7 Kid's Books About Empathy and Kindness That Will Transform Your Classroom

Inside: the best children’s books about empathy and kindness in the classroom

While some children have a more natural empathetic disposition than others, the fact is - humans just don’t start out as empathetic. In fact, it’s quite the opposite and if you’ve ever interacted with a 3 or 4 year old, you know this to be true. It’s their point of view or no point of view, and they will tell you that to your face! Their feelings and perceptions are the only thing that seems to matter to them. And even though it may feel like it, this isn’t selfishness or a character flaw, it’s just simple human development! Children go from being extremely egocentric (it’s all about me, me, me!) to being able to consider the thoughts and feelings of others at around age 6 or 7. It’s such an amazing thing to watch them become more aware of the thought processes of others and you can almost see the empathy wheels begin turning in their heads.

As teachers, we can help strengthen these new empathy skills our students are developing! I love using books, videos, and mini-lessons to teach about the concepts of empathy and kindness in my classroom. I have no doubt your students will love these stories as much as mine do!

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KID’S BOOKS ABOUT EMPATHY

“The Rabbit Listened”

by Cori Doerrfeld

Taylor is building something amazing, when suddenly it all comes crashing down. All of his animal friends try to comfort him in different ways. The chicken wants to talk it out with him, but Taylor doesn’t feel like talking. The bear wants him to get angry, but that doesn’t feel right either. All of the animals that come along try to tell him how to feel his feelings. Then, the rabbit comes along and just listens. This is exactly what Taylor needs to feel better - someone to listen.

“You, Me, and Empathy”

by Jayneen Sanders

This sweet rhyming story is about a child named Quinn who shows empathy to the people around them. This story is unique in that it shows a child having a problem, Quinn recalling a time they felt that way, and then supporting that person through their feelings. It also includes discussion prompts and extension activities right in the book! This one is a gem.

“Pass It On”

by Sophy Henn

Your students will love this sweet little story all about how kindness can spread. It follows a young girl who finds joy and shows how she takes her happiness and shares it with those around her.

“The Invisible Boy”

by Trudy Ludwig

This story is about Brian, who goes unnoticed by everyone at school. Brian feels like he’s invisible because no one includes him in games at recess or wants to sit with him at lunch. When a new kid joins his class, Brian is the first student to make him feel welcome. The two pair up and help Brian find his place in the class. This powerful story is perfect for guiding conversations about finding the “invisible” kids and what we can do to help them be seen.

“Each Kindness”

by Jacqueline Woodson

I read this book every year with my students, but I will warn you - it isn’t a story with a happy ending. This story is about two girls, Chloe and Maya. Maya is new to school and looking for friends, but Chloe and her friends won’t let her play. They make fun of Maya’s old and ill-fitting clothing. One day, Maya stops coming to school. Chloe’s teacher demonstrates how kindness is like a rock dropped into water - one act of kindness can have a ripple effect. This lesson causes Chloe to reflect on her actions toward Maya, but she isn’t able to right her wrongs because Maya never returns to school. This story is so incredibly poignant and illustrates perfectly that, sometimes, our unkind actions cannot be undone.

“We’re All Wonders”

by R. J. Palacio

This is the picture book version of “Wonder” written especially for younger students. In this story, Auggie tells about how he feels like he’s just like every kid, but that people don’t always treat him like he is because of the way he looks. This is a great way to tap into our students’ empathy for people who may look different than us.

“I Am Human”

by Susan Verde

This story is part of the “I am…” series (which are all fantastic, by the way!) and tackles the complexities of being human, making mistakes, and the connections we can find through empathy and kindness.

EMPATHY & KINDNESS TEACHING RESOURCES

Empathy & Kindness Mini-Lesson

I find the greatest success when I combine read alouds, videos, and explicit lessons on social emotional topics like empathy and kindness. It’s so hard to fit dedicated character education lessons into a busy day, so that’s why I designed these Bite-Size mini-lessons that cover important topics in a short amount of time (10-15 minutes!) The lessons are ready to pull up on your projection system or to set up with a screen share via Zoom! Check out one of the slides in the image below.

Empathy QR Codes

I also love to use QR codes to reinforce a topic when I’m short on time. Hang the codes around the room and whenever students have an extra minute or two, they can grab their device, scan a code, and watch the video all about empathy. These are great for keeping early finishers busy in a meaningful way, too!

Empathy Parent Letter

I’ve found that parents want to help their child develop their social emotional skills, but they just don’t know how! These empathy parent letters are a quick and easy way to communicate with your parents about what your students are learning, and gives them tips and tricks for helping to develop their empathy skills at home, too!