Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Bookish Wisdom earns from qualifying purchases. This doesn't change our picks or your price.
Quick answer: The best books for Kids About Being Kind include Kindness Makes Us Strong by Sophie Beer, Kindness Grows by Britta Teckentrup, The Kindness Quilt by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace and twelve more picks chosen for story quality and age fit. Each book below has a short description, a suggested age range and who it suits best, with a comparison table to help you choose quickly.
Kindness is one of the first values parents want to teach, and stories make it easy to talk about. These picture books show kindness in action: helping neighbours, including others, sharing food and noticing when someone needs a friend.
Table of Contents
Quick Comparison Table
| Book | Author | Ages | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kindness Makes Us Strong | Sophie Beer | 1-4 | toddlers |
| Kindness Grows | Britta Teckentrup | 3-7 | lift-the-flap fans |
| The Kindness Quilt | Nancy Elizabeth Wallace | 4-8 | classroom projects |
| Be Kind | Pat Zietlow Miller | 4-8 | kids who want to help |
| Each Kindness | Jacqueline Woodson | 5-9 | thoughtful readers |
| The Smallest Girl in the Smallest Grade | Justin Roberts | 4-8 | quiet observers |
| A Sick Day for Amos McGee | Philip C. Stead | 3-7 | animal lovers |
| Thank You, Omu! | Oge Mora | 3-7 | food lovers |
| Little Blue Truck | Alice Schertle | 1-5 | truck lovers |
| Kindness Is Cooler, Mrs. Ruler | Margery Cuyler | 5-8 | classroom challenges |
| Pass It On | Sophy Henn | 2-6 | kids who love joy |
| We're All Wonders | R.J. Palacio | 4-8 | Wonder fans |
| Kind | Alison Green | 3-7 | kids learning about others |
| How Kind! | Mary Murphy | 2-5 | preschoolers |
| The Lion and the Mouse | Jerry Pinkney | 3-7 | wordless book fans |
How We Chose These Books
We looked for real, widely available titles that match the theme and the age range, and we favoured books with clear storytelling and strong reputations with parents, teachers and librarians. Age ranges are suggestions, not rules, so you know your reader best. Previewing a book before you hand it over is always a good idea, especially for sensitive topics.
The 15 Books
1. Kindness Makes Us Strong by Sophie Beer
Simple examples of kindness for the youngest readers. Recommended ages: about 1-4.
Best for: toddlers.
2. Kindness Grows by Britta Teckentrup
Cracks in a wall grow as unkindness spreads, and heal with kindness. Recommended ages: about 3-7.
Best for: lift-the-flap fans.
3. The Kindness Quilt by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace
Minna's class makes a quilt of kind acts. Recommended ages: about 4-8.
Best for: classroom projects.
4. Be Kind by Pat Zietlow Miller
A girl wonders how to help a classmate who is embarrassed. Recommended ages: about 4-8.
Best for: kids who want to help.
5. Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson
Chloe regrets not being kind to a new girl. Recommended ages: about 5-9.
Best for: thoughtful readers.
6. The Smallest Girl in the Smallest Grade by Justin Roberts
Sally notices unkindness and speaks up. Recommended ages: about 4-8.
Best for: quiet observers.
7. A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip C. Stead
Zoo animals visit their zookeeper friend when he is ill. Recommended ages: about 3-7.
Best for: animal lovers.
8. Thank You, Omu! by Oge Mora
Omu shares her stew with the whole neighbourhood. Recommended ages: about 3-7.
Best for: food lovers.
9. Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle
A friendly truck helps a dump truck stuck in the mud. Recommended ages: about 1-5.
Best for: truck lovers.
10. Kindness Is Cooler, Mrs. Ruler by Margery Cuyler
A class tries to do one hundred kind deeds. Recommended ages: about 5-8.
Best for: classroom challenges.
11. Pass It On by Sophy Henn
Spread happiness by passing it on. Recommended ages: about 2-6.
Best for: kids who love joy.
12. We're All Wonders by R.J. Palacio
A picture-book version of Auggie's story. Recommended ages: about 4-8.
Best for: wonder fans.
13. Kind by Alison Green
Simple ways to be kind, illustrated by many artists. Recommended ages: about 3-7.
Best for: kids learning about others.
14. How Kind! by Mary Murphy
Farm animals pass along a chain of kindness. Recommended ages: about 2-5.
Best for: preschoolers.
15. The Lion and the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney
A mouse repays a lion's mercy. Recommended ages: about 3-7.
Best for: wordless book fans.
How to Choose the Right Book
For toddlers, start with Kindness Makes Us Strong, How Kind! and Little Blue Truck. Kids who need a nudge to include others will connect with Each Kindness, Be Kind and The Smallest Girl in the Smallest Grade. For community kindness, Thank You, Omu! and A Sick Day for Amos McGee are heart-warming.
Tips for Choosing and Sharing These Books
- Read it first. A quick skim lets you spot anything that might need a conversation.
- Match the book to the child. A reader who loves jokes may prefer a funny pick, while a quiet reader may prefer a gentler story.
- Read together. Pausing to ask what a character might feel or do next turns a story into a conversation.
- Visit the library. Borrowing a few titles from this list lets you find the ones your child returns to.
- Revisit favourites. Children often ask for the same book again and again, and rereading builds confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best book on this list to start with?
Kindness Makes Us Strong by Sophie Beer is a strong place to start, and every book on this list is a good option.
What age are these books for?
The books on this list suit roughly ages 1 to 9, and each entry shows its own suggested range.
Should I read these books aloud?
Many of them work well read aloud, especially with younger children, and older readers may enjoy reading them independently.
Where can I find these books?
Most of these titles are easy to find at public libraries, school libraries and bookshops, and many are available as ebooks or audiobooks, which can help reluctant or struggling readers.
Related: 15 Best Books on Raising Kind Kids