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Best Books About Compassion For Kids: Teach Kindness

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Multiple different children's books about compassion for kids are arranged on a light blue background with bold black text and decorated blue and gray stars.

This booklist is packed with colorful illustrations, beautiful lessons, and impactful books about compassion for kids.

I love introducing topics and opening up deeper conversations with my kids through reading books. This list of books is a great addition to teaching your precious kids the Golden Rule, compassion, kindness, and empathy. There are many different ways to teach our kids kindness but living our daily lives before them is absolutely the best way. If you desire further ways to teach kindness, check out this blog post.

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16 Best Picture Books About Compassion For Kids

1. Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge by Mem Fox

A young red-headed boy races his skateboard by an older lady in a colorful dress, sitting in a wicker chair on the book cover of "Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Patridge," a book about compassion for kids.
Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge by Mem Fox

Keep a tissue handy because this is a beautiful story and a profound book. Wilfrid often visits his elderly friends. He is informed that his favorite, Miss Nancy Alison Delacourt Cooper, has lost her memory. This precious boy sets out to help her find it.

2. A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Phillip Stead

A sick elephant is comforted by his friends and a red balloon in a stripped green room on the book cover of " A sick day for Amos McGee," a book about compassion for kids.
A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Phillip Stead

Amos is a zoo keeper who keeps a strict daily routine, but a sick day keeps him home and away from his best friends. His concerned, compassionate, and caring animal friends give their elderly companion an unexpected visit.

3. Bear Feels Sick by Karma Wilson

Bear's woodland friends wrap him a warm quilted blanket and help him feel better while he rests in his lair on the book cover of "Bear feels sick," a book about compassion for kids.
Bear Feels Sick by Karma Wilson

Sick Bear cannot come out and play with his friends. Rather than continuing to play, his woodland animal friends care for him, nursing him back to health. But his friends catch his cold, and sweet Bear returns the care he was provided. Young children will love Karma Wilson’s Bear books.

4. Peach and Blue by Sarah Kilborne

A blue-bellied toad and a peach are sitting together on the bank of the pond, taking in the beauty of the harvest of colors on the cover of this the frog books for toddlers.
Peach and Blue by Sarah Kilborne

Blue is a blue-bellied toad who has lost the delight of his pond. He wanders to a peach tree where he meets Peach, who longs to feel the dirt and experience life outside her tree. Along the way, Peach helps Blue see “the beautiful colors of beautiful things.” This book is packed with such valuable lessons, making it a great book on the booklist of books about compassion for kids.

5. Like Me by Laura Wifler

A little boy in a bright yellow hoodie walks with his posterior walker along a wintery nature trail with his friend walking behind him.
Like Me by Laura Wifler

This sweet book reinforces an important message that “God made you, God loves you, [and] God is kind to you.” We, parents, need to take the time to teach children that there are people with varying abilities. We must teach and show our children how to be helpful, empathic, and compassionate. This story follows a day of a child with a disability.

6. Amos and Boris by William Steig

A large gray whale carries a tiny brown mouse on his back across the blue sea on the book cover of "Amos and Boris" by William Steig, a book about compassion for kids.
Amos & Boris by William Steig

An adventurous brown mouse named Amos meets disaster at sea and is rescued by Boris, a great whale. Boris returns his friend across the ocean to his home. After many years a hurricane brings Boris ashore. Amos has the opportunity to save Boris’ life, returning the whale’s mighty act years ago. Please be aware when Amos feels like all hope is gone, he does contemplate thoughts of death.

7. The Snail and the Whale by Julia Donaldson

A large humpback whale carries a tiny snail on the tip of his tail across the sea to a tropical island with tropical birds flying in the bright blue sky on the book cover of "The Snail and The Whale" by Julia Donaldson, a book about compassion for kids.
The Snail and The Whale by Julia Donaldson

A snail with an itchy foot and a longing to travel slithers aboard a large humpback whale’s tail and travels the sea. Their journey involves an opportunity for the tiny snail to perform a heroic act and move a community to a compassionate act. Young readers will love the rhythmic text.

8. The Lion and the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney

A large orange lion looks fearful on the book cover of "The lion and the mouse," a book about compassion for kids.
The Lion and The Mouse by Jerry Pinkney

A wordless picture book adapted from Aesop’s famous fable, The Lion and The Mouse. Pinkney’s vivid and beautiful illustrations make this retelling special and a great reminder that “a kindness is never wasted.”

9. The Scarecrow by Beth Ferry

A happy scarecrow donned in a orange and red flannel shirt, overalls, and straw hat smiles at a tiny crow, resting on his outstretched arm on the book cover of "The Scarecrow" by Beth Ferry, a book about compassion for kids.
The Scarecrow by Beth Ferry

Make sure to have a tissue. This one gets me every time. “Scarecrow stands alone and scares…” He has no place to go and no friends. Everyone remains outside of the fence; until one day, a baby crow falls from his nest. Scarecrow does the most unlikely thing, and a relationship is born. I cannot tell you more without spoiling this sweet story. We grab this book every fall. It fits well around Thanksgiving too (here are some more Thanksgiving picture book reads.)

