Literary theme analysis, by a book like {foo}
Books about Selflessness
The Giving Tree
by Shel Silverstein
A timeless tale of love and selflessness between a boy and a tree.
"Once there was a tree...and she loved a little boy." So begins a story of unforgettable perception, beautifully written and illustrated by the gifted and versatile Shel Silverstein. Every day the ... (Goodreads)
Horton Hatches the Egg
by Dr. Seuss
An elephant who agrees to incubate a lazy bird's egg, and discovers true friendship and loyalty.
The book centers on a genial elephant named Horton , who is convinced by Mayzie, a lazy, irresponsible bird, to sit on her egg while she takes a short "break", which turns into her permanent ... (Wikipedia)
Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace ... One School at a Time
by Greg Mortenson
A man's mission to build schools in remote areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan to promote peace.
The astonishing, uplifting story of a real-life Indiana Jones and his humanitarian campaign to use education to combat terrorism in the Taliban’s backyard Anyone who despairs of the individual’s ... (Goodreads)
A Sick Day for Amos McGee
by Philip C. Stead
A zookeeper and his animal friends learn the value of friendship and compassion.
Amos McGee is a punctual man who goes about his day the same way every day. He swings his legs out of bed, puts on a fresh uniform and hops on the #5 bus at 6:00 AM to go to the zoo . While at the ... (Wikipedia)
The Rainbow Fish
by Marcus Pfister
A fish learns the importance of friendship and sharing after being gifted a pair of glittering scales.
The story is about The Rainbow Fish , a fish with shiny, multi-coloured scales . He has blue, green, purple, and pink scales. Interspersed with these colorful scales are shiny, holographic scales ... (Wikipedia)
A Dog's Purpose
by W. Bruce Cameron
A dog's journey to discovering its true purpose, through multiple lifetimes and owners.
The narrator first starts out as a feral Beagle / German Shepherd / terrier mix puppy. A few weeks later, after being nursed by their mother, a feral as well, the dog and his siblings Fast, Sister, ... (Wikipedia)
An Invisible Thread
by Laura Schroff
A miraculous story of an unlikely friendship that changed two lives forever.
From #1, New York Times, bestselling authors Laura Schroff and Alex Tresniowski comes the young readers edition of an unbelievable memoir about an unlikely friendship that forever changed the lives ... (Barnes & Noble)
Profiles in Courage
by John F. Kennedy
Biographical accounts of U.S. senators who faced adversity for their beliefs.
The Pulitzer Prize winning classic by President John F. Kennedy, with an introduction by Caroline Kennedy and a foreword by Robert F. Kennedy. Written in 1955 by the then junior senator from the ... (Goodreads)
Just Like Jesus: Learning to Have a Heart Like His
by Max Lucado
A guide to becoming more like Jesus by emulating his heart and actions, with practical advice and biblical teachings.
God loves you just the way you are, but he refuses to leave you there. He wants you to be just like Jesus. Can you think of a better offer? Jesus felt no guilt; God wants you to feel no guilt. Jesus ... (Barnes & Noble)
Me Before You
by Jojo Moyes
A woman and a disabled man form an unlikely bond as she helps him rediscover the joy of life.
From the #1, New York Times, bestselling author of, The Giver of Stars, discover the love story that captured over 20 million hearts in, Me Before You,, After You, and, Still Me,. They had nothing in ... (Goodreads)
The Happy Prince
by Oscar Wilde
Fairy tale about a statue of a prince, whose golden heart brings joy to all around him.
More than a hundred years ago, Oscar Wilde created this moving story for his children. Now shimmering illustrations, as bejeweled and golden as the Prince himself, give glowing life to the many ... (Goodreads)
The Princess Present
by Meg Cabot
A young girl's quest to find the perfect gift for her estranged princess aunt.
Mia would give all the jewels in Genovia for the perfect present Every year, Princess Mia spends the holidays in Genovia with Grandmère. This year, she's looking forward to the most perfect Christmas ... (Goodreads)
The Imitation of Christ
by Thomas à Kempis
A spiritual guidebook advocating turning away from worldly concerns and focusing on the divine.
Only the Bible has been more influential as a source of Christian devotional reading than The Imitation of Christ. This meditation on the spiritual life has inspired readers from Thomas More and St. ... (Goodreads)
Thank You, Jeeves
by P.G. Wodehouse
A bumbling English gentleman finds help from his brilliant valet, thwarting all manner of social disasters.
After a falling-out concerning Bertie's relentless playing of the banjolele , Jeeves leaves his master's service and finds work with Bertie's old friend, Lord "Chuffy" Chuffnell . Bertie travels to ... (Wikipedia)
The Gift of the Magi
by O. Henry
A young couple's story of love and sacrifice as they give up their most prized possessions for one another.
On Christmas Eve , Della Young discovers that she has only $1.87 to buy a present for her husband Jim. She visits the nearby shop of a hairdresser, Madame Sofronie, who buys Della's long hair for ... (Wikipedia)
The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness
by Timothy J. Keller
An exploration of the power of humility and surrendering one's pride and ego.
