Browse our recommended books to help children understand the importance of sharing.
Want more books? Take a look at our recommendations for children or see more from our parenting book collection.
Magpie and the Sparkling Words
Lucy Rowland
From her nest, Magpie listens to the wonderful words of her fellow woodland animals. Words with a sparkle, a shimmer, a shine, entwined in her nest in the tree.
She gathered them up and giggled, ‘They’re mine – these sparkling words just for me!’ But eventually, the other animals stay quiet so their words aren’t being whisked away. Only then does Magpie realise that the silent wood doesn’t glitter in the same way as before.
After a storm destroys Magpie’s nest, and sends her stash of sparkling words zooming back out into the forest, she finally learns that it is unity, kindness and sharing language that makes the words sparkle.
Ruffles and the Teeny, Tiny Kittens
David Melling
Ruff! Ruff! Hello, Ruffles! Ruffles is a typical toddler who experiences all the highs and lows of preschool life as he learns about the world around him. There are lots of things he likes and lots of things he doesn’t!
The Teeny Tiny Kittens have come to stay and Ruffles is NOT happy. They pounce and purr and snore and jump and POOP! Worst of all, they want to play with Big Blue Blankie, and Ruffles doesn’t want to share. But the Teeny Tiny Kittens don’t understand and there’s trouble when Big Blue Blankie is accidentally ripped.
Luckily, Ruffles’ new feline friends show him that sharing together is the very best way to make friends and play.
Bear
Natalia Shaloshvili
Bear is all set for a perfect day. The sky is blue, there’s not a cloud in the sky and he has all of his most favourite things in the world by his side – a cookie to nibble on, a book to get lost in, a bright balloon to keep him happy and the perfect bench to take a rest on.
But no sooner has Bear made himself comfortable, than along comes Fox who wants to share the bench too. Bear agrees, begrudgingly. But no sooner has he overcome the idea of sharing his bench when Wolf pops up to ask for a bit of cookie – and then Rabbit jumps up to read his book – and then Elephant lumbers along to play with his balloon.
And before Bear knows it, it’s all become too much for him!
Bert și Bula
Kim Hillyard
One day, Bert the frog finds a beautiful, shiny bubble. It’s a very nice bubble – and all Bert’s friends think so too.
Soon everyone wants to have a turn with the precious bubble – but as Bert discovers, sharing can be tricky. Can the friends find a way to enjoy the fun – together?
A positive, heart-warming story about learning to share and finding fun in the world around you.
Mauntie and Me
Rajani LaRocca
Every Saturday, when Priya’s aunties and uncles and cousins come over, the other kids run off to play together, leaving Priya behind. But she doesn’t mind, because she gets to have her favourite aunt, Mauntie – short for My Auntie – all to herself.
Until, that is, her older cousin Aditi comes to visit and wants to share Mauntie’s attention. Priya doesn’t want to share – she wants things to go back to the way they were!
With Mauntie’s help, can she find a way to ease her feelings of jealousy and make room in their family duo for one more?
Panda & Penguin Find a Thing
Zehra Hicks
When a mystery device comes between two best friends, will they learn to share, or decide they’re better off without it at all? Panda and Penguin are best friends – until they find the Thing.
The Thing is exciting – it has a flashing screen and makes funny ringing noises – but only one of them can play with it at a time. The Thing comes between them, but is anything worth losing their friendship?
A funny and lighthearted tale that cautions against letting technology cause problems between friends.
Nuts About Nuts
Bia Melo
Squirrel LOVES nuts – many, many nuts.
Follow Squirrel on a hilarious adventure as they gather more and more nuts for their secret stash, determined to keep every last one to themselves. Watch the chaos unfold as Squirrel struggles to haul ALL the nuts up the hill to their hiding place.
But what happens when a passing bird feels peckish? Can Squirrel learn that sharing might be even better than hoarding?
How Not to Share a Pizza!
Tracy Curran
When Papa Panther opens a new pizzeria with lots of scrumptious toppings, best friends Otto and Ali are the first in the queue. ‘Half for you, and half for me’, insists Otto. ‘Equal shares’!
But dividing the pizza fairly is tricky, especially since Ali can’t resist chomping! At an impasse, Otto decides to get his own pizza. But alone he doesn’t have enough pebbles to buy it, and neither does Ali.
It’s only when Otto accidentally trips over a stick that he realises there might be a way for them to divide the pizza into equal shares and mend their friendship.
There is Not Usually a Hole
Daisy Hirst
If you saw a hole in the ground and a banana popped out of it, would you go in and explore?
A quirky, fun and surreal picture book about the tricky business of sharing, surprising new friendships and snacks for all curious little adventurers.
Can You Share, Little Whale?
Jonathan Lambert
Little Whale does not like to share. She wants to be the one to lead the pod and to eat all the delicious fish by herself. And she certainly doesn’t want anyone to share her mum’s attention.
But when her friend Blue shares a snack, Little Whale is inspired to set out on a journey to find the beauty of sharing with one another.
Puiul cu unt al lui Papa
Monica Saigal și Abeeha Tariq
Monica’s Papa is making his famous butter chicken, and Monica can’t wait to help him prepare it!
As Monica helps Papa cook, he tells her stories of his childhood in Delhi: how he ate this dish with his father, of love and laughter, family and friendships – all beautiful bonds forged through sharing and built around the dinner table.
But when the butter chicken is ready, everyone starts to turn up at the door with their own dish. Monica is suddenly sad. She’s not sure she wants to share her butter chicken, or her Papa! But Papa gently reassures Monica that the love he has for her is the strongest of all.
Iepurele care nu voia să împărtășească
Steve Small
There was once a hare who did NOT like to share. What is the point of sharing? thinks the hare. The more I give away the less there is for ME. But even the hare can appreciate the lovingly tended carrot patch created by the neighbouring rabbits.
So, when a huge boar threatens to destroy the patch, will this hare come to see that giving things up for others means that you can gain so very much MORE of the most important things in life?
Acela e al Meu!
Sumana Seeboruth și Ashleigh Corrin
When one toddler in a childcare setting takes all the toy animals for herself, she discovers that monopolizing all the toys can be a bit lonely.
Will offering one of the animals to another child help bridge the gap?
Domnul Men: Împărtășire
Roger Hargreaves
Little Miss Sunshine and Mr Cool love sharing, but sometimes it can be difficult to share. Mr Grumpy and Little Miss Stubborn find it particularly hard.
Will they learn to enjoy sharing too with some help from their friends?
Mina!
Emily Gravett
Bear and Hare have gone for a walk, but every nice thing they find on the way, Hare wants all for himself. He even gobbles up a lovely ice cream without offering a bite to his best friend.
Can Bear teach Hare how to share?
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