10. Horton Hears A Who! by Dr. Seuss

The elephant, named Horton, is smiling on the orange book cover for 'Horton Hears a Who!"
Horton Hears a Who! by Dr. Seuss

This Dr. Seuss book is a longer read and a wonderful bedtime story. It is such a great story to encourage children to care for others who are different. I love to read books to my kids that help build character and inspire honesty and honor. ” A person’s a person, no matter how small.”

11. A Chair for My Mother by Vera B. Williams

A little girl wearing a red shirt and a lime green bag enters a restaurant where her mother works very hard on the book cover of "A Chair for my Mother," a book on the booklist of Children's books about perseverance.
A Chair for My Mother by Vera B. Williams

A young girl shares the story about her home burning and the only furniture the family has to sit on are hard, straight kitchen chairs. Her mama works hard and puts all her tips into a glass jar. Her grandma contributes as well from her market savings. When the glass is full, they go together to search for the perfect chair. This is a sweet, simple story with such feelings. This family has a hard time, and it is important to teach children empathy for the people around them. We truly never know what people are going through.

12. Last Stop on Market Street by Matt De La Peña

A grandmother and her grandson holds hands while they wait for the city bus to stop on the orange book cover of "Last Stop On Market Street," a book on the thankful books for kids booklist.
Last Stop on Market Street by Matt De La Peña

CJ is not happy about riding the city bus. CJ’s nana helps him see the beauty around him and have fun on the journey. This award-winning book is great for teaching kids about gratitude and compassion. “Sometimes when you’re surrounded by dirt, CJ, you’re a better witness for what’s beautiful.”

13. Boxes for Katje by Candace Fleming

A Russian community joyfully surrounds a little girl, brining her boxes on sleds through the snow on the book cover of "Boxes for Katje," a book on the thankful books for kids booklist.
Boxes for Katje by Candace Fleming

Katje’s town of Olst in Holland is devastated after After World War II. One day, Katje receives a package from an American girl named Rosie from Mayfield, Indiana. Katje sends a thankful letter, igniting a beautiful friendship. This story is so inspiring and filled with important lessons. I do not feel that I do it justice in this small summary. This is a wonderful book.

14. Be Kind by Pat Zietlow Miller

A little girl dressed in purple holds a bright yellow umbrella over her friend to keep her from getting wet on the book cover of "Be Kind," a book about compassion for kids.
Be Kind by Pat Zietlow Miller

The narrator of this short story contemplates what kindness means after a named Tanisha, a new girl, spilled grape juice all over her new dress and runs to hide from the laughs of her classmates. She lists many small acts of kindness and makes a connection that even simple acts of kindness can weave into something bigger. This book sparked a conversation about acts of kindness and allowed my children and me to discuss things on a deeper level.

15. Quiltmaker’s Gift by Jeff Brumbeau

The king marches along the border of the book with a man, a bear, and many gifts following. behind him with a colorful patch quilt flying above them on the book cover of "The Quiltmaker's Gift," a book about compassion for kids.
The Quiltmaker’s Gift by Jeff Brumbeau

In this picture book, a humble quilt maker pieces together beautiful quilts and gifts them to the poor. The patches on her last gifted quilt hold memories of a glorious story of riches to rags. I love the book’s colorful illustrations. This book is a bit longer than the typical picture book.

16. Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle

An old little blue truck with a toad on the driver's side is driving down an old country road with farm animals loaded in the bed of the truck.
Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle

Beep! Beep! can be heard around the farm as the Little Blue Truck is always friendly and always greets all the farm animals. After helping someone in need, he finds himself stuck trying to get the “important” dump truck out of the mud. Everyone lends a hand to help the Little Blue Truck. Little readers will fall in love with the Little Blue Truck. This is the first book in the series.

Interested in More Booklists for Kids: Check These Out!

35 Best Farm Books for Kids

A white gravel road leads up to a red barn with white trim and white fencing up on a hill. The sky is blue with white fluffy clouds and the sun is just starting to set behind the trees.

Get the complete list of books HERE.

17 Picture Books About Perseverance

Childrens books about perseverance are displayed on a purple background with big, bold, and black text.

Get the complete booklist HERE.

28 Books on Plants, Trees, and Flowers

Book covers are arranged on a pale green background with green artist designs and leaves with bold black text on the image for children books on plants booklist.

Get the complete booklist HERE.

More Booklists Coming Soon!

Thanks for Stopping By!

Finally, I want to thank you for stopping by! Please say Hi in the comment section and share one of your favorite books about compassion for kids or one you are excited to read with your children. I hope you and your children find a favorite book from this list of children’s picture books. Reading “living books” is a powerful way to instill kindness, empathy, and compassion in our kiddos but living these themes before them in everyday life will always make the greatest impact. I have sorted through countless children’s books and I have not found the perfect book, yet. However, I believe the perfect Book has already been written.

– With Great Joy, Katie

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Multiple different children's books about compassion for kids are arranged on a light blue background with bold black text and decorated blue and gray stars.

See All Our Booklists HERE.

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3 Comments

  1. That’s a collection I’ll need for my daughter. Recently, I searched for compassion books, but couldn’t find much information. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply

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