Our Favorite Kindness Books for Kids!

Lubna’s best friend and confidante is a small pebble, found the night she landed in a World of Tents with her father. When a little boy arrives at the World of Tents, lost and cold, Lubna introduces the boy to Pebble. The two become friends in their new, uncertain world. When Lubna learns she and her father have found a real home and will be leaving the World of Tents, Lubna knows she has the most perfect gift to leave with the boy. Stunning, poignant, and moving, this has become an all-time favorite kindness book for kids. For our full review of Lubna and Pebble, click here!

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Amos, a zookeeper, spends time every day with all of the animals at the zoo. He delights in being a friend to each of them, and he is sensitive to their unique needs. When Amos wakes up one morning too sick to get to the zoo, Amos’s friends decide it’s time they return the favor. This is single-handedly one of the best kindness books for kids, and it is also an excellent picture book about friendship to teach little ones about empathy and compassion. For our full review of A Sick Day for Amos McGee, click here!

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Something terrible has happened to little Taylor: she cannot get over her devastation when a tower she worked so hard to construct crashes to the ground. Her friends try to help. They offer suggestions and unsolicited advice, trying everything under the sun to get her to calm down. But it is only when the rabbit sits next to Taylor and listens — just listens, quietly, calmly, and with compassion — that she begins to feel better. How I love this one! This is a favorite picture book highlighting the ever-important quality of listening and not trying to “fix” things.

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In this beautiful debut, certain to become a classic, Omu makes a delicious red stew and its delectable scent travels all over the neighborhood. As one neighbor after another visits Omu to ask for a bowl of stew, Omu generously shares with all. But when she goes to make her own dinner, she realizes there is no stew left for her! Whatever will she do? This is a gorgeous story founded in Nigerian culture, highlighting generosity, selflessness, and paying it forward. I am head over heels in love. For our full review of Thank You, Omu! click here! This stellar story is also on our list of favorite gratitude books.

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A stunning, wordless exploration of the harmful act of bullying, and how one simple act of kindness by an upstander can be a change agent for the entire community. I absolutely love letting children ponder these pictures and tell their own stories. The “plots” they come up with are intriguing and insightful – and their words will give you such a significant glimpse into their minds and hearts.

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Sweet little Lala can be found carrying a pot of water around the corner from her home to a patch of dirt where tiny weeds sprout. “Hello, hello friends,” she says to the patch. She waters the plants daily and whispers kind words to them, too. Though her mom tries to keep Lala from playing with weeds and dirt, Lala continues encouraging her plants, even whispering to them from her window when her mother makes her stay inside. Soon the plants go strong and tall, shading and nourishing the neighborhood. We love the way Lala’s kind words nourish not just the plants, but her community as well. A beautiful and touching story that showcases the power of kindness through a lovely metaphor.

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I will forever champion beautiful stories that showcase how one act of kindness can begin a chain reaction, creating something bigger and brighter than ever anticipated.  So it is with this lovely wordless picture book, celebrating how one good deed sparks a chain of generosity. As a young girl searches for her lost dog, she sees firsthand how little acts of kindness turn strangers into a community and somber moments into meaningful expressions of joy. With its intricate illustrations using pops of red to highlight kind actions, this story celebrates the power of paying it forward.

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This nearly wordless picture book is such a beauty, and I can’t get over the emotion that is conveyed in every one of Matthew Cordell’s stunning illustrations. When both a little girl and a wolf cub get lost in the snow, the child braves the elements to return the cub to its pack. Wolf in the Snow is the perfect hero’s journey for those of you new to wordless stories. It is easy to interpret yet so richly evocative — and captivatingly beautiful in its snowy, winter setting.

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James Otis and his Mama don’t have much, but they have their health and strength, so Mama says they are blessed. One Sunday, their reverend announces that a new family at their church has lost everything in a fire, and everyone will make a Love Box to help them in their time of need. James Otis wonders hard – what should he give that the family will like? He comes up with an idea from the heart, but will it be enough? For our full review of What is Given from the Heart, click here!

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Brian is never seen or noticed by his classmates. He has no friends, and thus appears in the story devoid of color, making him invisible at school. Eventually, a new child winds up in Brian’s class and Brian is the first to reach out to him. When a bond forms between the two boys and they are teamed up to work on a class project, Brian finds a way to step out of the shadows and flourish. Not only does he make a new friend, but Barton’s illustrations show how small acts of kindness fill Brian up with color until he is, quite literally, a vibrant force in his classroom. For our full review of The Invisible Boy, click here!

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Tanesha spills grape juice all over her new dress, and a classmate searches for just the right way to make her feel better. I love the way this sweet, simple story walks through actions any child can take to spread kindness throughout their classrooms and communities. Even small acts of kindness have significant impacts and go a long way toward building friendships and connections. A stunning children’s picture book about friendship and kindness! For our full review of Be Kind, click here!

