15 Inspiring Picture Books To Teach Kids About Kindness
Kindness is incredibly powerful, and just one small act can transform a friendship, classroom, or school. Time spent teaching kids how to be kind, caring, and helpful to others is never wasted. However, it may seem hard to fit it in when you have so many other things on your to-do list.
This kindness book list will make it easier for you to inspire kindness in your students, without having to spend hours searching the internet, or planning a complicated lesson. The books will give kids practical ideas for how they can be kind to others, and will help them understand the impact that their words and actions can have.
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All Kinds of Kindness by Judy Carey Nevin
Recommended Grades: Pre-K to K
This is a short and simple book, perfect for young kids! It explains many ways - big and small - that we can be kind!
Ways To Welcome by Linda Ashman
Recommended Grades: Pre-K to 1
This simple book shows plenty of practical ways that we can be welcoming, kind, and inclusive to others.
When I Smile by Jo Witek
Recommended Grades: Pre-K to 2
A smile is a powerful thing! In this book, a girl shows readers how she uses her smile to show kindness to the people around her. Readers will be encouraged to pay attention to how others are feeling and to never underestimate the power of a smile!
The Sound of Kindness by Amy Ludwig VanDerwater
Recommended Grades: Pre-K to 2
In this story, readers follow along as a little girl takes a “kindness walk” through her neighborhood. As she walks, she hears people all through the town being kind with their words. After reading the book, encourage your students to try a “kindness walk” on their own!
Finding Kindness by Deborah Underwood
Recommended Grades: Pre-K to 2
Kindness can take many different forms. Sometimes it looks like a bucket, a ball, or a smile to share. This is such a cute story about how everyday objects and actions can be used to show kindness to others.
Andrew’s Angry Words by Dorthea Lachner
Recommended Grades: K to 3
This book shows the impact of our mean words, and just how far they can travel. After Andrew’s angry words spread all over town, he learns that he can spread kindness too. This book is perfect for helping students consider the impact of their words and actions.
Kindness Grows by Britta Teckentrup
Recommended Grades: K to 3
Our words and actions are meaningful. In this book, readers see how kindness can build on itself and make things better. They will also see how acts of unkindness can be just as impactful, causing division and anger between people. This book includes many practical examples of what kindness looks like and what it doesn’t.
Be Kind by Pat Zietlow Miller
Recommended Grades: K to 3
The girl in this story wants to show kindness to Tanisha, who spilled grape juice on her dress in front of everyone. While she reflects on how to show kindness to Tanisha, readers will learn many great ways to be kind.
Bloom by Anne Booth
Recommended Grades: K to 3
This book uses beautiful imagery to show the power of being kind, but also what happens when we are unkind. It gives plenty of practical examples and will inspire readers to grow kindness.
The Cool Bean by Jory John
Recommended Grades: K to 3
In this story, the main character is a bean who is most definitely NOT a cool bean. The cool beans are the most popular beans in the school. They used to be friends, but now the main character is more of an outsider. He shares how he feels lonely and wishes things were different. Then, on a particularly tough day, the cool beans show him kindness. Their kindness was small, but made a huge difference. It helped the main character, and the readers, realize that kindness is cool.
I Walk With Vanessa by Kerascoët
Recommended Grades: K to 3
This wordless picture book follows a student named Vanessa who is new to the school. On her first day, she is excluded, and treated poorly. The next day, another girl in the school decides to show kindness to Vanessa by walking with her to school. Soon, others join the two girls and help Vanessa feel at home in her new school.
Seeds and Trees by Brandon Walden
Recommended Grades: 1 to 3
In this book, the students learn about a place where words are like seeds. The boy in this story tells about the effect of the green seeds - that come from positive words - and the dark seeds - that come from unkind words. This is a great reminder to consider the words we are giving to others, and to only allow the kind words we hear to take root.
The Power Of One by Trudy Ludwig
Recommended Grades: K to 4
In this book, one girl shows one act of kindness that inspires even more kindness. Readers will see that one kind act may be small, but that it can make a big difference.
Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch by Eileen Spinelli
Recommended Grades: 1 to 4
Mr. Hatch is a lonely old man until he receives a message from a secret admirer that says someone loves him. This spurs him on to be warm and kind to those around him, until he learns that the message was not meant for him. Discouraged, he goes back to his old ways, only to learn that he IS loved.
One Drop of Kindness by Jeff Kubiak
Recommended Grades: 3 to 5
Gus’s mom died when he was young, and he spent the rest of his childhood moving around. He eventually ended up at a school that was nicknamed Mean School, and he fit right in with the unkind culture. Although Gus, and the people around him, were mean, he could always remember his mother’s voice reminding him about the power of kindness. When a girl named Truly starts attending Mean School, her kindness is contagious, and everyone is transformed from their mean ways. Gus is discouraged when he finds that Truly has left the school, but the principal reminds him that Truly’s kindness can live on in him. Your students will love this heartwarming book about the transformative power of kindness.
This list of kindness books for kids will make your social emotional learning and school counseling lessons easier and more impactful. They are sure to help your students understand why kindness matters, and how they can show kindness in big and small ways. If you’re looking for kindness activities to use alongside the books, check these out!
