10 Children’s Books That Teach Kindness

Teaching kids about kindness is really important, especially when they are young. While, of course, you can model kindness for your children, it can be a hard concept for them to understand.

Children’s books about kindness can really help your little ones learn how to act kind in their own lives.

Children’s Books About Kindness

When kids are little, we do so much teaching based on modeling. While it’s easy to demonstrate kindness to kids, it can be tough for them to relate it to their own lives.

Books make it easier to show kids situations that they’ll encounter and offer solutions before problems happen.

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Have You Filled a Bucket Today?

Have You Filled a Bucket Today?: A Guide to Daily Happiness for Kids (Bucketfilling Books)

Going to kick off this list with the absolute best book about teaching kindness to kids. The concept is simple: everyone has a bucket that needs to be filled each day. You can either help fill other peoples’ buckets (through kindness) or dip into their buckets and take (through unkind behavior.) It also focuses on the actions, not the person’s character, which I love for kids.

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Bear Feels Sick

Bear Feels Sick (The Bear Books)

As part of the great bear series, Bear gets sick, and his friends rally around to take care of him and nurse him back to health. When his friends get sick, Bear gets to repay the favor and take care of them. This book really demonstrates kindness and taking care of others in a way little kids can understand.

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Sterling and Nugget the Dragon

Sterling and Nugget the Dragon

In a land far away, many fear a dragon named Nugget—including Sterling, a brave young boy, who dreams of becoming a knight. Sterling sets out to slay the dragon, until his quest presents him with a choice: fight or help. In choosing kindness and compassion, Sterling becomes a true knight. Sterling and Nugget the Dragon fosters growth in a child’s social and emotional development. Sterling’s story will encourage the knight in shining armor within any child!

Pairs of People

Pairs of People

In this lively, vibrant, and inspiring book, New York Times bestselling author Mark Shriver and his wife Jeanne Shriver help children learn about the power of numbers and how working together can make the world a better place. Pairs of People make math fun and meaningful by showing how our service to others multiplies when people pitch in together.

The whimsical, rhyming text and colorful artwork from award-winning artist Laura Watson inspire discussion on such topics as friendship, leadership, and camaraderie while illustrating the basic concepts of multiplication.

Giving Gal

Giving Gal

Gabi loves giving. It has always been easy. That is until she meets her match, Mr. Brink, while visiting her grandma. But Gabi is persistent. She refuses to give up until she has brought a smile to the faces of all she meets. And in the end, it’s Mr. Brink who gives her a gift she will never forget.

The Sun Jumped Over the Moon

The Sun Jumped Over the Moon

The Sun Jumped Over the Moon, is an uplifting tale that inspires children to overcome their fears while having the confidence and determination to overcome odds. Featuring vibrant, eye-catching colors and characters, this book explores the theme that we should never give up, we should always be there to help our friends, and the power of kindness can create real change.

 The story is a whimsical tale about a Sun whose rays are blocked by a menacing cloud. The moon and the creatures below support and encourage the sun to jump over the moon to escape the cloud and shine brightly. The book shows how peers can influence their friends in a positive way to motivate them to be their best.

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K Is for Kindness

K Is for Kindness

Debut author/illustrator and sister duo have crafted a sweet ABC book that expresses how kindness can be found anywhere. From aardvark to zebra, this delightful cast of animal characters illustrates the many ways to show kindness to others, while teaching the youngest readers their ABCs.

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You’ve Got Quirks: And You’re Wonderful!

You've Got Quirks: And You're Wonderful!

Some kids hurt because they feel like “The Weird One,” but we all have quirks that make us different! Quirks can be big or small, from how we look, speak, and live life, to medical conditions.

You’ve Got Quirks tells the true stories of people who were “different” as children. Other kids and some adults didn’t understand them and teased them.

Our quirky heroes felt embarrassed and powerless at the time, but living with quirks taught them valuable lessons they now share with you.

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Kuan Yin: The Princess Who Became the Goddess of Compassion

Kuan Yin: The Princess Who Became the Goddess of Compassion

Two sisters discover the power of love and the true meaning of compassion in this princess-adventure story based on an ancient Chinese tale.

 A princess-adventure story like none other, this ancient Chinese tale of the world’s most beloved Buddhist hero is a story of sisterhood, strength, and following your own path.

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Dusty and Friends Color and Activity Book About Friendship

Dusty and Friends Activity Book: Coloring and Activity Book About Friendship

Dusty and his wonderful animal and human companions are back in this fun and entertaining activity book with important social-emotional learning themes.

Fans of the rollicking picture book Dusty’s Big Oops! will be delighted to revisit the book’s friendly characters in this 63-page activity and coloring book designed to promote themes of friendship and social skills through fun and informative coloring pages and activities.

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Using books to teach kids about different life lessons is a great way to raise our children with the values we want them to have. Exposing our children to books about kindness, books about respect, and books that encourage development will help them significantly.

Reading is incredibly crucial to a child’s development, and providing them with great books will help them grow.