Growing up as the daughter of a former bookstore owner, I always had plenty of children’s books around me! Although, I never realized how special (and joyful!) this was until adulthood.

Even as an adult, I am always struck when reading a children’s book by just how relevant it can be for not only children but also for adults!

Given this, I had to write a follow-up to one of my earliest posts on 5 children’s books about living with joy!

Without further ado, here are 5 (more!) children’s books about joy to read with a child in your life (or on your own!)

#1: The Little Book of Joy by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu

The Book of Joy serves as the foundation for this whole site! Now, there is a children’s version called The Little Book of Joy! Following each man’s childhood, The Little Book of Joy teaches the reader that no matter where you come from, anyone can tap into their own inner joy!

“We discovered that the more joy we shared, the more joy we had. And the more joy we had, the more joy we could share.” -His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu

#2: Life by Cynthia Rylant

In her book, Life, Cynthia Rylant talks about all the special things that make life so magical. Traversing every corner of Earth, with its beautiful illustrations and its wonderful message, Rylant’s book reminds us of the joy that is life!

“Life is not always easy. There will probably be a stretch of wilderness now and then. But the wilderness eventually ends. And there is always a new road to take.” -Cynthia Rylant

#3: The Tree That Survived The Winter by Mary Fahy

Fun story about this book: when I was in my depths of healing from rock bottom, I came across this book while looking at a used books shelf at a bookstore. Intrigued by the name, I opened it only to see the book’s dedication… “To Claire whose fidelity to her own inner journey inspired this story”

Woah.

You hear about things coming into people’s lives just when they need it the most, and this book was that for me—literally it gave me a message when I needed it most!

Telling the powerful story about a tree that endures the harshness that winter can bring only to make it to spring with a big question, The Tree That Survived the Winter, is truly a book about how just when you think you have reached rock bottom, there is always hope that joy will come again—along with seeing how you have grown in the process.

” ‘Yes, you believed,’ sparkled the sun. ‘You have always believed, and that is what enabled you to grow. For had you not kept faith with me in the center of your being, you could not have blossomed into you.’ ” -Mary Fahy

#4: The Thank You Letter by Jane Cabrera

After Grace’s birthday party, she begins to write her thank-you notes to her friends and family only to find herself writing thank-you notes to other things she feels appreciative to have— like her cat and the sky! In turn, Grace receives an overwhelming response from her thank-you notes! Jane Cabrera’s The Thank You Letter reminds the reader all about the power and joy found in practicing gratitude!

“Soon Thank You Letters appeared all over town. They made everyone very happy.” -Jane Cabrera

#5: The Seed of Compassion by His Holiness the Dalai Lama

A nice counterpart to The Little Book of Joy from above, The Seed of Compassion tells the reader the story of His Holiness from growing up in Taktser to moving to Lhasa as the new Dalai Lama to present day. This book teaches the reader the superpower humans have—compassion (which the the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu talk about as a pillar to joy in their book The Book of Joy!)

“”Compassion is based in the mind, the part of us that is uniquely human. It is where you might grow strongest and how you can create something postitive in the world. Because compassion is not a sign of weakness—it is a sign of strength.” -His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Have you read any of these books? What books would you add to the list? Let us know below!