Some books can teach our children lessons that they might otherwise ignore if coming from their parents or teachers. Here are some great books to help children learn to cooperate. They show situations showing people working together to make things better for everyone, describing the importance of understanding in work, friendship, and family environments.
Stone Soup: An Old Tale by Marcia Brown is a classic, which is well known and loved by many. The story follows three hungry soldiers that come to a town where the peasants have hidden all the food. The soldiers set out to make soup of water and stones, and eventually the entire the town has a feast.
The Seven Silly Eaters by Mary Ann Hoberman is an extremely funny rhyming story about a family of very picky eaters who drive their mother crazy. In the end the picky eaters surprise their mother, and themselves, in a messy situation that allows the mother to finally have some time for herself.
You and Me and Home Sweet Home by George Ella Lyon is the story of third grader Sharonda and her mother help to build a home for themselves. The teamwork of family and community is wonderfully described and the story shows how important a home is to any family, and why it is important to help others have a safe home.
Big pumpkin by Erica Silverman is about a witch that is trying to pick a large pumpkin on Halloween. In the process a series of monsters help her out and she discovers the high value of cooperation.
The Wednesday Surprise by Eve Bunting is about Anna and her Grandmother. Everyone thinks that Grandma is teaching Anna to read, but that is not the true story. This is a charming and heartwarming tale for people of all ages.
The Snail and the Whale by Julia Donaldson is about a tiny snail and huge whale working together. The snail wants to see more of the world, so he posts a sign and catches a ride on a humpback whale. After some adventures the snail is able to help save the whale, which gets stuck in the sand.
Chester’s Way by Kevin Henkes is about two boys, Chester and Wilson. They share the common ways of doing things. Then one day Lilly moves into the neighborhood and they learn that new ways to do things can be just as good as the old.
First Come the Zebra by Lynne Barasch is about two young Kenyan boys. They are on opposite sides of a long standing rivalry and initial have hostility toward each other. However, when a toddler is in danger the two boys work together and discover that they have a lot in common. In the end they work out more than how to save the younger child.
Move Over, Rover by Karen Beaumont takes place during a thunderstorm. Rover is glad to have a dry, safe doghouse to stay in during the bad weather, but he does not have the house all to himself like he expected. Soon a variety of animals seek shelter with him. It is one crowded doghouse until one particularly odoriferous animal tries to join the crowd.
The Seven Chinese Brothers by Margaret Mahy is the work of one of my favorite authors. She adds action and irony to a much older tale. The story is about seven brothers whom each have a super power that helps them evade being executed by the emperor. Only by working together, and cunning, can the brothers survive.
Dinosaur Woods by George McClements is the story of seven slightly quirky critters working together to save their home from developers. The critters team up and create a dinosaur from materials that they can gather together, and attempt to scare away those that would destroy their forest home.
Punctuation Takes a Vacation by Robin Pulver is a fun story about the punctuation marks in Mr. Wright’s class. The marks have worked hard, allowing themselves to be written, erased and corrected over and over again. One day they all decide to take a vacation. The students in class quickly discover just how hard life can be without punctuation.
