Is There a Book For That? That’s always my go-to when I have a parenting need. Do kids ask about death? There’s a book for that. Do they need a lesson in kindness? There are so many books about that. Do kids ask about life, the universe, and everything? Well, then we need a trip to the bookstore.

But it’s well known that if there’s a good story, they’re more likely to listen, and if they listen then they may remember. If they remember the lessons we want them to learn, they’ll probably practice these good deeds in their daily lives.

Here are some lovely stories that introduce gratitude, kindness, and appreciation through entertaining stories.

Appreciate Poetry

Thanks a Million
By Nikki Grimes, Illustrated by Cozbi A. Cabrera

We always want children to say “thank you,” but how can you explain when they should say that magical phrase? In a series of quiet yet dazzling rhymes, Grimes offers up ideas on what could prompt kids to be thankful. They’ll certainly open their eyes to a new world after reading her verses!

Appreciate Nature

Because of an Acorn
By Lola M. Schaefer, Adam Schaefer, Illustrated by Frann Preston-Gannon

Plant the seed of appreciation for every small thing in your child’s mind. This beautiful picture book shows how much we owe to the life of an acorn. You can expect them to tread carefully on the grass and perhaps look at trees differently after enjoying this storybook.

Appreciate Differences

East Dragon, West Dragon
By Robyn Eversole, Illustrated by Scott Campbell

Two dragons live across the world from each other, fearing the stories they heard about one’s “great fire” and another’s “mighty roar.” It isn’t until they must work together to save “the silly knights” that East Dragon and West Dragon learn to appreciate the other’s differences, and not be so scared of what they do not understand.

Appreciate Essentials

A Chair For My Mother
Written and Illustrated by Vera B. Williams

A young girl, her mother, and her grandmother diligently save up for a comfortable chair after losing most of their possessions in an apartment fire. Grandma bargains, her mother waits tables, and your child will be on the edge of their seat to see if the coins they collect can ever save up for something as simple and necessary as a chair.

Appreciate the World

Gratitude Soup
Written and Illustrated by Olivia Rosewood

Watercolors, collage, and cooking combine in this fanciful story of the Purple Fairy who finds gratitude in the whole world surrounding her. She takes it all in appreciation and proceeds to make gratitude soup. But how does it taste? You’ll have to read it to find out!

KEEP READING: Teach Your Kids About Consent Part 2: Books to Read For All Ages 

Images: courtesy of publishers

This article appeared in the beijingkids 2020 December issue

We know Roundabout as Beijing’s Salvation Army. When we need to redecorate, move, or spring clean, Roundabout is the first thing that our friends recommend to take away all furniture, clothing, gym equipment (like the treadmill that turned into a clothing rack after a few months) and give them all a second chance at finding new homes while raising money for a good cause.

But what else is Roundabout good for? As an expecting new mom, I’ve discovered a whole new reason to love Roundabout. More specifically, their book section.

Wall to wall of books at Roundabout

Located on the right side as soon as you walk in and taking up what looks like a good fraction of their giant warehouse store, the Book section is filled from wall to wall with donated books in every category. While the majority of the books are in English or Chinese, there is also a wide variety in other languages as well. Kids’ books are divided by age, fiction, non-fiction, art, cooking, test preparation (remember those dreaded SATs?), travel, young adult (for when you want to feel nostalgic with a copy of Harry Potter), and my personal favorite, parenting.

Never too old for Harry Potter

My first baby is on the way and were I back in the US, I’d be hitting up Barnes & Noble and reading everything from what to expect during pregnancy to birthing advice to how to care for my newborn and beyond. I know, everything can be downloaded, but what can I say? I’m old school and still prefer the feel and smell of an actual book. But not here. While Page One has a ton of sections to browse through, what they lack is a decent pregnancy and parenting one. The Roundabout books are all donated and the pregnancy and parenting section is filled with books brought over to Beijing by moms. Costing just between RMB 10 -15 per book, hitting up the Roundabout book section is like trips to the library. Roundabout receives a ton of donations that come in on a regular basis and the Roundabout volunteers work tirelessly to sort and shelf the new arrivals.

