5 Books That Teach Kids How to Work Together

Sponsored* by Sounds True
Mariam Gates | The Children’s Book Review | April 20, 2018

“Work together.” “Make sure everyone has a turn.” “Please share.” As a parent and teacher I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve uttered those words. But while repeating them (over and over when needed) is a great place to start, it can feel more like a list of rules than concrete tools for interacting with others. What do we want kids to actually do when they “work together?” How do we teach kids to be skillful at both speaking up and listening to one another so everyone succeeds?

These five books are a wonderful place to start. Each one gives a different, engaging and a times humorous look at the importance of working together:

1. Swimmy, by Leo Lionni

This is a wonderful tale of how one little fish hatches a plan with a group so they can safely explore the big wide ocean. It is creative, visually rich and emphasizes the need to work together.

2. Duck and Goose, by Tad Hills

What is brilliant about this book is that the two main characters have to work to get along. As they work toward a shared goal they begin to see each other’s strengths. A fun read!

3. The Biggest Snowman Ever, by Steven Kroll, illustrated by Jeni Bassett

Desmond and Clayton, two resourceful mice are competing to make the biggest snowman ever in Mouseville. It is a fun story of how much more can be accomplished when the two join forces.

4. Stone Soup, by Heather Forest

A classic tale of a village who thinks they don’t have enough food to share with two hungry travelers until each person realizes they can share one carrot, one potato…The idea that when everyone makes even a small contribution, the results are large is wonderfully told.

5. Yoga Friends: A Pose by Pose Adventure for Kids, by Mariam Gates + Rolf Gates, illustrated by Sarah Jane Hinder

We wrote Yoga Friends to help kids share this fun and healthy exercise with friends. In partner yoga poses children naturally develop communication skills along with balance and flexibility. Both partners have to work together, and help one another, or they can’t stay in partner boat or tree. Also when doing yoga poses with someone else, even if there’s a lot of wobbling, there’s always tons of laughter! (Each pose is accessible for two children or a child and adult).

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Yoga Friends: A Pose by Pose Adventure for Kids

Written by Mariam Gates and Rolf Gates

Illustrated by Sarah Jane Hinder

Publisher’s Synopsis: Time to Buddy Up for Movement, Cooperation, and Imaginative Play

A sailboat skimming across the waves,
A feathery owl,
A tree stretching from earth to sky.
Together, what do we want to become today?

From the creators of Good Night Yoga and Good Morning Yoga comes a beautifully illustrated city adventure that introduces children to the delights and benefits of partner yoga.

Perfect for teaming up with a friend, sibling, parent, or caregiver, each easy practice shows how cooperation helps us to imagine, move, and have fun in a whole new way.

Includes a back-page guide for parents and caregivers, showing how to do each pose and how to connect them into an easy-to-follow flow.

Ages 4-8 | Publisher: Sounds True | 2018 | ISBN-13: 978-1622038169

Available Here: 

About the Authors

Mariam Gates holds a master’s in education from Harvard University and has more than 20 years’ experience working with children. Her renowned Kid Power Yoga™ program combines her love of yoga with teaching to help children access their inner gifts. She is the author of several books, including the bestselling Good Night Yoga, Good Morning Yoga, and Yoga Friends: A Pose-by-Pose Partner Adventure for Kids (Sounds True, April 2018), illustrated by Sarah Jane Hinder. Visit kidpoweryoga.com.

Rolf Gates is a leading voice of modern yoga philosophy and practice, and Mariam’s life partner. He is the author of Meditations from the Mat and Meditations on Intention and Being (Anchor, 2002, 2015), and teaches in the US and abroad. They reside in Northern California. For more, visit rolfgates.com.

About the Illustrator

Sarah Jane Hinder, illustrator, creates acrylic artwork for a variety of children’s books, including Good Morning Yoga, Yoga Bug, and the forthcoming Yoga Bear. She lives in Manchester, England, with her husband and two chihuahuas. See sarahjanehinder.com.

The article 5 Books That Teach Kids How to Work Together was written by Mariam Gates, author of Yoga Friends: A Pose-by-Pose Partner Adventure for Kids, and sponsored* by Sounds True. For similar books and articles, follow along with our content tagged with Cooperation, Imagination, Mariam Gates, Teamwork, and Yoga.

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