Books for Fostering Kindness and Empathy

Today, November 13, 2018, is World Kindness Day! As Jamie C. Martin wrote in Give Your Child the World, “Books help your family grasp on a new level that what we have in common with our worldwide neighbors far outweighs what separates us… It naturally develops compassion… because we all have similar needs, hopes, and desires. Great stories build an empathic foundation that leads to a life of service and concern for others” (p. 26).

We sat ourselves down (in costume, of course…) with some of our favorite stories that build kindness, compassion, empathy, and inclusion. Below are Amazon affiliate* links to some of my favorites– I’ll do my best to update this frequently, as I often find more kindness-building books I love!

Be Kind by Pat Zeitlow Miller

Strictly No Elephants by Lisa Mantchev

Adrian Simcox Does NOT Have a Horse by Marcy Campbell

One by Kathryn Otoshi

Can I Play Too? by Mo Willems

To the Sea by Cale Atkinson

I Walk With Vanessa: A Story About a Simple Act of Kindness by Kerascoet

We’re All Wonders by R. J. Palacio

Because Amelia Smiled by David Ezra Stein

Heartprints by P. K. Hallinan

What Does It Mean to Be Kind? by Rana DiOrio

Neville by Norton Juster

Have You Filled a Bucket Today? by Carol McCloud

A Home for Bird by Philip C. Stead

Extra Yarn by Mac Barnett

Julian is a Mermaid by Jessica Love

A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip C. Stead

Last Stop on Market Street by Matt De La Pena

The Sandwich Swap by Queen Rana Al Abdullah and Kelly DiPucchio

Good People Everywhere illustrated by Kristina Swarner

The Adventures of Beetle: The Unimaginary Friend by Dan Santat

City Dog, Country Frog by Mo Willems

The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes

Horton Hears a Who! by Dr. Seuss

The Recess Queen by Alexis O’Neill

What are your favorite stories to read with young ones to strengthen these emotional understandings and create a kinder world?

*When you purchase books via my Amazon affiliate links, your price stays the same but I receive a *tiny* amount of money in return… And can therefore buy more books to share with you!