7 Awesome Children’s Books About Kindness & Being a Good Human
Looking for children’s books that teach your kids about kindness and being a good human? This list has seven of my favorites!
I love having conversations with my kids, starting at a very young age, about what it looks like to really be kind to one another, about what it looks like to be a good human, about how to be generous and thoughtful, and how to learn about, respect, and appreciate the differences between one another! I think the earlier that we, as parents, have these conversations with our kids, the better… the more we are able to set them up for success and foster a foundation of being generally awesome humans.
I have always said that academics and athletics are great… but if my kids grow up to be the kindest, most empathetic, generous, thoughtful kids with high integrity and honesty… then that’s a win for me. That’s what really matters to me because those qualities will take kids well into adulthood.
One of the best ways to start these conversations with your kids is by reading!! I am of the mindset that you can never have too many books for your kids, so I thought I’d share 7 of my favorite children’s books about kindness and being a good human! These books are definitely geared towards the younger kiddos (7 and younger… some maybe better for 5 and younger… but we read all of these to our 4.5 and 2 year olds!)
7 Awesome Children’s Books About Kindness & Being a Good Human
The Push by Patrick Gray
Book Description:
When Marcus moved next door to John, they knew instantly they’d be friends. Now John and Marcus do almost everything together. They go on lots of adventures, with Marcus pushing John’s wheelchair and John fueling their escapades with jokes. Through their friendship, the boys discover that their unique gifts make them stronger together.
Based on the friendship of real-life best friends Patrick Gray and Justin Skeesuck, The Push teaches kids that people of all abilities have important roles to play and that we’re all better together than we are on our own.
Why we love it:
The Push is a book creates so many amazing conversations about unique qualities between friends, what kindness and a servanthood friendship looks like, and also creates an opportunity to talk to our kids about disabilities and why they make certain friends extra special. Lilly already LOVES this book after reading it just a few times and I know it’s going to be read A LOT for years to come!
The Kindness Quilt by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace
Book Description:
Minna and her classmates have been asked by their teacher, Mrs. Bloom, to work on a Kindness Project. Mrs. Bloom wants them to do and draw and share an act of kindness. Minna and her family do lots of kind things, but Minna can’t decide which one is right for her project. Then she starts writing and drawing and cutting—and an idea for a paper quilt picturing many acts of kindness begins to take shape!
Important lessons about being kind to each other are depicted in NANCY ELIZABETH WALLACE’s charming artwork using origami, recycled paper, markers, crayons, and colored pencils.
Why we love it:
Not only is the story adorable, but The Kindness Quilt shares so many different ways that we can be kind to one another and our neighbors and friends and family. Lilly has even had the idea of making her own kindness quilt with her friends some day!
Kindness is Cooler by Margery Cuyler
Book Description:
When Mrs. Ruler asks five of her kindergarteners to miss recess, she’s got a special plan up her sleeve. She’s about to teach a new golden rule:
KINDNESS IS COOL!
Soon the entire class is doing so many good deeds that their kindness bulletin board barely fits their classroom!
From clearing the table after dinner, to helping the elderly, one kindergarten class is proving that kids really can make a difference.
Count along with Mrs. Ruler’s class. Can all their good deeds really add up to 100 acts of kindness?
Why we love it:
Kindness is Cooler is just a really cute story with a lot of fun ideas for how to be kind to others… It also shows examples of being unkind and how the kids felt. Action and reaction is such a useful tool when talking to young kiddos about kindness and generosity!
What Does It Mean to Be Kind? by Rana DiOrio
Book Description:
Being kind means…
Smiling at the new student in class.
Giving someone a compliment.
Celebrating the differences in others.
When the girl in the red hat finds the courage to be kind to the new student in class, her kindness spreads. Kind act by kind act, her whole community experiences the magical shift that happens when everyone understands―and acts on―what it means to be kind.
Why we love it:
We have quite a few of the “What does it mean…?” book series and we love all of these books! They are short, sweet, and simple stories that illustrate a great lesson! What Does It Mean to Be Kind? is great especially for those kiddos with really short attention spans when it comes to books! haha 🙂
What If Everybody Did That? by Ellen Javernick
Book Description:
If you drop just one soda can out the window, it’s no big deal … right? But what if everybody did that? What if everybody broke the rules … and spoke during story time, didn’t wash up, or splashed too much at the pool? Then the world would be a mess. But what if everybody obeyed the rules so that the world would become a better place? Using humorous illustrations rendered in mixed media, these questions are answered in a child-friendly way and show the consequences of thoughtless behavior.
Why we love it:
What If Everybody Did That? is one of those books that really gives such tangible examples of ways that each of us play a role in the bigger picture of life. It’s a really fun book with cheeky examples but it creates a great conversation with little ones about being a good human!
We’re Different, We’re the Same by Bobbi Kates
Book Description:
Who better than Sesame Street to teach us that we may all look different on the outside—but it’s important to remember that deep down, we are all very much alike. We all have the same needs, desires, and feelings. Elmo and his Sesame Street friends help teach toddlers and the adults in their lives that everyone is the same on the inside, and it’s our differences that make this wonderful world, which is home to us all, an interesting—and special—place. This enduring, colorful, and charmingly illustrated book offers an easy, enjoyable way to learn about differences—and what truly matters. It is an engaging read for toddlers and adults alike.
Why we love it:
My kiddos love Sesame Street and leave it to Sesame Street to share this incredible book about our differences! We’re Different, We’re the Same, is a great book to talk to kids about race, and how we all may look different on the outside, but that we are all very similar on the inside! It’s a great conversation starter for talking to your little ones about different cultures.
Start With Sorry: A Children’s Picture Book With Lessons in Empathy, Sharing, Manners & Anger Management by PT Finch
Book Description:
Three-year-old Luna loves to spend time with her big brother, Asher, and she wants to do everything he does. But when these siblings sit down to draw pictures together, Luna is overcome with jealousy because she can’t do everything he can do. When she reacts in anger, Asher is sad and doesn’t want to color with her anymore. How can she make things right again? With Mommy’s help, Luna learns how to deal with her emotions and make amends for hurting her brother’s feelings.
Toddlers ages 3-5 will love this sweet and relatable children’s picture book, whether they’re familiar with sibling rivalry or are just learning to share and cooperate at daycare or preschool. Stories like this one are an excellent way to teach kids how to apologize, and how to take responsibility for their actions in a way that’s fun!
Parents and teachers will appreciate the valuable early learning lesson in compassion. Kindness and empathy for others is one of the most important social skills required to form lasting friendships in preparation for school life, making “Start With Sorry” a must-have on any bookshelf.
Reading about the facts of life is part of growing up, as values are learned not just through real-life situations, but also by reading about basic concepts in fiction. Good manners include not just saying “please” and “thank you,” but also knowing how to apologize, not just with words, but with actions that demonstrate that the apology is meaningful
Why we love it:
Start with Sorry is a very easy read that kids will love! It has a great story line that is easy to follow and clearly illustrates empathy, sharing, manners, and how to manage their frustrations / anger.
So what do you think? Do you have any books that you love to read to your kiddos? What would you add to the list?