Children can be educated in different ways and what works for some of them will not work for others. A little diversity in their education will work wonders. Apart from the schooling element, children will also have to develop certain traits to help them further on – from sympathy and respect to kindness and compassion. Whether they do it through games or books, this type of education must start at an early stage for better results. All in all, here are some of the best children’s books about kindness – the kind of books that both children and adults can learn something from.
What Is Kindness?, by Jenna Dawson
Jenna Dawson has come up with a straightforward and friendly book that will give your kid a sense of what kindness means in a fun and enticing way. The story follows the adventure of three kids who embark upon a mission to discover kindness and what it means.
They have no clue what to expect, but curiosity drives them further. After all, this is the easiest part when it comes to growing a kid. Trigger their interest and they will absorb anything you throw at them – kindness makes no exception either.
The three are curious what kindness means and aim to discover it. They realize kindness has more definitions and can be expressed in a few different ways. All in all, you can read this book to your toddler or you can have them read it once they master the alphabet. Illustrations will certainly help in the process.
Be Kind, by Pat Zietlow Miller
The story is told in a straightforward and friendly manner – suitable for children of all ages, but especially for toddlers. All in all, it follows Tanisha’s incident. She ends up having some grape juice, but she spills it over her brand new dress. This is when her classmate kicks in.
Her classmate tries her best to make her feel better and shows everyone what it truly means to be polite and kind. Children can be naturally kind and this is what the story is about – asking the new girl in the class to play together or standing up for one of the classmates who gets bullied.
Pat Zietlow Miller came up with a touching text that shows how far a gesture of kindness can go. The story also has a few illustrations by Jen Hill – the perfect combo to teach your little one what kindness is about.
Each Kindness, by Jacqueline Woodson
Released in 2012, Jacqueline Woodson’s masterpiece has won a few important awards and makes one of the best children’s books about kindness. It is a great educational tool given in a friendly way – it shows the power of small gestures of kindness and how far they can get.
There are lots of illustrations to entice your little one while reading the book. The main message behind the book goes against bullying. Illustrations are quite detailed and can resonate with your kid long after you are done reading it.
All in all, the story follows Chloe and some of her friends. They are not really into Maya, a new girl. Whenever she tries to join the group, she is rejected. Sick and tired of bullying, Maya decides to stop going to school. This is when Chloe learns how many opportunities of friendship she might have missed.
The Invisible Boy, by Trudy Ludwig
The story is gentle and sensitive – it can easily reach your little one’s heart and teach them what it takes to be kind. All in all, it comes from an esteemed author and it features some striking illustration from Patrice Barton. The story follows Brian, who feels like an invisible boy.
No one in school seems to notice Brian. His classmates ignore him and he simply finds it impossible to join the group. Then, a new kid joins the classroom – Justin. Brian is the first one to welcome the new kid around and they team up to become best friends.
They start a project for school and this collaboration becomes Brian’s opportunity to show who he really is. The book is quite sensitive and addresses the problems quietly and shy children have – it will most likely make your kid feel more friendly towards newcomers.
Have You Filled A Bucket Today?, by Carol McCloud
This book can make anyone happy – you, as well as your little one. It teaches people a few interesting lessons about sharing and caring. It defines happiness and helps people find it in small things in life. Positive thinking, a positive behavior and positive acts – all these things contribute to happiness.
The author relies on a bucket as a metaphor. This bucket follows you everyday, everywhere. When you do something good for the ones around you, it fills up. Not only do you fill your own bucket, but you also fill someone else’s – the ideal way to promote happiness around yourself.
On the same note, those who decide to do mean things will end up dipping into their buckets. Every single day has a story – your kid can choose to fill their bucket or dip into it. Bottom line, the book is ideal for children, as well as tutors, parents and teachers.
Last Stop On Market Street, by Matt de la Peña
This book has been translated in a few different languages and it makes one of the best children’s books about kindness. If you have any grandchildren, it will make the perfect opportunity to bond with them, while also teaching them a few valuable lessons about life at an early stage.
The story covers a bus ride, which is an excuse for a grandmother and her grandson to develop a beautiful relationship. They do it every Sunday – Tim and his grandmother go around town and try to see the good things of whatever surrounds them.
But one day, Tim is not really in the mood. He is bored doing the same thing over and over again and he hates having to wait in the rain. He has a bunch of questions that his grandmother calmly replies to in a funny way and not without teaching him a few lessons too.
I Walk With Vanessa, by Kerascoët
This is one of the simplest children’s books about kindness out there. At the same time, it sends a powerful message that your kid simply cannot ignore. It comes from a family team and tells the story of a girl who decides to stand up to bullying. The result? She ends up inspiring her whole community.
Believe it or not, I Walk With Vanessa is inspired from a real story. It underlines the sadness and frustration associated with seeing a classmate getting bullied. At the same time, it shows how a simple gesture of kindness can change someone’s world – even if it means nothing for whoever does it.
Standing up to bullying, the main character gets an entire community to help. There are lots of illustrations in the book and the goal is fairly simple – proving that you do not necessarily need to say anything to become a powerful ally against bullying.
Ordinary Mary’s Extraordinary Deed, by Emily Pearson
This book follows a common rule in children’s books, especially in books meant to underline the importance of kindness – it shows how far kindness can go. It shows how it might make no difference to you, but it can easily change someone else’s world overnight.
The story follows Mary, an ordinary girl who finds some blueberries one day. She thinks about her neighbor straight away and decides to pick them up for her. But this act of kindness for Mrs. Bishop starts an incredible chain reaction that goes all around the world.
Mrs. Bishop decides to make some blueberry muffins and give them to four other people. Then, one of these people decides to help five other people with some heavy luggage. Then, one of these people helps five other people and the chain reaction keeps going until it gets back to Mary.
A Sick Day For Amos McGee, by Philip C. Stead
Amos McGee is a local zoo keeper whose best friends are animals. He always finds time to visit and interact with his friends – the owl, the elephant, the penguin, the tortoise and the rhinoceros. Every single day is the same and the best friends have a good time together.
Until one day, when Amos has a bad day. He wakes up with a cold. His nose is running and he keeps sneezing. He cannot make it to the zoo, but believe it or not, the zoo makes it to him, as he gets an unexpected visit.
This tale of friendship and kindness is enhanced with Erin E. Stead’s beautiful illustrations.
Bottom line, these are some of the best children’s books about kindness if you truly want to teach your little one some good lessons about friendship, politeness and good deeds. The list can go on, but these titles will most likely impress your kid.