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Jacqueline Woodson is brilliant! This story packs a powerful punch and is fabulous for older elementary students. Chloe and her crew won’t play with the new girl in school, casting Maya aside whenever she tries to make friends. One day, Maya stops coming to school. When Chloe’s teacher speaks to the class about how even small acts of kindness can have powerful effects, Chloe is remorseful for treating Maya so poorly. This is a must-have for every classroom and home, sending an anti-bullying message that is as compelling as it is critical.

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The world can be big and scary, with some people that don’t make the best choices. But most people smile, and most people laugh. Most people are inherently good. I love how this multicultural children’s picture book showcases all forms of goodness, from the big tattooed man helping an elderly woman cross the street, to a “goth” looking teenager returning a lost wallet to its owner. This is a gem, and one I love having on my shelves to turn to during tough times.

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Samson, a giant woolly mammoth, shares his dandelions with a red bird who is looking to cheer up a sad friend. When the bird flies away, Samson is left wondering what it would be like to have a real friend of his own. Samson subsequently awakens from a deep sleep, only to find the world covered in snow. He immediately worries about the red bird and sets off to find her to ensure she’s warm. As Samson journeys through the snow, he finds that warmth can be found in more ways than one. A testament to compassion, kindness, and friendship, we simply love this quiet, beautiful story!

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When a lion finds a wounded bird in his garden, the lion gently takes him in and cares for him because the bird’s flock has flown away. The two animals become fast friends, so when the bird departs with his flock the following autumn, the lion is heartbroken. This is such a tender portrayal of friendship and loyalty, with stunning illustrations to boot. The combination of simple text and stunning pictures make this kindness book for kids sing — and resonate deeply with readers.

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The story begins when the Farmer, working in his fields, is startled by something catapulted out of a passing train. The Farmer is even more startled when he discovers this “something” is a child – all alone – dressed in a full clown costume and complete with a happy, made-up face. What follows is a spellbinding tale of the Farmer’s rescue of the clown and an unexpected friendship between these two superbly drawn characters; it is a remarkable exploration of loneliness and companionship.

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Mrs. Goldman knits hats for everyone in their neighborhood to help them stay warm during the harsh winter. But what happens when Sophia realizes that Mrs. Goldman is so busy knitting for everyone else and she has no hat of her own to wear? Sophia takes it upon herself to make Mrs. Goldman the perfect hat, and this simple act makes this a Happily Ever Elephants’ favorite kindness book for kids! I absolutely love this story of selflessness!

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After their home is destroyed by a fire, Rosa and her family save coins in a big jar. What are they saving up for? A big, comfortable chair so the family can relax after their respective long days. This story is poignant and so beautifully conveys one spirited family’s will to persevere after a tragedy as well as the gratitude they display to those around them, even when their own losses were devastating. It also celebrates generosity and kindness, too.

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Adrian Simcox tells his classmates he has a horse – the best and most beautiful horse in all the world. But Chloe knows Adrian is lying. After all, Adrian Simcox lives in a tiny house and has holes in his shoes, so there’s no way he has a horse in his backyard. The more Adrian talks about this beautiful horse, the angrier Chloe gets… and the more she wants to prove him wrong. Will vindication give Chloe the satisfaction she so desires? This is one of our very favorite children’s books about empathy! For our full review of Adrian Simcox, click the link!

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Two women, one Jewish and one Muslim, are best friends and neighbors despite tensions in their community. Each manages their own date grove, and they share food and cheer. But then times get tough, and what they don’t realize is that each worries tremendously about the others’ welfare and secretly shares food with the other. This is a stunning story conveying that true, beautiful friendship can be found even with those we think are the most different from ourselves.

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In a world where everything is drab and gray, one little girl seeks to add some beauty to her surroundings. She knits one sweater, and then another and another, and her box of yarn is seemingly endless. It seems there’s no limit to her kindness, and the girl’s good deeds evoke some important change around her. But then that yarn gets stolen by an unsavory character, and all are left to wonder whether the crook will benefit from his theft. This understated yet stunning Caldecott Honor book is another gem and shows what happens when you share goodness with the people around you.

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An Iraqi family is forced to flee from their home, and they carry their beloved cat, Kunkush, hidden among them as they seek refuge in Greece. Yet, during a boat ride to Greece, the cat’s carrier breaks, and Kunkush disappears. Thereafter, aid workers in Greece discover the frightened cat, and knowing how much his family must have already lost, the workers want nothing more than to reunite the cat with his owners. A worldwide rescue mission ensues, until one day, finally, Kunkush and his family meet again.

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In this powerful wordless kindness book for kids, a little girl walks along the sidewalk with her distracted father who, busy on his cell phone and walking straight ahead, doesn’t notice his daughter collecting wildflowers as they walk. The girl, though, doesn’t just collect. Instead, she also gives — and gives and gives. A man lying on a bench gets a flower, a mother and her children get flowers, an injured bird gets flowers. As the child gives the flowers away, her kindness transforms those she encounters — and herself, too. A small masterpiece, this is a brilliant book for any collection!

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