Building Empathy and Kindness: Books for Ages 0-5

Discover a selection of heart-warming books designed to nurture empathy and kindness in young children.

Perfect for early years, these stories introduce gentle lessons on caring, sharing, and understanding others.:

“Have You Filled a Bucket Today? A Guide to Daily Happiness for Kids” by Carol McCloud

    • This interactive book introduces the concept of kindness through the metaphor of bucket filling, encouraging children to perform acts of kindness daily.

“The Kindness Book” by Patricia Hegarty

    • A beautifully illustrated book that explores what kindness means and how it can be shown in various ways.

“Kindness Starts with You” by Julia Cook

    • This story helps children understand the importance of kindness and how their actions can positively affect others.

“Bear Says Thanks” by Karma Wilson

    • In this delightful tale, Bear learns about friendship and sharing as he gathers his animal friends to celebrate and show kindness.

“My Many Colored Days” by Dr. Seuss

    • This book combines colours and emotions, encouraging children to express themselves and be kind to others regardless of their feelings.

“The Family Book” by Todd Parr

    • This book celebrates the diversity of families and promotes acceptance and kindness towards all types of families.

“Love You Forever” by Robert Munsch

    • A touching story about the unconditional love between a parent and child, highlighting the importance of care and kindness in relationships.

“The Very Hungry Caterpillar” by Eric Carle

    • While not directly about kindness, it teaches lessons about growth and transformation, which can be linked to caring for others as they grow.

“All Are Welcome” by Alexandra Penfold

    • This vibrant book shows a diverse classroom where all children are welcomed and kindness is celebrated, promoting inclusivity and acceptance.

“Llama Llama Gives Thanks” by Anna Dewdney

    • This sweet story features Llama Llama expressing gratitude and sharing kind moments with family and friends.

“The Kindness Elves” by Anna Ranson

    • This interactive book introduces the Kindness Elves, who inspire children to engage in acts of kindness through fun activities.

“Kindness Counts” by Bryan Smith

    • This book offers simple and fun suggestions for acts of kindness, encouraging young children to think about how they can be kind every day.