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We'll need these later for our "bank"

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Trace the lines

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Cut the cars and match them to the community helpers.

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Foster your child's faith in humanity by reading them picture books about communities coming together in times of crisis, as well as in times of normalcy. These children's books about the power of community, being helpful and looking out for one's fellow humans and creatures are a great resource to teach your children about the benefits of the social contract.

When communities come together to solve a problem or help one another, it is often a result of one person's act of kindness starting a chain of positive events. Your kids will see that reality reflected in these stories. But they will also see how there is strength in numbers.

Whether you use these books as a tool for reassurance in a time of crisis, or as encouragement to inspire your child to take actions big or small, be assured they are also wonderfully entertaining stories!

Note: this post contains affiliate links that may earn commission.

Picture Books about Communities

We are Together

by Britta Teckentrup

The clever die cut pages show an ever increasing group of ethnically diverse ( but not differently-abled) children as the book moves forward. Rhyming text offers the message that together the children are a team. As a team they can do things like splash in puddles, encourage each other to take untraveled paths, or navigate complex emotions like seeing their way through confusing times. Wonderful illustrations place the children in various natural settings, from woodlands to urban parks, and snowy tundras.

Maybe Something Beautiful

by F. Isabel Campoy and Theresa Howell

Mira wants to brighten up her grey neighborhood. She starts out small by handing out her colorful illustrations to neighbors. Inspired by Mira, the community gets together to transform their environment with colorful murals. This kind of community improvement activity is just the sort of thing that kids can participate in! I love the vibrant illustrations and the message that art makes life better.

The Whispering Town

by Jennifer Elvgren

Based on a true story, this testament to community is the inspiring tale of how one town Nazi-occupied Denmark saved the lives of a Jewish mother and son. Anett's family had been hiding the pair in their cellar, but in order to get them through the town to a boat headed to Sweden, the whole town must take a risk and come together.

Come with Me

by Holly M. McGhee

A young girl is feeling anxious about the anger, hatred and tension she sees in the news. As a way to reassure his daughter about the goodness still in the world, he takes her for a walk, saying, "Come with me." On their journey, they see kindness. Later on, the girl takes the dog for a walk and invites a neighbor boy to come along with her. A great book to help you talk to your kids about how to manage their anxiety in a complex world.

Counting on Community

by Innosanto Nagara

Counting books are always a hit with the preschool set and this book encourages children to think about how they can be an active participant in their community and a force for good, from working in the community garden, beautifying the sidewalks with chalk drawings to wearing safety gear when riding bicycles and promoting diversity. Preschoolers will enjoy hunting for the hidden duck throughout the book.

One Plastic Bag: Isatou Ceesay and the Recycling Women of the Gambia

by Miranda Paul

When Isatou noticed that plastic bags do not degrade like traditional baskets when discarded she comes up with a plan to return beauty to her home and help the economic situation of her neighbors. Together, the women crochet plastic strips into small purses to sell at the market. This book is a good lesson on how communities can take action on their own, as well as pursuing more widespread measures through legislation.

Green City: How One Community Survived a Tornado and Rebuilt for a Sustainable Future

by Allan Drummond

Author Allan Drummond has three books in his collection of stories about people who focus on building sustainable communities. In this selection, after a tornado destroys Greensburg, Kansas in 2007, the citizens rebuild with sustainability in mind. Be sure to read the companion books, Energy Island, about a community in Denmark that uses wind power, and Pedal Power about how Amsterdam came to be the bicycle capital of the world. All three are wonderfully positive tributes to the power of communities to enact change.

The Subway Sparrow

by Leyla Torres

When a sparrow is trapped on a subway train, a group of diverse individuals work together to capture and release the frightened bird. Even though the subway riders don't all speak the same language, their desire to cooperate for the greater good overcomes their differences.

Thank You, Omu!

by Oge Mora

I adore the wonderful cut-paper collage illustrations in this timeless tale about the community value of sharing. Omu is making stew and its delicious smell enchants the neighborhood. One by one, a diverse group of visitors, drawn in by the scent of Omu's stew, knock on her door and ask for a bowl. Omu generously hands out portions but eventually realizes that she no longer has any left for herself. Not to worry! Her neighbors don't forget her kindness and they all join together to return the favor.

