The holiday season in the United States, where I am writing from, starts with Thanksgiving, a time when families gather to celebrate the bountiful cornucopia of life and give thanks. And many of us in this country and elsewhere have a lot to be thankful for: but when faced with news of Iraq, Darfur, Tibet, wildfires in California - and Mexico (the fires did not stop at the border), South Mexico floods, etc, etc, those of us fortunate enough even to be able to read this are prompted to offer more than thanks. We are moved to help, whether by volunteering, donating money or goods, organizing fundraisers, helping raise awareness of important issues… The ways to help are countless, if one is willing.

Some causes are more political, and supporting them may require taking a more direct physical and/or verbal stand; others are close enough to empirical "good” for everyone interested in advancing basic challenges to get behind. But wherever your helping inklings lay, all forms of help count. And if gift giving is part of your family's holiday tradition, keep in mind there is one very easy way to make a difference: some publisher's donate royalties to benefit good, often children-related causes, so you can contribute to causes by simply buying those books. What a fabulous concept: “gifts that give back". And to think I can help others just by doing what I always do, which is to buy books for any and all occasions: for myself, for my daughter, for my nieces and nephews... It's effortless, and it does add up to "good". Who can argue with that?

Charles Schultz, in an old Peanuts strip, drew Linus holding a sign that read: "Help Stamp Out Things That Need Stamping Out". What a lovely, unrealistic idea, you might say. Not so fast: if it is true that there are so many causes that deserve help and attention that we can’t stamp out the bad all at once – illiteracy, child abuse, intolerance, global warming, world hunger, you name it, it is also true that we can each, according to our own means, help to eradicate the causes of these woes. We can do our bit to minimize some of their effects and, let’s not forget, to strengthen the good. We can focus on the things that are not about war but about tolerance and peace; not about patching-up and fixing holes but about preventing them from happening in the first place.

World-mindedness can be exemplified and encouraged through children’s books. Stories can help young readers establish their own place and role in this interconnected village of ours and to realize they can make a difference. While many kids might already have their own ideas of what they want to fight and/or support (global warming, animals in need...), many others are unsure of where and what to give, and how to make it meaningful. For those, The Kids’ Guide to Giving by Freddi Zeiler (Innovative Kids, 2006) can be a great help. Kindness emanates from this teen-authored volume, which offers information on more than 100 kid-friendly organizations to help kids be appraised of the world's needs and narrow down their philanthropic interests. In an interview for Network for Good, the young author reminds us that kids don’t necessarily need to be encouraged to give, but rather "to be aware that the world needs their help, and that it is in their power to make a change". Those of us who have anything to do with kids probably know from experience that they tend to rise up to the challenge quite eagerly, when well-informed.

All or a percentage of the proceeds from the books highlighted below are donated to good causes. While exploring them, please keep in mind that this is just a small sample of books from around the world that have caught my attention recently in relation to good causes. Some help heighten awareness of important issues; others are plain old story fun that connect us to relevant causes by the simple fact that proceeds are donated to benefit them.

"Gifts that give back" - remember this priceless concept this holiday season. It can raise millions to help thousands of children and adults everywhere.

Happy Holidays! Here’s to planting the seeds for a lifetime of compassion and giving!

The Whole World, written and illustrated by Christopher Corr, Sung by Fred Penner (Barefoot Books, 2007)
Ages 4-8

This colorful eco-book (also available in mini gift edition) and accompanying singalong CD have many tips for how to keep our planet healthy and will sure inspire young children to make a difference. A percentage of the sales will be donated to support global conservation.

Robert's Snow, by Grace Lin (Viking Juvenile, 2004)
Ages 4-8

Grace Lin wrote this book when her husband Robert was battling cancer and wasn't "allowed in the snow". The story she started telling him (just to keep his mind away from the illness), about a little mouse named Robert who wanted to play in the snow, turned into Robert's Snow, and was the inspiration for the campaign Robert's Snow: For Cancer's Cure and Robert's Snowflakes.

Robert's Snowflakes: Artists' Snowflakes for Cancer's Cure, compiled by Grace Lin and Robert Mercer (Viking Juvenile, 2005)
Ages 4-8

When doctors told Lin and her husband Robert that a cure for cancer was his greatest hope of survival, Lin called her fellow children's book illustrators and an amazing project was born – each one would decorate a wooden snowflake that would then be auctioned to raise money for research to help find a cure for cancer. This book is a compilation of all the incredible snowflakes created. 100% of the royalties from this book goes to the Dana Faber Cancer Institute. Robert's Snow: for Cancer's Cure, now in its third year, has raised more than $200,000 for Dana-Faber since 2004. Robert Mercer lost his fight against sarcoma in August 2007, but Robert's Snow: For Cancer's Cure is as strong as ever. To bid on the 2007 snowflakes and support the cause, visit the website.

Selvakumar Knew Better, by Virginia L. Kroll, illus. by Xiaojun Li (Shen's Books, 2006)
Ages 4-8

Based on the true story of an Indian boy who escaped the 2004 Tsunami with the help of his dog, the author's note inludes statistics on the tragedy and presents a few facts about dogs like Selvakumar. A portion of the proceeds are donated by the publisher to Give2Asia’s Tsunami Recovery Fund.

Be My Neighbor, by Maya Ajmera and John D. Ivanko (Charlesbridge, 2001)
Ages 4-8

This book celebrates what it means to be a neighbor the whole world over - from Vietnam to the United States, Austria to Kenya and everywhere in between. With Words of Wisdom from Mr. Fred Rogers, Be My Neighbor shows children living in community with others, sharing homes, resources, and experiences. Purchase supports The Global Fund for Children.

Ryan and Jimmy And the Well in Africa That Brought Them Together, by Herb Shoveller (Kids Can Press, 2006)
Ages 8-12

“A simple wish to help others bring focus to the necessities that unite us all.” Ryan and Jimmy is the true inspiring story of a six-year-old Canadian boy who was empowered to build a well halfway around the world and how that wish led to to much good, including a life-changing friendship with a Ugandan boy. This is an insightful and thought-provoking look at the idea of a global community. It will show kids they have the power to make a difference, no matter how young they are. Over 300 wells have been built because of Ryan’s Well Foundation – all a result of Ryan's simple wish of providing a small African village with clean water.

Teen Ink Series: Our Voices, Our Visions, compiled by Stephanie H. Meyer and John Meyer (Turtleback, 2002)
Ages 12+

This is one of the many books in the Teen Ink Series: a collection of stories written by teens, originally published in the Teen Ink magazine, about growing up, changing, fitting in, making choices. All royalties go to the Young Authors Foundation to support reading, writing and publishing opportunities for young adults.

Kids’ Night In Anthology, by War Child Agency (Collins, 2003)
Ages 8+

This is a collection of stories, poems and illustrations commissioned from the who’s who of Australian and British children's writers, including Jacqueline Wilson, Michael Morpurgo and Beverly Naidoo. All the royalties are donated to War Child, an international agency that helps to improve the lives of children in war zones. Why not spend a quiet night in, reading for a good cause?

The Kids' Guide To Giving, by Freddi Zeiler (Innovative Kids, 2006)
Ages 10+

At age 14, Freddi Zeiler decided she wanted to make a difference in the world. There were so many charitable organizations to choose from that she didn’t know where to begin - so she set out to research them all and then compiled all her findings into this volume chock-full of tips about charitable organizations related to children's needs and interests. Whatever young people are interested in - whether it's helping needy children, conserving the rainforest or protecting animals from extinction - they will find step by step information in this book on how to give from the heart and make a difference.