Can reading books make us “good?” I think maybe it can. Reading provides a window into people’s lives that makes us more empathetic and certainly more open to the views of others.
I was recently asked for a list of children’s books on the topics of kindness and generosity. There are many books out there—many of them dull and preachy. However, there are gems as well. This list is not complete, but they are a good place to start.
Books for Children ages 3-6
Mama Panya’s Pancakes: A Village Tale from Kenya by Mary and Rich Chamberlin
Giving by Shirley Hughes
The Kindness Quilt by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace
A Chair for My Mother by Vera B. Williams
Wangari’s Trees of Peace: A True Story from Africa by Jeanette Winter
Books for Children ages 7-10
The Runaway Rice Cake by Ying Chang Compestine
Brother Juniper by Diane Gibfried
Beatrice’s Goat by Page McBrier
One Hen by Katie Smith Milway
Listen to the Wind by Susan Roth
And the best book of all about generosity and friendship:
Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
