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Quick answer: The best children’s books about kindness show kids what kindness looks like in small, everyday actions and how it makes others feel. Top picks include Be Kind, Each Kindness, Have You Filled a Bucket Today?, The Invisible Boy, The Rabbit Listened and Wonder.
Most parents want to raise kind kids, but kindness is surprisingly hard to teach with words alone. Telling a child to “be nice” doesn’t show them what to do when a classmate sits alone at lunch or a friend is crying. Stories do. When children see a character notice someone left out, share without being asked or simply listen, they get a clear picture of kindness in action. They also feel what it’s like to be on the receiving end. Here are 15 books we love, from picture books for preschoolers to a middle-grade novel that has inspired millions of kids to “choose kind.”
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Be Kind | Pat Zietlow Miller | 4–8 | What kindness means |
| Each Kindness | Jacqueline Woodson | 5–9 | Missed chances to be kind |
| Have You Filled a Bucket Today? | Carol McCloud | 4–9 | Classroom kindness |
| The Invisible Boy | Trudy Ludwig | 5–9 | Including others |
| Last Stop on Market Street | Matt de la Peña | 3–8 | Gratitude and community |
| Kindness Is My Superpower | Alicia Ortego | 3–7 | Everyday kind acts |
| Ordinary Mary’s Extraordinary Deed | Emily Pearson | 4–8 | Ripple effect |
| Strictly No Elephants | Lisa Mantchev | 3–7 | Welcoming everyone |
| The Rabbit Listened | Cori Doerrfeld | 3–7 | Empathy and listening |
| A Sick Day for Amos McGee | Philip C. Stead | 3–7 | Friendship |
| Kindness Grows | Britta Teckentrup | 3–6 | Toddlers and preschoolers |
| Stick and Stone | Beth Ferry | 3–6 | Standing up for a friend |
| The Lion & the Mouse | Jerry Pinkney | 3–7 | Wordless storytelling |
| The Kindness Quilt | Nancy Elizabeth Wallace | 4–7 | Kindness projects |
| Wonder | R.J. Palacio | 8–12 | Choosing kind |
1. Be Kind by Pat Zietlow Miller
When Tanisha spills grape juice on her new dress, her classmate wonders what being kind really means. Is it giving, helping or just paying attention? This thoughtful picture book shows that kindness can be big or small, and that even trying counts.
2. Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson
Chloe and her friends ignore Maya, the new girl in shabby clothes. When Maya moves away, Chloe realizes she missed her chance to be kind. This Coretta Scott King Honor book doesn’t have a neat happy ending, which makes it powerful for school-age kids.
3. Have You Filled a Bucket Today? by Carol McCloud
Everyone carries an invisible bucket. Kind words and actions fill it, and mean ones dip into it. This simple idea has become a favorite in classrooms because kids can use it right away to describe how their choices affect others.
4. The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig
Brian is drawn in black and white because nobody seems to notice him at school. When a new student arrives and Brian makes him feel welcome, color slowly fills his world. It’s a moving reminder that a small act of inclusion can change someone’s day.
5. Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña
CJ rides the bus with his grandmother after church and wonders why they don’t have a car or why they go to the soup kitchen every week. Nana helps him see beauty and kindness all around him. It won the Newbery Medal and a Caldecott Honor.
6. Kindness Is My Superpower by Alicia Ortego
Lily shows young readers that kindness is a superpower anyone can use, from helping a friend who fell to sharing toys and saying sorry. Rhyming text and clear examples make it easy for preschoolers to copy her kind actions at home and school.
7. Ordinary Mary’s Extraordinary Deed by Emily Pearson
Mary picks blueberries for her neighbor, who then passes the kindness on, and soon the good deed spreads around the world and back to Mary. It’s a delightful way to show kids that one small act can create a huge ripple effect.
8. Strictly No Elephants by Lisa Mantchev
A boy’s pet elephant isn’t allowed into the neighborhood Pet Club. So he and a girl with a pet skunk start their own club where everyone is welcome. Sweet illustrations and a gentle message make this a great conversation starter about fairness and inclusion.
9. The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld
When Taylor’s block tower crashes, animal after animal tells him what to do. Only the rabbit quietly sits and listens until Taylor is ready. This tender book teaches a kind of kindness kids rarely hear about: simply being there for someone.
10. A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip C. Stead
Zookeeper Amos always makes time for his animal friends. When he stays home sick, the elephant, tortoise, penguin, rhino and owl ride the bus to take care of him. This Caldecott Medal winner shows that kindness comes back around.
11. Kindness Grows by Britta Teckentrup
Cracks appear between two friends when unkind words are spoken, then close up as kindness grows. Die-cut pages that change as you turn them make the idea easy for very young kids to see. It’s a lovely first book about kindness for ages 3 and up.
12. Stick and Stone by Beth Ferry
Stick and Stone are lonely until Stick sticks up for Stone when a pinecone teases him. Later, Stone returns the favor. With very few words and lots of humor, this book shows preschoolers how friends look out for each other.
13. The Lion & the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney
In this nearly wordless retelling of Aesop’s fable, a mighty lion spares a tiny mouse, who later frees him from a hunter’s net. The Caldecott-winning art invites kids to tell the story in their own words and talk about how even small creatures can help.
14. The Kindness Quilt by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace
Minna’s class is asked to do kind things and make pictures of them. Her ideas grow into a colorful kindness quilt that fills the classroom wall. It’s perfect for inspiring a family or classroom kindness project of your own.
15. Wonder by R.J. Palacio
Auggie Pullman, born with a facial difference, starts fifth grade at a real school for the first time. Told from several viewpoints, the novel shows how cruelty hurts and kindness heals. Its motto, “When given the choice between being right or being kind, choose kind,” sticks with kids.
Tips for Raising a Kind Child
- Model it daily. Kids copy how you treat waiters, neighbors and family far more than what you say.
- Point out kindness. Notice it out loud, in books and in real life: “That was kind of you to share.”
- Ask how others feel. Questions like “How do you think she felt?” build empathy after every story.
- Make it a habit. Try a weekly family kindness challenge or a kindness jar.
- Praise effort, not rewards. Kindness grows best when kids feel good about helping, not when they’re paid for it.
- Talk about including others. Encourage your child to notice who’s sitting alone.
Related: children’s books about bullying and children’s books about anger.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best children’s book about kindness?
Be Kind by Pat Zietlow Miller is a great all-around pick for ages 4 to 8. For older kids, Wonder by R.J. Palacio is the most loved novel about choosing kindness.
How do you teach kindness to a preschooler?
Show it, name it and practice it. Read simple books like Kindness Grows or Stick and Stone, then praise your child when they share, help or comfort someone.
What book is used in schools to teach kindness?
Have You Filled a Bucket Today? by Carol McCloud is widely used in classrooms, along with The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig and Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson.