If there’s one thing we all crave, it’s connection! No matter what age, connection to family, to friends, and to community can help people find joy and strength, even in the most difficult circumstances. We’ve listed some of our favorite picture books about community below—including many true stories about people whose ideas and efforts made a huge difference to the world around them. If that’s not the kind of courage we want to instill in our kids, we don’t know what is! Enjoy!
Maybe Something Beautiful: How Art Transformed a Neighborhood by F. Isabel Campoy and Theresa Howell, illustrated by Rafael López
Even though her neighborhood is plain and gray, Mira loves adding color by giving hand-drawn notes to friends and drawing pictures. Then she meets the muralist, a seemingly magical man with paintbrushes, big ideas, and an invitation to join in the fun. Before she knows it, her entire community is painting the walls, sidewalks, and even the utility boxes in her neighborhood! Based on the true story of San Diego’s Urban Art Trail, this story is infused with a sense of community and love of the arts—and tells the true story in the end pages!
We’re Better Together: A Book About Community by Eileen Spinelli, illustrated by Ekaterina Trukhan
This sweet story reminds us that we’re better together in most aspects of our lives: when we help our neighbors, clean up a park, play on the playground, and even when we stay safe during a storm! With colorful illustrations and simple text, this book gives great examples of the power of community in our everyday lives.
Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña, illustrated by Christian Robinson
CJ’s not particularly happy as he and his Nana ride the Sunday bus to the last stop on Market Street. Why don’t they have a car? He asks. Why can’t he have earphones? Why can’t a blind man see? Why do they have to go at all? But the more questions he asks, the more CJ’s Nana and fellow passengers show him that the most beautiful things are often found in places CJ never thought to look. Winner of the Newbery medal, this book inspires readers to find goodness and beauty all around them!
Hey, Wall: A Story of Art and Community by Susan Verde, illustrated by John Parra
“Hey Wall!” says the narrator to the big blank wall in the community. Although neighborhood children cheer for spring flowers in sidewalk cracks, eat treats from the ice cream truck, and listen to family stories, no one notices, cares for, or appreciates the empty wall. Not until the narrator, along with his friends and family, transform it into a memory-filled community art piece that can’t be overlooked. With its bright and engaging illustrations, this book will draw you in and inspire you to bring joy to your community!
Thank You, Omu by Oge Mora
After Omu makes thick red stew in her big fat pot for a nice evening meal, she is surprised by a knock at her door. First a little boy, then a police officer, a hot dog vendor, and many others stop to ask about the delicious smell! With every knock, Omu shares her stew, but when it’s time for Omu to eat, the thick red stew is all gone! Just as she worries she has nothing left to share, her grateful community arrives with a wonderful surprise! Grab this heart-warming story with Oge Mora’s wonderful text and colorful collage illustrations.
111 Trees: How One Village Celebrates the Birth of Every Girl by Rina Singh, illustrated by Marianne Ferrer
When his mother dies, young Sundar wraps his arms around a tree in his grief. Later, when his oldest daughter also dies, he honors her memory by planting trees. As he does so, he realizes that planting trees is the key to saving his small village from destruction by a nearby mine, hunger, and lack of education. He proposes a plan to plant 111 trees for every baby girl—even though girls are not valued among his community members. Will the villagers agree to his crazy plan? Based on the true story of Sundar Paliwal, this book reminds readers that one voice can make a huge difference.
When Ada’s grandmother sees a flyer for Mr. Chavez’s music lessons, she signs her granddaughters up right away. But in a city built on trash, there aren’t enough instruments to go around. In this true story, Mr. Chavez searches the trash heap for scraps to make into instruments. Thanks to his ingenuity and a lot of hard work, Ada and over thirty children in her neighborhood become the Recycled Orchestra, creating beautiful music despite difficult circumstances. Their story celebrates the power of music as it transforms communities and people.
Across from Neveah’s school is “the haunted garden,” a vacant lot filled with all kinds of trash. But when Mr. Tony comes to P.S. 175, all that changes. With the help of Neveah and her classmates, Mr. Tony clears the lot, dumps soil, and plants all kinds of seeds! Thanks to Mr. Tony’s big idea, Neveah’s haunted garden becomes an actual garden, growing healthy food to feed her community. Written by Mr. Tony himself, this is another true story of building community in small but mighty ways.
Blackout by John Rocco
In this almost-wordless picture book, a boy wants to play a board game, but his family members are all too busy—until the power goes out! During the blackout, he and his family head up to the roof, where stars shine, music plays, and neighbors gather for an unexpected block party. Then they head down to the street, where even more neighbors are relax, eat ice cream, and play in the water from the fire hydrant. But when the lights go back on, the boy still wants to play! Can he convince his family to share even more family time? Gorgeous illustrations tell this story of family, community, and the importance of quality time.
Our Class is a Family by Shannon Olsen, illustrated by Sandie Sonke
In this sweet book, we’re reminded that family can be more than the people related to us. Even a school class can be a family! With simple, rhyming text and colorful illustrations, this story reminds us of all the ways that the members of a classroom can also be like family.