Skip to main content

NewFolks may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

These 5 books teach kids sharing is caring

Toddlers share an apple
Anna Kraynova / Shutterstock

Saying sharing doesn’t come easily for a toddler is a little like saying algebra doesn’t come easily for a banana.

All the more reason, then, to impart the lesson early and often, and there’s no better vehicle than storytime. Away from the heat of the moment, kids will be much more receptive to listening and absorbing new information. Here are five of our favorite toddler books about sharing. The stories, characters, and messages in these stories are bound to spark their eager young mind.

Recommended Videos

That’s (Not) Mine

This hilarious mini-drama is one in a series from the husband-and-wife team of Anna Kang and Christopher Weyant. The setting for this mini-drama? One simple, straight-backed chair—that each of the two furry main characters believes belongs to them. Read with your little person and delight in the hijinks as they, um, “work together” to sort out their disagreement.

Should I Share My Ice Cream?

This story has a rather brilliant take on not just the virtues of sharing but a kid-friendly exploration of why sharing can seem difficult, inconvenient, or even untenable.

From the award-winning Elephant & Piggie series, an excellent set of toddler books about feelings and other topics, Gerald the elephant has an ice cream cone he’d like to share with his best friend. But Piggie is nowhere to be seen. Meanwhile, the ice cream is melting. What’s an elephant to do? It’s the kind of nuanced view that very young children don’t often get, on any subject, from their storybooks.

The Rainbow Fish

Whether kid or parent, the first impression of this book would certainly be the sparkly scales that decorate the eponymous fish and dance in the light. But it’s that same captivation that causes the fish to value those scales over those around him. Only in sharing the scales with others does the fish come to understand the other fish and himself.

Daddy and daughter reading bookLlama Llama Time to Share

Many a family knows Llama Llama from the British-American animated show on Netflix. But before it was a streaming series, it was a book series, with the irrepressible title character always out for childhood adventure.

In this one, a new neighbor arrives for a playdate, but Llama doesn’t want to share all his toys, much to the chagrin of Mama Llama. Problems arise, hijinks ensue, lessons are learned, and kids can learn along from the comfort of your lap.

The Bear Who Shared

It sounds a bit like the beginning of a joke. A bear, a raccoon, and a mouse are waiting for fruit to fall from a tree. But it becomes a little more serious when sharing comes in. What’s going to happen when it falls? What’s the fair way to divide it?

Fortunately, as is clear from the title, the bear in question is a benevolent bear. He also provides a way for kids to see that sharing is best when it comes from someone who has no reason to share at all.

All of these books offer clear but gentle lessons on not only the importance of sharing but the reality that sharing isn’t always easy. Reading to kids provides a mountain of benefits in a raft of areas, including concentration and empathy. So when you’re reading, your little one is listening. That makes stories like these an ideal tool to help lessons sink in.

Scott Harris
Scott Harris is a freelance writer based near Washington, DC, with more than a decade of experience covering health…
Detect ovulation at home naturally with these 5 methods
Does tracking your ovulation cycle actually work?
Pregnancy test on top of a calendar

Knowing when you're ovulating is a key piece to getting pregnant. While some people are blessed to get pregnant without much effort, others require a bit more planning.

When couples can detect ovulation naturally at home, it's a helpful way for them to target the most fertile time during a woman's cycle. While it might seem like a daunting task on the surface, there are ways for you to track your ovulation cycle without professional intervention.

Read more
Why do kids eat boogers? Tips to curb this behavior
Boogers don't taste good, so why do kids eat them?
A young girl picking her nose with her mother in the background looking grossed out

Even though kids are adorable and funny and oh-so-cute, they're also sometimes kind of gross. The things your sweet child sometimes does can be super disgusting. Ask any teacher. One of the most cringe-worthy things kiddos do is eat their boogers. Every child does it. You may not remember it, but if you asked your parents, they’ll say they caught you a time or two trying your own nose boogs.

Why do kids eat boogers in the first place? It seems like "don't eat your snot" is something parents should never have to say. Well, children are weird and will try anything if left unattended. You always encourage your child to try new things and unfortunately, the taste of their boogers is on the list. Most parents, though, don't want their kids experimenting with the taste of boogers. So, let us help you get your child’s nose-picking (and taste testing) under control by understanding why kids eat boogers in the first place.
Booger obsessed

Read more
Beginner hairstyles for little girls: Quick and cute ideas
Learn how to do your kiddo's hair with these simple styles for girls
Mom styling young girl's hair

When you're doing your own hair, you really don't think about it. You can whip it up into a ponytail when you're going for a run or curl it just right if you're heading to a party, but when it's your little girl's hair, not so much. Once your daughter's hair reaches a length that you can actually do something with it, you now have to think about styles.

If you happen to be someone like me who never really gave that a great deal of thought, you're faced with a bit of a challenge. The challenge gets bigger when you have a little girl with the natural curls you always wanted. Take heart. There are beginner easy little girl hairstyles that won't cause a lot of drama.
Tips for doing hair

Read more