Let’s reach for kindness...

It was back to school this week. I don’t know about other children’s librarians, but for me this means being asked for book not just about starting school for the first time, but also about bullying. It’s a really important topic and we have lots of picture books that deal with it directly or even as a secondary story.

Jennifer Sattler’s aptly named book, Bully, just arrived at our library, which is about a bully of a bullfrog. She has a wonderful end page in this book – A Note about Kindness – which was the inspiration for this post. Books on bullying are really important because they help kids understand what bullying looks like and why it can happen. However, this post is going to be about reaching for those books that focus on kindness. 

I Walk with Vanessa: A Story About a Simple Act of Kindness, by Kerascoët

A sweet story about a young girl who witnesses the bullying of someone else. She wants to help, but feels that she doesn’t know how.

Be Kind, by Pat Zietlow Miller

When Tanisha spills juice all over herself, her classmate contemplates how to make her feel better. This thoughtful story explores what a child can do to be kind and how each act can make a difference, no matter how big or small.

 

One Winter’s Day, by Christina M. Butler

Little Hedgehog’s journey demonstrates that the kindness we put out into the world will come back to us. On a blustery day, Little Hedgehog helps all the other animals he comes across, and in the end they rally a surprise to help him.

A Hat for Mrs. Goldman: A Story About Knitting and Love, by Michelle Edwards

Mrs. Goldman does so much for Sophia that she decides to knit her a special hat in return to show her love and appreciation.

Most People, by Michael Leannah

Did you know most people in the world are full of goodness? There are so many people in the world who want to reach for kindness and help others, rather than hurt them. And everyone deserve a second chance to do the right thing.