20 Children’s Books about Kindness

The world could always use a little more kindness, and kids are often the best at showing us how. This list of children’s books about kindness is full of stories that help kids understand the difference that small acts of kindness can make. Let these characters and stories inspire your kids to start sharing kindness with the world today!

Make certain that you check out our Mr. Rogers Quotes To Spread Kindness and Love as well.

20 Children’s Books about Kindness

These books about kindness are great reads and are a wonderful way to spread love and happiness.

Baby Be Kind was written and illustrated by Jane Cowen-Fletcher. This adorable board book shares small acts of kindness through simple text and sweet illustrations of babies playing together.

How Kind! was written and illustrated by Mary Murphy. This sweet story follows a group of farm animals as they perform acts of kindness for one another. The repetitive text and brightly colored illustrations will engage young readers.

Kindness Rules! was written by Eunice Moyle and illustrated by Sabrina Moyle. This vibrantly colored board book is a funny guide to manners and social situations for little ones. Kids will enjoy the fun characters and silly illustrations.

The Backpack was written by Lindsay C. Barry and illustrated by Klaudia Bezak. This sweet rhyming story reminds kids about kindness and the importance of reaching out to others, and is a great way to kick off a new school year.

Be Kind was written by Pat Zietlow Miller and illustrated by Jen Hill. When a young girl spills juice on herself at school, her classmate starts pondering the idea of kindness and how to show it to those around you. The story uses the perspective of a child to open an important discussion with little ones.

Ordinary Mary’s Extraordinary Deed was written by Emily Pearson and illustrated by Fumi Kosaka. Mary is an ordinary girl, but her simple act of kindness soon spreads in an extraordinary way. The story shows kids how ordinary acts of kindness can grow and spread, and it is paired with sweet illustrations.

Because Amelia Smiled was written and illustrated by David Ezra Stein. While Amelia skipped down the street, her smile encouraged her neighbors to spread happiness to others through their own small acts of kindness. This sweet story shows how the tiniest bit of happiness can spread around the world.

How Full Is Your Bucket? For Kids was written by Tom Rath and Mary Reckmeyer and illustrated by Maurie J. Manning. This book is an illustrated adaptation of the book How Full is Your Bucket?, showing kids how each interaction throughout the day can affect your mood, and the moods of others.

The Big Umbrella was written by Amy June Bates and illustrated by Juniper Bates. This story follows a kind umbrella who likes to help people and shield them from the rain. The text is simple and poetic, while the illustrations show a cheery umbrella stretching to share it’s kindness with all kinds of people and creatures.

I Walk with Vanessa: A Story About a Simple Act of Kindness was written by Kerascoët. This wordless picture book uses beautiful illustrations to showcase how an act of kindness can help someone who has been treated unkindly. When her classmate is bullied, one girl discovers that a wordless act of kindness can make all the difference.

Chip and Curly was written by Cathy Breisacher and illustrated by Joshua Heinsz. This fun story follows a potato chip named Chip as he prepares for the annual sack race against Curly the curly fry. The story introduces themes of perseverance, kindness and sportsmanship with tons of potato themed puns spread throughout.

The Jelly Donut Difference: Sharing Kindness with the World was written by Maria Dismondy and illustrated by P.S. Brooks. Leah and Dexter are siblings who don’t always get along. When they work together to perform acts of kindness for their lonely neighbor, they learn to be grateful for what they have and they see how acts of kindness can make a big difference.

How To Two was written by David Soman. This simple counting book follows a group of kids at the playground as they continue to invite more children to join them. The text counts up to 10 and back down again, while the illustrations show a diverse group of children including others in their play.

If You Plant a Seed was written by Kadir Nelson. A rabbit and a mouse plant seeds and grow delicious fruits and vegetables. When they have the opportunity to share their crops with others, they must decide between selfishness and kindness. The illustrations are striking and sometimes funny.

Enemy Pie was written by Derek Munson and illustrated by Tara Calahan King. When the boy in this story becomes enemies with the new kid down the street, his father tells him how to get rid of enemies with a recipe for “enemy pie”. The story shows kids how being kind and reaching out can turn an enemy into a friend.

Stick and Stone was written by Beth Ferry and illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld. This sweet story follows a stick and a stone who become fast friends after an unkind interaction with a pinecone. When Stick finds himself in trouble, Stone tries to return the act of kindness that was shown to him. The rhyming text is brought to life by adorably illustrated characters.

The Berenstain Bears: Kindness Counts was written and illustrated by Jan and Mike Berenstain. Brother Bear loves building model airplanes. When he shares his planes with a younger cub and one of them breaks, he is reminded of his father’s acts of kindness, and is inspired to allow the little cub to help. The text touches on biblical lessons, but maintains the same illustration style of the earlier Berenstain books.

What Does It Mean to Be Kind? was written by Rana DiOrio and illustrated by Stephane Jorisch. This book is full of suggestions for ways that kids can be kind to others. The simple text is full of easy acts of kindness, and the illustrations feature a diverse cast of characters.

Try a Little Kindness was written and illustrated by Henry Cole. This book offers lots of easy ways for kids to be kind, with simple text and funny and adorable illustrations of different animal characters.

Kindness Is Cooler, Mrs. Ruler was written by Margery Cuyler and illustrated by Sachiko Yoshikawa. When Mrs. Ruler discovers some of her students acting unkindly, she gives them a mission to complete five acts of kindness for their families. They soon decide to fill a bulletin board with all of their kind acts.

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