Kateryna Y
•
4 months ago
Empathy children book list
Empathy is an essential skill that helps children build friendships, understand others, and develop emotional intelligence. Books provide a great way for children to experience different emotions, see the world through another perspective, and recognize how their actions affect others. Whether it’s a story about standing up for a friend, helping someone in need, or learning to be more understanding, these empathy books for children encourage thoughtful discussions and real-world connections.
1
Author: Philip C. Stead
Publication year: 2010
Amos McGee, a friendly zookeeper, always makes time for his animal friends no matter what his own schedule and needs. But when Amos feels poorly and has to stay in bed one day, his friends visit him, bringing the warmth and generosity he's always given them. Friends come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. In Amos McGee's case, all sorts of species, too! Every day he spends a little bit of time with each of his friends at the zoo, running races with the tortoise, keeping the shy penguin company, and even reading bedtime stories to the owl. But when Amos is too sick to make it to the zoo, his animal friends decide it's time they returned the favor. THE BEST SICK DAY EVER and the animals in the zoo feature in this striking picture book debut.
2
Author: Varsha Bajaj
Publication year: 2019
An uplifting story, told through the alternating voices of two middle-schoolers, in which a community rallies to reject racism. Karina Chopra would have never imagined becoming friends with the boy next door–after all, they’ve avoided each other for years and she assumes Chris is just like the boys he hangs out with, who she labels a pack of hyenas. Then Karina’s grandfather starts tutoring Chris, and she discovers he’s actually a nice, funny kid. But one afternoon something unimaginable happens–the three of them are assaulted by a stranger who targets Indian-American Karina and her grandfather because of how they look. Her grandfather is gravely injured and Karina and Chris vow not to let hate win. When Karina posts a few photos related to the attack on social media, they quickly attract attention, and before long her #CountMeIn post–'What does an American look like? #immigrants #WeBelong #IamAmerican #HateHasNoHomeHere'–goes viral and a diverse population begin to add their own photos. Then, when Papa is finally on the road to recovery, Karina uses her newfound social media reach to help celebrate both his homecoming and a community coming together.
3
Author: Jia Shao
Publication year: 2022
Celebrate Life. Celebrate Diversity. Celebrate YOU. 'MY Heart Full of All' is a children's book that promotes self-acceptance and diversity through the story of a mixed-race girl preparing for a multicultural fashion show. The book helps children understand and appreciate their unique backgrounds by showing how different cultures can come together to create something beautiful. It includes a fun activity that encourages children to explore their own mixed family, cultures, and backgrounds. With 40 pages of engaging rhymes and colorful illustrations, this book is perfect for kids aged 2-5 and is a great gift for promoting self-love and acceptance.
4
Author: Zetta Elliott
Publication year: 2020
In this poem, a Black child navigates his changing emotions over the course of a year. Initially filled with joy during summertime activities like skateboarding and basketball, his emotions take a dark turn when his community is impacted by a police shooting. As the seasons change from fall to winter and then spring, his feelings evolve from fear to anger, and ultimately to pride and peace. Illustrator Noa Denmon, in her debut, captures the complex emotional journey of the child following the police shooting, depicting grief, protests, healing, and community through expressive colors. This book is a Caldecott Honor recipient.
5
Author: Michael Genhart
Publication year: 2017
I See You is a wordless picture book that follows a homeless woman who is largely ignored by society, except for a little boy who observes her throughout the year. The story culminates in a moment of compassion when the boy acknowledges her presence, allowing her to feel seen. The book serves as a tool to spark conversations about homelessness between kids and parents and includes a 'Note for Parents, Educators, and Neighbors' with discussion questions and resources for helping the homeless.
6
Author: Julia Nicholson
Publication year: 2015
Alex, an imaginative and curious child, discovers a mysterious pair of shoes that embarks them on a magical adventure. Each new pair of shoes offers Alex insight into the lives of their former owners, exploring various cultures, lifestyles, and difficulties. This journey instills in Alex a deeper sense of empathy and understanding in a diverse world. The book also delves into a captivating fairy-tale world of footwear, exploring culturally significant stories from Cinderella in China to dogs in America wearing boots. Illustrated by Lucie Arnoux, the collection traverses the globe and spans centuries, highlighting the enchanting essence of footwear through fairy tales and folktales.