Mr Gumpy's Outing

by John Burningham

Mr Gumpy goes out for a relaxing afternoon in his wooden boat. Soon a few children ask to join him. He welcomes them aboard with calmness. Next a succession of animals one by one join the group, and even though the boat is getting quite full, no one is refused. A joyful book about inclusion and sharing a boat come what may, and sharing a pot of tea even when things go topsy turvy.

The Big Umbrella

by Amy June Bates and Juniper Bates

This book sparkles with its celebration of the joy that comes when we include others. It wass written by a mother and her 11 year old daughter while walking to school in the rain. The story begins with a narrator introducing a big umbrella by the door; it's a really big umbrella, big enough for everyone. I love the inclusion of a diverse cast of characters, making this a wonderful book with a very positive, uplifting message.

Ada's Violin: The Story of the Recycled Orchestra of Paraguay

by Susan Hood

This is such an inspiring story. Young Ada Ríos lives in Paraguay in a town that was built atop a landfill. Ada loves music and dreams of playing the violin, but her family is too poor to afford it. When a new teacher comes to the community, he crafts instruments out of trash and the children form an orchestra. This is a great book which covers so many issues: a community coming together musicianship, education, environmental justice and more.
More books about communities on the following lists:

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Children's Books about Communities Coming Together

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Foster your child's faith in humanity by reading them picture books about communities coming together in times of crisis, as well as in times of normalcy. These children's books about the power of community, being helpful and looking out for one's fellow humans and creatures are a great resource to teach your children about the benefits of the social contract.

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Communities are amazing places full of people and resources just waiting to be discovered. Use these children's books about community to broaden the horizons of the students and help them learn about what it means to be a part of a community.

I asked my friend Lauren Bercuson, the blogger behind Happily Ever Elephants, to put together a list of picture books about community for you. She came up with an AMAZING list. Take a look.

Books About Community
Full Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

Hey Wall: A Story of Art and Community, by Susan Verde and illustrated by John Parra: The mere mention of a wall is so divisive these days, but in this book, a wall becomes an extravagant mural showcasing the beauty and diversity in one neighborhood. The wall, big and bleak, is an eyesore in Angel's bustling community, and he wishes it adequately reflected the joy and laughter spilling out of every doorway. Angel wants to make a change, but he knows he can't do it alone. Harnessing the power of art, Angel and fellow community members turn that wall into a joyful mural, representing the hearts and lives of the people residing within their town.

Last Stop on Market Street, by Matt de la Pena and illustrated by Christian Robinson: As a boy and his grandmother ride the bus one afternoon, the boy continually asks his grandma about various luxuries he sees others enjoying that he and his family do not have. His grandmother opens the boy's eyes to all of the ways in which they are rich, even though they may not have the particular possessions the boy so admires. When their bus ride ends, the reader learns grandmother and grandchild are going to volunteer at a soup kitchen. We love how this story shows that no matter where you fit in your neighborhood, we can each find meaningful ways to give back to our communities.

*Also, check out our Family Dinner Book Club featuring Last Stop on Market Street.

What is Given from the Heart, by Patricia McKissack and April Harrison: James Otis and his Mama don't have much, but they have their health and strength, so Mama knows they are blessed. One Sunday at church, their reverend makes an announcement: a family in their community has lost everything in a fire, and the congregants will compile a Love Box containing anything they think will be helpful to the family. James Otis wonders hard - what can he give? What would the family's young daughter want from him, a boy who has so little? James Otis eventually comes up with an idea from the heart - but will it be enough? This book is sheer perfection, teaching every human being, no matter how old or how young, that even those who have so little still have much to offer others.

Thank you, Omu!, by Oge Mora: A stunning debut! Everyone in the neighborhood follows the delicious scent of stew to Omu's doorstep, where Omu (meaning "queen" in the Igbo language of the author's parents) lovingly dishes her stew to her neighbors. But when it comes time for Omu to sit down for dinner, she realizes she's left no stew for herself! This is a gorgeous, timeless story of generosity and community, beautifully conveying that one good deed deserves another - and sharing is everything.

Maybe Something Beautiful: How Art Transformed a Neighborhood, by F. Isabel Campoy and Theresa Howell: Young Mira believes a little splash of color can make a big, big difference in her otherwise dreary community. Based on the true story of the Urban Art Trail in San Diego, Mira shows us how even kids can accomplish great things - including harnessing the power of art to transform and revitalize an entire city. Rafael Lopez, the book's illustrator, was also the artist behind the Urban Art Trail. His illustrations are as gorgeous as his real-life murals.This is such an evocative story of community, conveying how together we have the power to create beauty where it didn't before exist.

