sesame Street song embraces the notion that no matter where children live, what they look like, or what they do, they’re all the same where it counts–at heart.

11 .) Boxes for Katje written by Candace Fleming

Lists It Appears On:

• A Mighty Girl
• Barnes & Noble
• Grow Your Giving

After a young Dutch girl writes to her new American friend in thanks for the care package sent after World War II, she begins to receive increasingly larger boxes.

10 .) Each Kindness written by Jacqueline Woodson

Lists It Appears On:

• BuzzFeed
• Goodreads
• Look For Little Helpers

When Ms. Albert teaches a lesson on kindness, Chloe realizes that she and her friends have been wrong in making fun of new student Maya’s shabby clothes and refusing to play with her.

9 .) Horton Hears a Who written by Dr. Seuss

Lists It Appears On:

• A Literary Feast
• BuzzFeed
• Read Brightly

A city of Whos on a speck of dust are threatened with destruction until the smallest Who of all helps convince Horton’s friends that Whos really exist.

8 .) How to Heal a Broken Wing written by Bob Graham

Lists It Appears On:

• A Literary Feast
• Goodreads
• Look For Little Helpers

When Will finds a bird with a broken wing, he takes it home and cares for it, hoping in time it will be able to return to the sky.

7 .) Last Stop on Market Street written by Matt de la Pena

Lists It Appears On:

• BuzzFeed
• Look For Little Helpers
• Pragmatic Mom

A young boy rides the bus across town with his grandmother and learns to appreciate the beauty in everyday things.

6 .) The Invisible Boy written by Trudy Ludwig

Lists It Appears On:

• BuzzFeed
• Look For Little Helpers
• Read Brightly

Brian has always felt invisible at school, but when a new student, Justin, arrives, everything changes.

5 .) Those Shoes written by Maribeth Boelts

Lists It Appears On:

• BuzzFeed
• Look For Little Helpers
• Read Brightly

Jeremy, who longs to have the black high tops that everyone at school seems to have but his grandmother cannot afford, is excited when he sees them for sale in a thrift shop and decides to buy them even though they are the wrong size.

4 .) A Sick Day for Amos McGee written by Philip C. Stead and Erin E. Stead

Lists It Appears On:

• A Literary Feast
• BuzzFeed
• Goodreads
• Read Brightly

One day Amos McGee is sick and the animals come to visit him.

3 .) Ordinary Mary’s Extraordinary Deed written by Emily Pearson and Fumi Kosaka

Lists It Appears On:

• A Mighty Girl
• BuzzFeed
• Look For Little Helpers
• Read Brightly

A young girl’s good deed is multiplied as it is passed on by those who have been touched by the kindesss of others.

2 .) The Giving Tree written by Shel Silverstein

Lists It Appears On:

• BuzzFeed
• CBC
• Goodreads
• Grow Your Giving

A young boy grows to manhood and old age experiencing the love and generosity of a tree which gives to him without thought of return.

1 .) Have You Filled A Bucket Today? written by Carol McCloud, Illustrated By David Messing

Lists It Appears On:

• BuzzFeed
• CBC
• Look For Little Helpers
• Read Brightly
• Shepherds Friendly

Through sweet, simple prose and vivid illustrations, this book encourages positive behavior as children see how very easy and rewarding it is to express kindness, appreciation, and love on a daily basis.

The 125+ Additional Kids Books About Helping People

11 Best Helping Others Children’s Book Sources/Lists