25 Books to Teach Kids Kindness, Empathy & All Good Things

Reading books is everything. In addition to the often inevitable cuddles, which are pretty amazing, cultivating an interest and passion for books and reading is both critical and fun, with many studies showing future success based on early connections to books. New stories open up opportunities for adventure, for learning, for vocabulary, and for so many good lessons in empathy, kindness, friendships, and more. Included below are 25 books totally worth reading to your little ones, with the lists broken out in two age categories though there are definitely overlaps.

We’re at a personally interesting stage with books in our home; our three-year old can have us read the same book over and over so much everyone has memorized it. He’s also so much more open to books with subtle, and not-so-subtle learning opportunities. And, Sarah, our seven year old, for sure has her favorites but until recently was in a bit of a book lull as she was learning to read. She’s really gotten into a groove lately so we’re finding books she loves to make reading fun, fresh and engaging to her. We’re really into Fancy Nancy and Katie Woo books around here (so, so, so much better than books with Barbie, Monster High and other stuff)!

 

UNDER 4 YEARS OLD

The Lion and the Mouse

Giraffe’s Can’t Dance

A Sick Day for Amos McGee

I Knew You Could

A Mother for Choco

Last Stop on Market Street

Beautiful Oops

Thank you, Bear

Have you Filled a Bucket Today?

The Little Blue Truck

The Witch Next Door

4 AND OLDER

Only One You

The Monster Who Lost His Mean

Kindness is Cooler, Mrs. Ruler

The Most Magnificent Thing

Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun

Ordinary Mary’s Extraordinary Deed

My Brother, Charlie

The Hundred Dresses

The Invisible Boy

Enemy Pie

Those Shoes

Cool Down and Work Through Anger

What Do you Do With an Idea?

The Man with a Violin

Incredible You!

Note: all of the books above are available and linked through Amazon though I highly suggest you also consider pinning and saving the below image as a reference the next time you’re at the library! We love exploring at the library, and it gives your kids the opportunity to find covers/stories engaging to them (without the price tag & with air conditioning… just saying).