*Also, grab our book activities to accompany Maybe Something Beautiful.

A Hat for Mrs. Goldman: A Story About Knitting and Love, by Michelle Edwards and illustrated by G. Brian Karas: Mrs. Goldman is known for knitting hats for everyone in the neighborhood and helps so many people stay warm during winter's chill. So when the freezing temperatures arrive and Mrs. Goldman has no hat of her own because she is so busy knitting for all her neighbors, Sophia decides to make something special for her special friend. A wonderful story of paying it forward that describes how small acts of generosity make the largest impacts on people's lives!

The Very Last Castle, by Travis Jonker and illustrated by Mark Pett: One old, seemingly abandoned castle is ripe for rumors, and the people in town have no problem spinning tales about the horrors that must lie inside. We love the way this book challenges the preconceived notions of an entire community - all, that is, but one small, curious girl who constantly tries to catch the eye of the man guarding the mysterious castle. The child overcomes fear of the unknown by being brave enough to discover for herself what really lies behind the foreboding doors. In the process, she discovers her inner courage, makes a new friend, and creates a big change right within her neighborhood.

The Curious Garden, by Peter Brown: This is a quietly beautiful story about a boy in a dreary town who discovers a straggling garden while out on a walk. He decides to care for it, nurturing it with love, patience and perseverance, even after it is harmed by the elements. Once he nurtures the garden, an amazing thing happens - gardeners appear from all around the city to help! They all revitalize the city's landscape, bringing life to the city and blue to the skies. This book is stunning both in story and illustration, with themes of perseverance, environmental activism, and community improvement.

Be Kind, by Pat Zeitlow Miller and illustrated by Jen Hill: A young girl is in despair after spilling grape juice on her new dress. Seeing her sadness, one of the girl's classmates wonders what it means to be kind- even when others aren't. This book explores acts of kindness big and small and beautifully imparts that even our youngest children have the power to make an impactful difference in our classrooms, in our communities, and in the world at large simply by making kind choices.

Pie is for Sharing, by Stephanie Parsley Ledyard and illustrated by Jason Chin: We love the way this book captures a community picnic and togetherness on a warm summer day! Nothing says summer like apple pie and picnics and what better way to eat a good meal than to share it? This story joyfully conveys all the things you can share with friends and neighbors in the community, and its lyrical text and gorgeous illustrations by a Caldecott award winner make it sing.

Ordinary Mary's Extraordinary Deed, by Emily Pearson and illustrated by Fumi Kosaka: if you love the idea of random acts of kindness, you will love this delightful book! On her way home from her ordinary school, ordinary Mary is on her way to her ordinary house and stumbles upon a bush of ordinary blueberries. Mary decides to pick them for her neighbor, and what results is a chain reaction of kindness that takes the world by storm! This one is so beautiful for the way it shows that one good deed can truly be a catalyst for the most positive and important type of change.

Maddi's Fridge, by Lois Brandt and illustrated by Vin Vogel: This sweet story provides an important look at community and childhood hunger in a manner so readily understandable for young kids. I always read this with my elementary students, and it prompts great discussions not just about how important it is to help others in need, but also how to handle a situation when a friend makes you promise to keep a secret that causes you to worry about his or her well-being.

*Maddi's Fridge is also featured for our Family Dinner Book Club in the Kids Making a Difference Year.

A Chair for My Mother, by Vera M. Williams: After their home is destroyed by a fire, Rosa and her family save coins in a big jar. What are they saving up for? A big, comfortable chair so the family can relax after their long days. This story is poignant and so beautifully conveys one spirited family's will to persevere after a tragedy, their neighborhood's compassion and willingness to help, and the gratitude the family displays to those around them, even when their own losses were devastating.

This is How We Do It, by Matt Lamothe: This fabulous work of nonfiction tells the story of seven children living in various countries around the world: Italy, Peru, Uganda, Russia, Japan, India and Iran. It is a study in culture, daily routines, family, cuisine, and education, giving kids a peek into communities overseas. This is a perfect "window" book, transporting kids around the world and back again, all the while allowing them to see that while the details of our days may differ, we share the same foundations and the same passion for family, friends, education and recreation.

