Kindness is a quality I admire in people. I always had the desire to try and instill this in my children, knowing it would help me pay more attention to my own attempts to be more aware of treating others with kindness. I am convinced if the world showed more kindness to everyone, we could improve the health of entire communities. When I find books that encourage kindness, I always make a note of them, because I think they are a very important resource for people to have. The following five books are some of my favorites I have read recently that focus on some element of kindness. I hope you enjoy them!
Written by Laura Gehl
Illustrated by Yas Imamura
New York : Beach Lane Books, 2025. Picture Book.
I enjoy books that inspires the use of our imaginations, and a book about elevator that loves the residents of a building will do just that! It is so fun to see the journey of Ellie the Elevator as she takes care of all the people who live in her building. Ellie has a special kind of appreciation for a young girl named Thea. As often happens to young children, Thea's best friend moves away and leaves an empty spot in her heart. I loved reading about Thea and Ellie and how kindness saved the day, on multiple levels.
By Cecilia Heikkila
Edingburgh : Floris Books, 2025. Picture Book.
Have you ever had a friend you were in a complicated relationship with? That is how I would describe the relationship between Fox and Mole. They enjoy each other, and yet, there are qualities that they get frustrated with as well. Any friendship that goes through some ups and downs, if it has kindness as a base to build on, will survive. Lessons are learned in this book that are applicable for real-life friendships, and choosing kindness, even when it's a challenge to do so.
Written by Rebecca Gardyn Levington
Illustrated by Dinara Mirtalipova
London : Barefoot Books, 2025. Picture Book.
This book is a little different than my other recommendations, in that it's basically about one girl who is experiencing a wide range of emotions. I chose it for the theme of kindness, because I think it's important to remember to be kind to ourselves. This book is a beautiful poem about embracing the many aspects and emotions that make an individual who they are. I loved reading about how emotions are expressed, and learning to work with all our emotions can enable us to be stronger as a person, and thus kinder.
By Magdalena Takacova
New York : Union Square Kids, 2025. Picture Book.
This book absolutely has some hilarious aspects to it! And, it has elements of friendship unlike any other book I have read recently. As a cat without a home, Mike dreams of the day he will have a home of his own. Luckily, things work out for Mike through a series of events that are unexpected, laughable, relatable, and enjoyable. Kindness and friendship are priceless, and worth investing in. Teaching these concepts while also fitting in a laugh is the bonus.
Written by Laura Ambrosecchio
Illustrated by Barbara Bongini
New York : Clavis Publishing Inc., 2025. Picture Book.
Anyone who has experienced anxiety about being in a new situation, can probably relate to the relief they feel when even one person shows them a little extra kindness. This sweet story is not only about the process of making a transition to a new experience smooth, it emphasizes how importance kindness can be to helping others. I love that this book would help a child know they are not alone if they feel nervous, and it could help them understand the importance of looking for the kind helpers in their world, and at some point in time maybe they can be the helper for someone else.
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