Roundabout volunteer sorting the newest donations

Nowadays, a trip to Roundabout to browse through their latest book donations, followed by seriously good Detroit style deep dish pizza at Pie Squared next door has become my new favorite “me time” routine.

Roundabout is a volunteer-run organization and the money from all purchases made at Roundabout goes to support children in need. Go ahead and get your shopping on knowing that everything you spend at Roundabout goes towards a good cause.

Got books you want to donate to Roundabout? Now’s a perfect time!

Roundabout Cathay View Plaza
No. 2 Xiangjiang Bei Lu, Chaoyang District
Ph: 6436 8506

KEEP READING: Roundabout Launches New Online Store 

Images: Mina Yan, pexels

It can get a little boring staying at home for long periods, so what better way to pass the time than with a good book! Students have all been attending online lessons for the past few months, so it also gives us a bit of a break from a screen.

Here are my top reading recommendations for teens. You can either inquire at your favorite local bookstore about ordering them, download on Kindle, or have them shipped to Beijing via The Book Depository.

Wayward Son

by Rainbow Rowell

This is the highly anticipated sequel of No.1 bestseller Carry On in which protagonist Simon Snow did everything he was supposed to do. He beat the villain, won the war, and even fell in love. Now comes the good part, the happily ever after, right? Except that in Wayward Son, Snow finds himself in a vintage convertible sailing through the American West, dealing with dragons, vampires, and skunk-headed things with shotguns. And they get lost. They get so lost that they start to wonder whether they ever knew where they were headed in the first place.

The Da Vinci Code

by Dan Brown

This book truly is one for the spy-at-heart. Follow Harvard professor Robert Langdon on a journey through France as he unravels the murder of the elderly curator of the Louvre. As he works his way through the bizarre riddles, he discovers a trail that leads to the works of Leonardo Da Vinci. Unless he can piece together and solve the puzzle in time, a historical truth will be lost forever.

The Fault In Our Stars

by John Green

In this heart-wrenching story, Hazel Grace has been terminally ill her entire life, even despite the tumor-shrinking miracle that has bought her a few extra years. But when Augustus Waters shows up one day at Cancer Kid Support group, her story is about to take a major plot twist.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

by Stephen Chbosky

Charlie isn’t the biggest geek in high school. But he’s by no means popular, not by a long shot. Being a wallflower, shy, and intelligent beyond his years, Charlie is often caught between trying to live his life and running away from it as he navigates through the labyrinth that is high school. Standing on the fringes of life, Charlie has a unique perspective of the world around him, but there comes a time where he has to get off the sidelines and see what life is like on the dance floor.

Tuesdays with Morrie

by Mitch Albom

Maybe it was a grandparent, or a teacher, or a colleague. Someone older, or wiser that gave you sound advice, who understood you when you were young. For Mitch Albom, it was Morrie Schwartz, his college professor more than 20 years ago. Like many others, he lost track of his mentor over the years, but he got the chance to visit him one last time. He rediscovered Morrie in the last months of the older man’s life. Knowing he was dying of ALS, Mitch visited Morrie in his study every Tuesday, just as they used to back in college. Their rekindled relationship turned into one final ‘class’: lessons in how to live.

KEEP READING: Volunteer at the Upcoming Roundabout Book Fair

Photos: Tierney, Jim. Wayward Son. Rainbow Rowell, Wednesday Books, 2019., The Da Vinci Code, Dan Brown, Doubleday, 2003., Corral, Rodrigo. The Fault in Our Stars, John Green, Dutton Books, 2012., The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Stephen Chbosky, MTV Books, 1999., Tuesdays with Morris, Mitch Albom, Doubleday, 1997.

This article appeared in the beijingkids 2020 August issue