Ada's Violin, by Susan Hood and illustrated by Sally Wern Comport: Ada Rios grew up in Cateura, a small town in Paraguay built on a landfill. Her community feeds themselves by sorting through the trash that arrives from the capital city of Asuncion, and they make money by salvaging items which they promptly recycle and sell. Ada dreams of music, and when a music teacher by the name of Favio Chavez arrives, he begins to hold music classes for the children in the town. But musical instruments were short, so Chavez and the town's recyclers begin to fashion all sorts of beautiful instruments from the treasures they find in the dump. With their refurbished instruments, tons of dedication, and a whole lot of heart, Ada and the other children from the Recycled Orchestra, eventually garnering international attention.

Printable Book List of Community Books for Kids

Grab the printable book list of these great books to take to the library.
Related Posts
Dive even further into the community and learn about community workers in our Community Helpers Preschool Literacy Unit.

And, visit Lauren's posts below on Happily Ever Elephants. She has some great book lists too.
* Lauren is a mom of two boys like me and an elementary school librarian who is as passionate about children's literature as I am. She reviews everything from board books for your youngest kidsto books for your newest readers to novels for tweens. She also has book lists on every topic under the sun, including the importance of adopting a growth mindset and books to instill confidence in children.

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Build and inspire community with these picture books

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Communities are amazing places full of people and resources just waiting to be discovered. Use these children's books about community to broaden the horizons of the students and help them learn about what it means to be a part of a community.

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Community helpers are such an important theme in early childhood education.

After all, it's important for children to learn how their local community works and who provides the services we all rely on each day.

So when you're ready to teach a community helper theme in class, make sure to use some of these community helpers books for kids as part of your read aloud time!

These community helpers picture books are excellent sections!

They're all beautifully illustrated and they feature simple explanations of each helper's role in town.

Read on to check out the selections below! And, for more ways to study community helpers, check our our Spanish community helpers printable lesson!

20 Community Helpers Books for Kids to Read
This post contains affiliate links. For details, see our Disclosure Policy.
If you decide to read any of these with your students, I'd love to hear which ones were your favorite!
1. Helpers in My Community by Bobbie Kalman 2. Whose Hands Are These? by Miranda Paul 3. Whose Hat Is This? by Sharon Katz Cooper 4. Look for the Helpers (adapted) by Alexandra Cassel 5. Career Day by Anne Rockwell 6. Jobs Around Town by Stan and Jan Berenstain 7. Let's Meet a Police Officer by Gina Bellisario 8. Let's Meet a Doctor by Bridget Heos 9. Clothesline Clues to Jobs People Do by Kathryn Heling and Deborah Hembrook 10. When I Grow Up by Al Yankovic

11. Whose Tools Are These? by Sharon Katz Cooper 12. Delivering Your Mail by Ann Owen 13. Night Night, Sleepytown by Amy Parker 14. Miss Bindergarten Takes a Field Trip with Kindergarten by Joseph Slate 15. Richard Scarry's What Do People Do All Day? by Richard Scarry 16. Busy People: Construction Worker by Lucy M. George 17. My Visit to the Dentist by David Lee 18. Teachers in My Community by Bridget Heos 19. Let's Meet a Firefighter by Gina Bellisario 20. When I Grow Up by Mercer Mayer
Did you love these community helpers books for kids? Take a look at these other booklists for young readers!

See more great books for children on my Must Read Books for Kids Pinterest board!

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20 Community Helpers Books for Kids to Read

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Community helpers are such an important theme in early childhood education. After all, it's important for children to learn how their local community works and who provides the services we all rely on each day.

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Check out these 11 Great Books for Your Community Unit! They will help your students understand communities and community helpers deeper.

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What is a community? One way to view a community is to create a map of a town, neighborhood, or region. Draw maps of different kinds of communities using Crayola® Dry-Erase Crayons while you practice following directions.

1. Talk about how mapmakers create maps of communities. Review the parts of a map, including the compass rose that shows us the directions on the map. Discuss how mapmakers show roads, paths, buildings, bodies of water, etc. from a bird's eye view. Demonstrate how to draw these things using a Crayola® Dry-Erase Crayon on a dry-erase board.

2. Provide dry-erase crayons and individual dry-erase boards for students to use to create maps. Tell students that they will be following your directions to create nifty neighborhood maps. As long as they follow the direction exactly as they are given, their maps will be correct, although they may not look just like everyone else's maps.

