5 books to encourage kindness
We know that books are powerful tool in which to promote compassion and empathy within our schools. With "kindness" voted as Oxford Children's Word of the Year 2024, it's encouraging to know that children wholly recognise its importance too, now more than ever.
In light of kindness' win, we've picked 5 fiction and non-fiction titles about this key theme, ideal to add to your empathy collections.
I'm (almost) always kind, Anna Milbourne and Asa Gilland (illustrator)
This lovely warm tale explores the potential pitfalls of trying to be kind, and what being kind really means.
Told from a little boy's perspective, it teaches readers how being kind means putting yourself in someone else's shoes in order to understand what they need. It's unique exploration of kindness makes it a great starting point for a PSHE discussion. How might we understand what type of kindness someone really needs before we act?
With bright illustrations and gentle humour, I'm (almost) always kind is also ideal for sharing one to one in school or at home.
The girl at the front of the class, Onjali Q. Rauf and Pippa Curnick (illustrator)
A boy wants to become friends with the new girl in his class, but she doesn't want join in with his play. So he turns to the cleverest people he knows to find out why...
Powerful, this picture book from the author of The letter with the golden stamp highlights how being a refugee can be a very lonely, frightening experience, and shows how young children can understand and empathise with these classmates.
The girl at the front of the class also includes ideas at the back of the book on how to help refugee children feel welcome, making it perfect for empathy collections.
Stories of peace & kindness for a better world, Elizabeth Laird and Mehrdokht Amini (illustrator)
Travel across the globe in seven folk tales where the importance of kindness shines through.
These beautifully retold stories by Laird include folk tales from seven countries, including Ethiopia, Palestine, and a rare Uighur story from China. Amini's retro collage illustrations also perfectly capture each timeless theme.
Stories of peace & kindness for a better world is ideal for folk tale collections, as well as topic support for Year 3 and Year 4.
Cardboard cowboys, Brian Conaghan
A hilarious and heart-warming read for Year 5 and Year 6 about a boy who befriends a homeless man.
Lenny is treated poorly at school. When he litters in the canal, he's stopped by Bruce, who lives in a "house made of cardboard" on the banks. What starts as an awkward encounter turns into a unexpected friendship, and then epic road trip, which will change both of their lives.
With excellent characterisation and a gripping plot which tackles big issues, Cardboard cowboys is a fantastic book to recommend to pupils or share as a class read.
Let's fill this world with kindness: true tales of goodwill in action, Alexandra Stewart and Jake Alexander (illustrator)
This collection of 25 real-life stories shows how heroic acts of kindness can change our world for the better.
Aimed at empowering children and young teens who feel disenfranchised, this broad collection aims to help readers make positive choices in their own lives and embrace kindness. The book is split into ten sections, looking at the science of kindness, kindness in the face of severe situations such as war and persecution, as well as everyday moments of kindness and cultural customs which promote empathy and compassion.
Let's fill this world with kindness is ideal for transition age groups, from Year 5 to Year 8, and it gives plenty of food for thought in group discussions and self-reflection.
