‘Please, Mr. Panda,’ written and illustrated by Steve Antony

‘Sylvester and the Magic Pebble,’ written and illustrated by William Steig

Little donkey Sylvester Duncan finds a magic pebble and makes a wish. He starts to imagine all the other things he could wish for — to help himself, his family, even everyone. Then a lion walks over, and things go horribly wrong. Steig’s ingenious plot, mighty prose and delicate drawings offer a witty lesson in counting blessings and appreciating good health and time with loved ones.

Gratitude tie-in: What’s the difference between a want and a need? And at the end of the story, why did the family decide to keep the pebble out of reach?

Discussion idea for older children: This is a fable for all ages. One talking point, of many possible: Sometimes, the best way to figure out the value of something — and to appreciate it — is to lose it. Have you ever felt that way? mon interests and sharing. With sweet illustrations, a rhyme scheme and a cool surprise on the last page, this is an engaging and lively read for and with kids under 6 or so.

Gratitude tie-in: There are lots of things that make someone a good friend. You can thank your friends and tell them why you think they’re great.

Discussion idea for older children: If any big siblings are listening in (or pick up the book on their own), here’s a higher-level message: What qualities make a good friend? Is it about their words, behavior, shared interests or something else? How can you protect yourself from imbalanced friendships or social relationships?

In this board book, a fluffy panda wanders around offering doughnuts to other creatures. Each animal asks for — nay, claims — the doughnut, without saying please. And the panda declines. Then he comes across an animal with better manners, and guess what happens? She gets all the doughnuts. The narrative uses an effective — repetitive, hence predictable — pattern to drive home a message in a clear way: Boorish behavior doesn’t win the doughnut. Those who do not say please are not rewarded. Those who do say please are rewarded.

Gratitude tie-in: Good things come to those who say please and thank you.

Discussion point for older children: Being well-mannered and following social conventions — but also, frankly, masking base emotions such as greed — will help you attain certain goals.

‘The Giving Tree,’ written and illustrated by Shel Silverstein

This 1964 classic has gotten new attention in recent years, as the pandemic has prompted more pointed conversations around parental burnout. Delicate line drawings and spare language do the heavy lifting in this tale, whose moral (and its ending) has been dissected, debated and satirized in everything from The New Yorker to The Michigan Law Review. Is it a parable about the importance of showing appreciation for gifts received? About the importance of setting boundaries for the sake of self-preservation? About the scarcity of empathy in a me-centered world? Are the greedy boy and the generous tree a model of parasitic (or symbiotic) co-dependency?

Gratitude tie-in: A younger child could explore roads not taken: What if that boy had said thank you? What if he had said (gasp) thanks, but no thanks?

Discussion pointer for older children: Read this parable, then have a conversation about giving, taking and the hidden costs of both. Consider who or what in your world are Giving Trees — seemingly abundant resources that, on second thought, are finite and dwindling. Consider your own resources: What is abundant, what is scarce, and what is harder to categorize?

‘The Thank You Book,’ written and illustrated by Mo Willems

The entire 25-book “Elephant and Piggie” collection is kid-friendly sugar that makes the medicine go down. Sugar: cool leading characters, hilarious dialogue, wordplay grown-ups and older kids can appreciate, surprising twists and drawings that are by turns touching and wry. Medicine: light and serious truths about society. Here, there’s an important reminder tucked in at the end: It can be easy to forget or overlook the people who deserve our thanks. Bonus reminder: It feels great to be acknowledged and thanked!

Gratitude tie-in: From the title to the repeated “Thank yous,” this is obviously a book about expressing gratitude.

Discussion pointer for older children: As she says “Thank you” left and right, Piggie also says why she is appreciative. (For one, it’s friendship. For another, it’s ice cream.) That can teach kids how to elevate a perfunctory ritual into something more personal and more meaningful.

‘The Story of Ferdinand,’ written by Munro Leaf and illustrated by Robert Lawson

This 20th-century classic — about a gentle bull who would rather “smell the flowers” than fight in a bull ring — has been many things. Published in 1936, it was read by some as a parable about pacifism and disobedience (and banned in fascist Spain and Germany by Franco and Hitler). Empathy toward animals is another talking point. Another is the celebration of individualism. Another is noncompliance and resistance to established economic and social systems. Ferdinand is also a Bartleby for the younger set: a bull who refuses to bull and who so completely opts out of the transactional society that he’s shoved into that, for a day at least, he breaks the system. What may be more interesting than his refusal to conform is the way society bends around his will.

Gratitude tie-in: Gratitude exists on a parallel plane from this book, but its preoccupation with selfdetermination (as an alternative to peer pressure) offers a different, equally valuable lesson for parents looking to counterbalance messages of materialism during the holidays.

Discussion pointer for older children: Opting in and opting out are both choices. To shop — or not. To follow trends — or not. To listen to your instinct — or not. Be authentic. Or not.