3. Begin by asking children to draw a compass rose to show the directions on their maps. Then give directions for children to add roads, paths, buildings, parks, etc.

4. For example: * Draw a road that goes all the way around the community. * Draw another road that travels north and south through the community. * Draw a road that travels east and west through the community. * Draw a school in the northeastern part of the community. * Draw a park in the northwestern part of the community. * Draw a river traveling through the community. Add bridges for people to be able to cross the river. After completing the maps, invite children to compare and contrast their artwork. How are the maps similar? How is each map unique? What would it be like to live in a community like this? Where would you like to live in this community?

LA: Participate in collaborative conversations with diverse partners about grade level topics and texts with peers and adults in small and larger groups.

LA: Describe people, places, things, and events with relevant details, expressing ideas and feelings clearly.

SS: Identify and describe ways family, groups, and community influence the individual's daily life and personal choices.

SS: Construct and use mental maps of locales, regions, and the world that demonstrate understanding of relative location, direction, size, and shape.

SS: Interpret, use, and distinguish various representations of the earth, such as maps, globes, and photographs.

VA: Students will investigate, plan and work through materials and ideas to make works of art and design.

Expand upon the concept of "community." A community is a group of people living together in one geographic space. Display images to help children begin to acquire a sense of place. For example, display a photo of the planet earth and satellite images or maps of the western hemisphere, North America, your country, state, county, town/region, and school neighborhood. Invite children to share what they see, what they know, and what they wonder about. Talk about how each image shows evidence of a community.

Repeat this activity several times. Each time give different directions that will lead to a variety of community maps, including urban, rural, and suburban neighborhoods. Invite children to write descriptive sentences about each community they create.

Display one or more city neighborhood map art posters. Invite children to look artfully at these visuals. Begin by simply asking children to share what they notice about the images. Allow children to look very closely at the image to discover colors and shapes and words in the map design. Provide paper and allow children to create their own artwork inspired by these posters.

Share Sarah Fanelli's My Map Book with students. Take a walk around the school neighborhood to gather information about the community. Capture what you see with a camera, allowing children to determine what they think should be photographed. Print out photos for students to refer to as they create maps of the school community using dry-erase crayons on individual dry-erase boards. Or students might work cooperatively to create large maps on a wall dry-erase board. Use these maps as a plan for building a model community in your classroom using cereal boxes and shoe boxes for buildings and recycled items and craft supplies for other features.

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What is a community? One way to view a community is to create a map of a town, neighborhood, or region. Draw maps of different kinds of communities using Crayola® Dry-Erase Crayons while you practice following directions. Talk about how mapmakers create maps of communities.

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Discuss what makes up a community. Post video responses here.

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What Is a Community?

A community is a group of people living or working together in the same area. People in communities might go to the same schools, shop in the same stores and do the same things. They also help each other and solve problems together. If it's a bigger community, the people in it might not always go to the same places, but they might like or believe in the same things.

What kind of communities are you in? Let us start with your family. They are a type of community because they usually live together and do a lot of the same things. Then there are your friends. They share your ideas and probably go to the same school. Your neighborhood is a community. Your town or city is a community in your state. Your state is a community that is part of the United States. What is the biggest community? Probably the universe. We are all part of it.

In a way, bees and ants are a community. They live and work together and solve problems by working together. Many animals live in their own kinds of communities.

Communities Help Each Other

People in communities help each other. By working together, they can solve problems that are too big for one person.

Take a piece of paper. Rip in it half. One piece of paper does not stand a chance against you! It is an easy thing to do. Now take lots of sheets of paper. Try to rip them in half. It is much harder to do because the pieces of paper work together to create one strong thing. In a way, this is like a community. By working together, many smaller parts can make something very strong.

An example of a community working together is planting more trees in the park. Planting one tree is a big job, so imagine how much work planting 100 trees would be! If a community works together, they are like the paper. Your community is stronger when they work together. It can plant a lot more trees and get the job done much faster.

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what is a community? - lesson for kids - video & lesson transcript | study.com

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What Is a Community? - Lesson for Kids - Video & Lesson Transcript | Study.com

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A community is a group of people living or working together in the same area. People in communities might go to the same schools, shop in the same stores and do the same things. They also help each other and solve problems together.