5 Children's Book That Teach Kindness (Part 2)

Glad to have Jenn back for her second installment of these kindness books. These 5 sets gear toward the upper level grades and feature one of my favorite YA Lit authors, Jerry Spinelli. Feel free to peruse through and enjoy :) 
 

The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes, illustrated by Louis Slobodkin  

 This short chapter book for third through sixth graders has been in print since 1945. The timeless theme is similar to Each Kindness where students torment a girl for wearing the same blue dress each day. The girl is pulled out of school, and the students are left to regret their behavior. A newer version of this book has a letter from the author’s daughter. This book will help students think about kindness and empathy on a deeper level.

Loser by Jerry Spinelli

Upper elementary and middle school students will rethink the power in the word “loser” as they read this novel. Zinkoff, a student with some special needs who doesn’t quite fit in, proves that anyone can be a hero. This character evokes both compassion and respect from readers. Spinelli makes older students think about kindness without seeming “preachy;” some critics say this novel is the best of this award-winning writer’s works

.

Molly’s Pilgrim by Barbara Cohen, illustrated by Daniel Mark Duffy

Even though this short chapter book is perfect for advanced first grade readers, the appeal stretches to upper elementary students. The children in Molly’s third grade class make fun of her accent, but this strong young immigrant girl shows them the true meaning of Thanksgiving and kindness. Cohen’s story is the perfect book to spark discussions about diversity in our country.

Wonder by R.J. Palacio

Soon to be a major motion picture, Wonder actually inspired “Choose Kind,” a kindness and compassion movement. Auggie, the main character, is a fifth grader with a facial deformity. The story begins from his point of view, but other characters soon chime in. All the characters struggle to accept Auggie and his differences. This novel gives upper elementary and middle school students a powerful forum to examine and discuss their own beliefs about compassion and kindness.

Blood on the River: Jamestown, 1607 by Elisa Carbone

Accurate and well-researched historical fiction may be an unusual genre for teaching the importance of kindness, but this novel demonstrates that kindness and compassion led to the survival of the entire colony. Primary sources document that a boy named Samuel Collier traveled to the New World from England in 1607. Carbone fills in his back story as an orphan and a thief who escapes imprisonment by accompanying John Smith to Virginia as his page. Samuel is a fighter and a bully. John Smith teaches him to channel his anger and learn compassion because his survival depends on it. By the end of the novel, Samuel demonstrates kindness and compassion in a completely selfless and heroic act bound to generate many discussions among tweens and teens alike. While this book describes some graphic, but historically accurate violence, the powerful lessons and fast-moving plot make this a true page- turner!

Find Jenn on: Meaningful Connections | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Teachers Pay Teachers

5 Children's Books that Teach Kindness (Part 1)

So happy to welcome Jenn for a guest post today. She's a fellow blogger who just so happens to be a teacher, like me. Today, she's helping spread the word on kindness by recommending some great reads to teach our children (students or otherwise) about the value of being kind to each other. So read on to find some good reads to add to your library. (PS: If you're looking for books for the upper level-grades,  Jenn has more recommendations coming in November)

Finding common ground among our children is crucial for our future, and it’s the key theme over at my blog, Meaningful Connections. We live in a world that is more connected than ever—yet record numbers of our children are suffering the pain of bullying and isolation. As the school year gets underway, it’s critical to reinforce the importance of being good to others. It’s also important to help kids avoid the role of victim should they cross paths with bullies. Here is a list of books to get students talking about kindness.

You Are Special, by Max Lucado, illustrated by Sergio Martinez.

Lucado teaches an important lesson to students in Kindergarten through fifth grade about caring for oneself regardless of what other people think. His Wemmicks, special wooden people, spend their days placing colored stickers on each other. Talented, pretty Wemmicks get stars, but the mediocre among them get gray stickers. Poor Punchinello is covered with gray circles. He feels terrible until he notices a young girl Wemmick with no stickers. She directs Punchinello to visit Eli, the woodcarver. Eli teaches him that dots and stars mean nothing when Wemmicks realize that they are special just as they are. The spiritual overtones of this picture book are subtle enough that some school counselors use this story in their classroom lessons on bullying

Have You Filled a Bucket Today? A Guide to Daily Happiness for Kids by Carol McCloud, illustrated by David Messing.

McCloud’s famous picture book has been shared in elementary schools Kindergarten through fifth grade around the country to teach kindness. Through the story, children can imagine that each person has an invisible “bucket” that can be filled with kindness or emptied by hurtful words. Kids often don’t realize the effect their words and actions have on others. This book helps provide a concrete example to help children think about the power in their deeds.

Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by E.B. Lewis

This picture book does not have a happy ending, which makes it all the more powerful. A young girl named Chloe is unkind to Maya, a new student, and excludes her. By the time Chloe thinks about the consequences of her actions and wishes to make a change, Maya is gone. Chloe never has the chance to make things right with Maya. This book will give elementary students a lesson on kindness, consequences, and regret.

Hooway for Wodney Wat by Helen Lester, illustrated by Lynn Munsinger

Rodney Rat has a speech impediment, and the other rodents in his class make fun of the way he says his R’s. When Camilla Capybara enters the class and declares herself bigger and meaner than all the others, Rodney surprises everyone by putting her in her place. This story reminds children eight and under that everyone is deserving of respect.

My Friend is Sad by Mo Willems

This Elephant and Piggie book by the acclaimed author of Knuffle Bunny and the Pigeon books explores friendship and kindness as Piggie does everything she can to try and cheer up her friend. This book is a great conversation starter with younger elementary students eight and under about what good friends do for each other.

Find Jenn on: Meaningful Connections | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Teachers Pay Teachers