Nurture roots of kindness in the heart of your little one.
Nothing is as comforting for a parent or child as snuggling in with a good book. We gathered our favorite, simple stories for young readers in a collection designed to inspire your young helpers to grow kind hearts.
Conversation Starters
How is the character in this story feeling? Have you ever felt this way?
Talk about a time when you faced a challenge or an adventure like the one in the story.
Together, look closely at the illustrations. Do you notice anything new?
Work together to draw or color a picture inspired by the story.
Featured Title
A Small Kindness by Stacy McAnulty, Illustrated by Wendy Leach
Small acts of kindness pass from one person to the next in a young classroom “like a game of tag.” Color spreads along with each act of kindness. In the end, everyone's a winner.
More DGT Favorites
Bear Feels Sick and other Bear Books by Karma Wilson
These simple, rhyming stories cover topics from gratitude to fear to friendship.
Beautiful Oops by Barney Saltzberg
In this culture nearly paralyzed by a fear of failure, we are hearing time and again that children aren't being allowed to make mistakes. This book is certainly part of the cure! Discover the beauty in a mistake, then set out to make a few of your own!
Books by Mem Fox
It's no wonder Fox has won dozens of awards. Each of her stories is unique. Each is bewitching in its own way. And each speaks to even the youngest among us.
Books by Todd Parr
Parr's entire collection is work checking out. He covers topics like peace, gratitude, and being different in a charming, bright, funny, and heart-felt way that speaks to people of every age.
The Color Monster: A Pop Up Book of Feelings by Anna Llenas
Understanding nuanced emotions is a crucial step to developing empathy. This fun, new book takes kids on a journey through a rainbow of emotions.
Families Belong, Families Can, and Families Grow by Dan Saks and Brooke Smart
This board book series features rhyming, light-hearted celebrations of families being together, the differences that make each family unique, and the different ways families can grow.
The Empty Pot by Demi
Simply told and beautifully illustrated, this story shares the beauty of telling the truth. Everyone wants to win the Emperor’s competition: the grower of the most beautiful flower will become the next emperor. But when one boy’s seed won’t sprout, he learns that bravery and honesty are more important to becoming emperor than a dramatic presentation.
Have You Filled a Bucket Today? by Carol McLoud
I know this book pops up on every list. If you are wondering why, then perhaps you haven't read it in a while. The message is so clear and so motivating, even the youngest children will set out at once to fill buckets. Perhaps even more remarkable, even the oldest readers find it inspiring too!
Hug Time by Patrick McDonnell
This is another gem from the author of The Gift of Nothing and the comic series Mutts. Jules the kitten takes off on a mission to hug the world, teaching kids, and their parents, to start changing the world one small gift of kindness at a time.
The Lion & the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney
This award-winning illustration of Aesop's much-loved fable gives kids the opportunity to tell their own stories. Though wordless, the intricate details on each page will have kids and their grownups thinking about who can be a helper.
Red Cat, Blue Cat by Jenni Desmond
This vibrant, funny, simple story gently teaches the trouble caused by jealousy and the joys of self-acceptance and friendship.
Twinkle, Twinkle Diaper You by Ellen Mayer
This simple board book shows the bonding that develops between parent and child during diaper changing time.
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Disclaimer: Doing Good Together™ is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. The recommendations we offer are based solely on our mission to empower parents to raise children who care and contribute.
