This post may contain affiliate links. Full privacy policy and disclosure here.
Kindness is a skill that can be learnt just like any other. It may appear to be a simple attribute, but until we teach children to be kind, it will not become a part of their personality.
We can help children accept the concept of being kind to themselves, others, and our planet in a variety of ways, fortunately.
Surrounding kids with books, tales, and activities that encourage kindness and empathy is one of the most effective ways.
What goes around comes around, we teach our children. You must treat others with kindness if you wish to be treated with kindness. For the most part, we’ve been successful, but kids make mistakes (who doesn’t?) and need a reminder again and then.
Here are several novels that honour kindness and remind my strong willed kids of how and why we should be kind.
Books That Teach Kindness To Children
When looking for kindness books for preschoolers and early grade schoolers, it’s crucial to address the topic of inclusion and sticking up for others. They may be coping with exclusion and relational conflict for the first time in preschool or elementary school.
The Elves and The Shoemaker
This was one of my favorite stories as a kid, and it was one of the original Brothers’ Grimm Tales. A poor shoemaker and his wife have spent all of their money and only have enough leather to create one more pair of shoes. He sets up his tools and prepares the leather in the morning so he can have a head start.
When he wakes up, he discovers that not only has the work been completed, but that the shoes are among the most gorgeous he has ever seen! For him and his wife, this act of compassion snowballs into success and drives them to repay the favour in the end. This is an excellent storybook.
See also: Helping Your Child Choose Good Friends And Be A Good Friend
Last Stop on Market Street
CJ and his grandma take a bus ride in this award-winning novel. CJ is an extremely inquisitive person who asks a lot of questions. CJ is inspired by his grandmother’s responses, which show kindness and empathy toward others and encourage him to see the world in more colorful and exciting light.
Mouse & Lion
Based on Aesop’s famous fable, this narrative employs gorgeous graphics to tell the story of a lion who (reluctantly) demonstrates generosity to a mouse, and how the mouse repays him by saving him.
This collection of foundational stories is written in such a lovely manner that you will never weary of reading it to your children.
Have You Filled a Bucket Today?
This is something I read to my preschoolers, and it has also been used in my boys’ kindergarten and first-grade classes.
The book deftly conveys the perplexing notion that your actions affect how others feel. The storey and colorful graphics show children how nice it feels to “fill the buckets” of others with compassion and love.
Wonder
The fundamental concept of “be kinder than necessary” will warm your heart in this modern classic.
August, a boy who is physically different from other children, enters a conventional school for the first time in this book. It expresses the anguish of bullying, the delight of friendship, and the joy of being accepted for who you are on the inside. I enjoyed the book just as much as my 12-year-old son and am looking forward to reading it to my 8-year-old.
Horton Hears a Who!
Even when I was a kid, this was a classic. Horton, an obedient elephant, hears the Who’s feeble calls for assistance. He saves the Who and stands up in their defence despite being bullied and ridiculed.
With its rhythm and rhymes, this book educates children in a pleasant and entertaining way that being kind is always the proper thing to do.
The Golden Rule
The Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you is the subject of this narrative, which follows a child and his grandfather as they discuss it.
The grandfather discusses the rule’s universality. This guideline is followed by people of all religions and from all corners of the globe. All of them are discussed in this storey, as well as how we should apply this guideline to our own lives.
Giving Tree
A moving storey of a young child and his tree. The tree provides shade and a safe area for the child to play, and later on, it provides him with the tools he needs to succeed in life. Finally, it provides him with a comfortable area to sit and relax.
This book teaches children to recognize and be grateful for the kindnesses they get, as well as to be generous and selfless.
Listening with My Heart: A story of kindness and self-compassion
This book is about not only providing kindness and compassion to others but also demonstrating compassion to yourself when things don’t go as planned.
Esperanza has enormous plans to show her pals some love, but everything turns out to be a complete disaster! What can she do to make things better?
I recommend reading it with your child and then discussing some ways they might be kind to others and to themselves afterward.
Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch
Mr. Hatch is a reclusive man who prefers to be alone. Imagine his amazement when the postman brings him a unique box with a gift and a letter that reads, “Somebody loves you!” He shares his gift with those who are close to him.
Others are inspired to be kind as a result of his deeds. Then they come together to support him exactly when he needs it the most! My friend Charlie’s favorite book for teaching her children the value of empathy and kindness is this one.
The Mouse and the Motorcycle
There’s action, intrigue, a fearless mouse, and a magnificent motorcycle in this film. Kindness, compassion, and empathy are also present. Ralph S. Mouse is ecstatic to get his hands on Keith’s toy motorcycle. Keith generously gives it to Ralph.
He had no idea that his kindness would inspire Ralph to do a heroic act of compassion exactly when Keith needed it the most! A fantastic work that will captivate even the most adverse readers.
Because of Winn-Dixie
This book wonderfully portrays how being good to others may have a significant impact on your life. India Opal Buloni, a quiet and lonely young woman, is lured out of her shell by her bond with a stray dog she calls Winn-Dixie.
She is able to form connections, learn about loyalty, and discover acceptance inside herself thanks to the empathy she shares with her dog.
Why It’s So Important to Read Children’s Books About Kindness
This is what happens when we read children’s books about kindness to our children and discuss the stories with them:
We send the message that kindness is vital, we allow our children to practise flexing their kindness muscle, and we allow them to put themselves in the shoes of others.
In other words, reading books about kindness satisfies all three requirements for raising kind children.
Furthermore, reading stories is far more effective than lecturing children on the qualities of kindness.
Typically, lectures go in one ear and out the other. However, research reveals that when you read fiction, your brain reacts in the same way it would if you were actually living the tale. In other words, reading children’s books on kindness is similar to setting up a virtual reality simulation in which your child can fully immerse himself in the experience and comprehend many viewpoints.
Childrens Books About Kindness and Compassion
Today’s parents are particularly concerned about raising children who will be positive forces in the world. There are various ways to teach empathy and understanding to childs, and one simple yet effective method is through literature.
Many children’s novels provide lovely teachings about friendship, acceptance, generosity, and compassion.
You can encourage your child’s natural generosity as a parent. In fact, your child’s brain is most vulnerable to adopting a lifelong kindness habit when he or she is between the ages of 4 and 7.
How? According to Harvard researchers’ findings:
Kids need to hear from us that kindness is important, that they need daily opportunities to practice caring for others, and that we should teach them to think about other people’s perspectives and difficulties.
That may seem like a lot, but we’re fortunate to have one great parenting tool that can handle all three of them at once: children’s books about compassion.
