Childrens books that encourage

empathy
How full is your bucket? by Tom Rath and
Mary Reckmeyer; illustrated by Maurice J.
Manning

What Its About: This book introduces an idea that everyone has an
invisible bucket. These buckets are used to hold your good thoughts and
feelings about yourself. When you do something kind, you help fill someone
elses bucket.
Why Its Important: This provides kids with a visual representation of the
importance of kindness. It focuses on social interactions and how our actions
positively or negatively affect other people. This book would be especially
beneficial as kids begin to develop empathy towards others.

A Sick Day For Amos McGee by Philip C.

Stead and Erin E. Stead

What Its About: This story is about a zookeeper who is great friends with
all of the animals and takes the time out of his day to do what they like with
them. One day, he is too sick to go to work and the animals decide to come
and visit him.
Why Its Important: This sweet story shows how kind actions towards
others are repaid. The animals all take care of Amos when he needs a friend,
which shows children how important continual kindness towards others is.

1.

Horton Hears A Who by Dr. Seuss

What Its About: A classic Dr. Seuss, this book is about an elephant who
discovers an entire community living on a speck of dust. With his big ears,
Horton is the only animal in the jungle who is able to hear the Whos. Despite
being made fun of by the other animals, Horton stands by Whoville because
he knows it is the right thing to do.
Why Its Important: Not only is Horton doing the right thing, he is doing
the right thing while everyone around him is bullying him to give up. This

teaches an important lesson about standing by what you believe in, no

matter what you face. With older children, you can also use this book to
discuss the importance of advocating for those who do not have a voice

The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig

What Its About: This sweet book tells the story of Brian, a quiet boy who
never makes a fuss or much noise at all. He feels invisible compared to the
other children who are the center of the teachers attention by being loud, or
the children with lots of friends who get picked first for sports. When a new
kid comes to school, he makes Brian feel a lot less invisible.
Why Its Important: All kids are different. Some are outgoing and some are
quiet. This book celebrates those differences while teaching the importance
of welcoming all types of kids to play and participate.

The Three Questions by Jon J Muth

What Its About: This book is about a boy named Nikolai who wants to be a
good person, but is not always sure how. He wants to discover the answer to
the three questions: When is the best time to do things? Who is the most

important one? What is the right thing to do? His three animal friends help
him answer these questions, but they all have slightly different approaches.
He eventually learns that the right time is now, the important one is the one
you are with, and the right thing to do is good.
Why Its Important: This book takes a more conceptual approach to
helping others, but would serve as an extremely useful tool for starting a
discussion with older children about why kindness is an important character
trait.

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

What Its About: A familiar book to many, this book tells the heartfelt story
of a boy and a tree who loved each other very much, but the boy ends up
taking parts of the tree until the tree is worn down into a stump. At the end
of the book, the boy (now an old man) just needs a place to sit, so he and the
stump sit together.
Why Its Important: This book shows the continual generosity and
kindness of the tree, and how much the actions of the boy affected the tree.
It can be used to teach children that kindness is important, but you should
never give up so much that you suffer. You can also use it to teach give and
take, the importance of a healthy and mutually beneficial relationship
.

Rain Reign by Ann B. Martin

What Its About: Rose Howard has Aspergers syndrome, and an obsession
with homonyms (even her name is a homonym). She gave her dog Rain a
name with two homonyms (Reign, Rein), which, according to Roses rules of
homonyms, is very special. Rain was a lost dog Roses father brought home.
Rose and Rain are practically inseparable. And they are often home alone, as
Roses father spends most evenings at a bar, and doesnt have much
patience for his special-needs daughter. Just as a storm hits town, Rain goes
missing. Roses father shouldnt have let Rain out. Now Rose has to find her
dog, even if it means leaving her routines and safe places to search.
Why Its Important: As Rose talks about the routines and rules that govern
her life, such as her obsessions with homonyms and prime numbers, readers
will learn to empathize better with their peers who are also on the autism
spectrum. Moral dilemmas are also explored when her beloved dog is lost
during a storm and Rose is faced with a decision: Should she do what will
make her happy or make a heartbreaking choice that she knows is also the
right thing to do?

.Wonder

by R.J. Palacio

What Its About: The novels central character, August Pullman, was born
with a severe facial deformity that, despite 27 operations, still produces
horrified reactions from almost everyone he encounters. Previously homeschooled because of his surgeries, his other medical problems, and his
appearance, now Auggie is starting fifth grade at Beecher Prep, a
mainstream private school. Auggie wants nothing more than to be treated as
an ordinary kid, but his new classmates cant get past Auggies extraordinary
face. The book is reminiscent of the movie Mask and the play The
Elephant Man, and is even more moving since it is a story of a child.
WONDER begins from Auggies point of view and then expands to speak in
the voices of his older sister and her friends, his classmates, and then comes
back to Auggie.
Why Its Important: It is a wonderful portrait of a communitys struggle
with empathy, compassion, and acceptance. One of Auggies teachers
precepts, When given the choice between being right or being kind, choose
kind, is the overarching theme of the book, and even if you dont know
anyone like Auggie, you will be moved to lead your life with a greater
awareness of the need to be kind.

Charlottes Web by E.B. White

What Its About: This beloved book by E. B. White is a classic of children's

literature. Some Pig. Humble. Radiant. These are the words in Charlotte's
Web, high up in Zuckerman's barn. Charlotte's spiderweb tells of her feelings
for a little pig named Wilbur, who simply wants a friend. They also express
the love of a girl named Fern, who saved Wilbur's life when he was born the
runt of his litter.
Why Its Important: It is a tender novel of friendship, love, life, and death.
Who would have thought that you can feel so much for a spider and a pig?

Unforgotten by Tohby Riddle

What Its About: Unforgotten hints at the immensity and mystery of life
and beyond. Riddles angels come to earth with gentle healing work to do,
but one becomes overwhelmed by the enormity of need and falls to rest, it
too requiring care and nurturing.

Why Its Important: Unforgotten feels like a classic in the making with its
thought-provoking edgy surrealism, plea for compassion and sense of the
absurd, while leaving lots of room for individual, imaginative interpretation.

How to heal a broken wing by Bob Graham

What Its About: In a city full of hurried people, only young Will notices the
bird lying hurt on the ground. With the help of his sympathetic mother, he
gently wraps the injured bird and takes it home. In classic Bob Graham style,
the beauty is in the details: the careful ministrations with an eyedropper, the
bedroom filled with animal memorabilia, the saving of the single feather as a
good-luck charm for the bird's return to the sky.
Why Its Important: In a spare urban fable, Bob Graham brings us one
small boy, one loving family, and one miraculous story of hope and healing.