‘What are the marks of a supernaturally changed heart?’ This is one of the questions the Apostle Paul addresses as he writes to the church in Corinth. He’s not after some superficial outward ... (Goodreads)
Anne Frank Remembered: The Story of the Woman Who Helped to Hide the Frank Family
by Miep Gies
The brave and moving story of the woman who helped to save Anne Frank's family during the Holocaust.
The reminiscences of Miep Gies, the woman who hid the Frank family in Amsterdam during the Second World War, presents a vivid story of life under Nazi occupation. ... (Goodreads)
Operating Instructions: A Journal of My Son's First Year
by Anne Lamott
An intimate diary of a mother's journey of joy and struggle raising her son.
The most honest, wildly enjoyable book written about motherhood is surely Anne Lamott's account of her son Sam's first year. A gifted writer and teacher, Lamott ( Crooked Little Heart ) is a single ... (Goodreads)
Humility: True Greatness
by C.J. Mahaney
Examining the power of humbleness, humility, and its importance in faith and life.
Be Transformed by Christ’s Example “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” —1 Peter 5:5 A battle rages within every one of us every day. It’s the clash between our sense of stubborn ... (Goodreads)
Little Princes: One Man's Promise to Bring Home the Lost Children of Nepal
by Conor Grennan
An inspiring account of a man's journey to reunite lost Nepalese children with their families.
“Funny, touching, tragic….A remarkable tale of corruption, child trafficking and civil war in a far away land—and one man’s extraordinary quest to reunite lost Nepalese children with their parents.” ... (Barnes & Noble)
The Best Nest
by P.D. Eastman
A bird couple's hilarious quest to find the perfect nest, learning to appreciate what they already have.
Back in 1957, Theodor Geisel responded to an article in Life magazine that lamented the use of boring reading primers in schools. Using the pseudonym of "Dr. Seuss" (Seuss was Geisel's middle name) ... (Goodreads)
Raymie Nightingale
by Kate DiCamillo
An unlikely trio of girls embark on an adventure to win a beauty pageant, learning valuable life lessons along the way.
Raymie Clarke has come to realize that everything, absolutely everything, depends on her. And she has a plan. If Raymie can win the Little Miss Central Florida Tire competition, then her father, who ... (Goodreads)
The Hat
by Jan Brett
A tale of a mischievous fox who steals a farmer's treasured hat, and the unlikely friendship that ensues.
In, Jan Brett's, well-loved book,, The Hat, Hedgie the hedgehog discovers the wisdom of the adage "Don't go poking your nose where it doesn't belong"—but only after curiosity gets this prickly fellow ... (Goodreads)
Peace Child: An Unforgettable Story of Primitive Jungle Teaching in the 20th Century
by Don Richardson
A modern-day missionary's account of his life-changing experience with a remote tribe in New Guinea.
In 1962, Don and Carol Richardson risked their lives to share the gospel with the Sawi people of New Guinea. Peace Child tells their unforgettable story of living among these headhunters and ... (Goodreads)
The Way of the Heart: The Spirituality of the Desert Fathers and Mothers
by Henri J.M. Nouwen
A guide to the teachings of the Desert Fathers and Mothers, exploring the spiritual practices of solitude, silence, and prayer.
“On the long road it’s good to have Nouwen and his divining rod. Deftly he bends toward the drop of spiritual wisdom caked in the most ordinary things.” —Helen Prejean, C.S.J., author of Dead Man ... (Barnes & Noble)
Stone Soup
by Marcia Brown
A group of strangers come together to contribute to a magical soup that satisfies their hunger.
First published in 1947, this classic picture book has remained one of Marcia Brown's most popular and enduring books. The story, about three hungry soldiers who outwit the greedy inhabitants of a ... (Goodreads)
The Tale of Three Trees
by Angela Elwell Hunt
A parable of three trees' journey of faith and ultimate sacrifice.
Featuring the wonderful illustrations of Tim Jonke, this best-selling children's book tells the Easter story from a new and unusual point of view. Three trees on a mountain dream of what they wanted ... (Barnes & Noble)
Minding Frankie
by Maeve Binchy
A struggling single father, aided by a community of unlikely friends, learns to care for his special needs daughter.
Emily Lynch arrives from America to the fictional Dublin neighborhood of St. Jarlath Crescent and, in her encouraging and resourceful way, rehabilitates the lives of everyone she meets. The main plot ... (Wikipedia)
Shadow of the Almighty: The Life and Testament of Jim Elliot
by Elisabeth Elliot
Biography of missionary Jim Elliot, exploring his life and legacy of faith and courage.
“More than inspirational reading: it belongs to the very heartbeat of evangelic witness.” — Christianity Today , ,, Shadow of the Almighty, is one of the great missionary stories of modern times. It ... (Barnes & Noble)
A Dog's Journey
by W. Bruce Cameron
A loyal dog embarks on an extraordinary quest to reunite with his beloved person.
The direct sequel to the New York Times and USA Today bestselling A Dog's Purpose. Buddy is a good dog. After searching for his purpose through several eventful lives, Buddy is sure that he has found ... (Goodreads)
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