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“How I Teach My Kids About Kindness (Through Books)
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items As a parent, I’ve realized that teaching kindness and empathy is just as important as teaching math or reading. Books have been the easiest and most powerful way to open up those conversations with my kids. 📚✨
Every story here carries a lesson — ab...
Sections
3
Stories About Feelings & Emotions
💡 Confidence, Growth & Perseverance
🤝 Friendship & Kindness
Stories About Feelings & Emotions
Kids go through so many feelings they don’t always understand — joy, sadness, anger, worry. These books give them words and stories to express emotions in a healthy way. They help children see that it’s normal to feel different things and that every ...
One of my favorite books to read with my kids because it shows such an important lesson: it’s okay to feel sad, upset, or just “off” sometimes. We don’t always have to fix our feelings right away — and this story reminds kids (and parents) that it’s ...
Grumpy Monkey – Suzanne Lang
The pigeon is absolutely terrified about going to school — and honestly, what kid hasn’t felt that way before their first day? 😅 This book is both funny and comforting, showing that while new things can feel scary at first, they can also turn out to...
The Pigeon HAS to Go to School! by Mo Willems,
This is one of those books that stays with you long after you close the last page. Amos & Boris is a beautiful story about the power of friendship—how two completely different creatures, a mouse and a whale, find a way to care for one another. It...
Amos and Boris by William Steig,🐋🐳
This is such a wonderful book for helping children begin to understand their feelings. In The Color Monster, emotions are shown as different colors—bright, bold, and easy for kids to recognize. It gives little ones the language and imagery they need ...
The Color Monster: A Story About Emotions by Anna Llenas, Hardcover
This is such a beautiful book because it reminds kids (and us as parents) that we’re all experiencing life for the very first time. The world is big, full of wonder, and sometimes confusing — but at the heart of it all, the most important thing is to...
Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth by Oliver Jeffers, Hardcover
💡 Confidence, Growth & Perseverance
Growing up isn’t easy — kids face challenges, doubts, and failures. These stories inspire them to keep going, to try again, and to believe in themselves. They show that mistakes aren’t the end, but the beginning of learning and growing.
This is an incredible story about gaining confidence in your own abilities. The little cookie doesn’t feel as “smart” as everyone else, and that’s such a real feeling for many kids — thinking they aren’t good enough compared to others.
What I love i...
The Smart Cookie (B&N Exclusive Edition)
This is one of those books I absolutely love sharing with my kids because it teaches such a powerful lesson: failure isn’t the end, it’s part of the journey. Rosie dreams of being an engineer, but her inventions don’t always go as planned. Instead of...
Rosie Revere, Engineer (Questioneers Collection Series) by Andrea Beaty
This book has such a powerful message. Chrysanthemum loves her unique name — until she goes to school and gets teased. Suddenly, what she once loved becomes a source of shame.
That’s a huge problem for kids today: teasing, comparison, and negativity...
Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes, Paperback
This story shows kids that being the best isn’t what matters—what truly counts is trying your best. It reminds children that success isn’t about trophies or being #1, but about effort, persistence, and having pride in what you’ve accomplished.
I rec...
The Big Cheese (B&N Exclusive Edition) by Jory John, Pete Oswald, Hardcover
🤝 Friendship & Kindness
Nothing shapes childhood more than learning how to treat others. These books highlight kindness, empathy, and true friendship. They remind kids that helping, caring, and being a friend is more powerful than being the smartest or strongest.
This timeless folk tale teaches one of life’s most important lessons: when people come together and share what little they have, they can create something truly magical. Children love the playful story of the clever travelers who turn a simple pot of...
Stone Soup – Retold by Marcia Brown
I honestly love this book. 💛 It’s such a sweet example of kindness, empathy, and overcoming challenges, even when personal or physical limitations get in the way. Tiny T. Rex might be small with short arms, but he proves that determination and love ...
Tiny T. Rex and the Impossible Hug – Jonathan Stutzman
This is one of those books I truly enjoy sharing with my kids, because it teaches such a powerful lesson in a lighthearted way: the coolest thing about a person isn’t how they look or what they wear — it’s how kind and helpful they are.
I recommend ...
The Cool Bean – Jory John & Pete Oswald