Instilling kindness among students is so important! Kindness is more than just a virtue– it’s a fundamental part of creating a supportive and inclusive school community. Story books are a great way to work towards this goal. Books not only engage students in learning, but also serve as invaluable resources for teaching social-emotional learning (SEL) topics like kindness. Read on to learn about the 6 BEST books about kindness you can use as an elementary school counselor this year!
Why Teaching Kindness Matters
Before diving head first into these great books about kindness, let’s chat a little more about why teaching kindness matters in elementary schools.
Kindness is defined as the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate. When kindness is present in school, all students can feel safe, accepted, and valued.
Helping students learn about kindness and how to practice it also improves emotional well-being, conflict resolution skills, and resilience– all of which are important for daily school life and far beyond!
Why Using Books to Teach SEL Concepts Works
Books are a great resource for classroom lessons, individual counseling, and small group counseling with students. Choosing books with relatable characters and captivating stories allows students to relate to abstract concepts like kindness much easier than just talking about them. Students also resonate with book characters on a deeper level and in ways that they can truly understand.
As you read with students, you’re also able to foster deep conversations while considering different perspectives, encouraging emotional regulation skills, and promoting critical thinking skills.
6 BEST Books about Kindness for Kids
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1. “Kindness is My Superpower” by Alicia Ortego
Alicia Ortego wrote “Kindness is My Superpower” as a reminder to herself as a mom to teach her children to be kind and compassionate. The main character, Lucas, is an active and mischievous little boy. He is in a bad mood and takes it out on others by being unkind. Lucas’s mom helps him learn all that kindness entails. With her help, Lucas begins to understand how to use these skills in the different places he goes– like his home, school, the store, and the playground.
As children listen to this book, they also learn about good manners and positive behavior. Kindness is just one of the many superpowers children have! This book is perfect to read to children of all ages.
“Each Kindness” by Jacqueline Woodson
In “Each Kindness,” Maya is a new girl. She tries to befriend a girl named Chloe, but Chloe says “no” each time Maya asks to play with her. Maya always ends up playing alone. One day, Maya is gone. Chloe’s teacher talks to the students about how even small acts of kindness can change the world, and Chloe realizes the opportunity she missed by being unkind to Maya.
Like Chloe and her classmates, your students will learn that each act of kindness makes the world a little bit better.
“The Jelly Donut Difference” by Maria Dismondy
In “The Jelly Donut Difference,” Leah and Dexter are siblings, and they don’t always get along well. Sometimes, they are just plain mean to each other! As they spend time playing outside, they learn that their neighbor is very lonely and has no family. Leah and Dexter invite her to eat dinner with them. At dinner, they all share stories about their lives.
The siblings discover that their neighbor used to enjoy making jelly donuts for her children, so they decide to make some of their own to share with her. Leah and Dexter learn how to work together and spread joy to others through acts of kindness.
“Will You Be The ‘I’ in Kind?” by Julia Cook
In this storybook, “K_nd” goes on an adventure to find his missing “i”. On the way, he meets a diverse group of kids who learn how to share kindness in both big and small ways. They find out that kindness can happen all throughout the day!
Through the many relatable examples found in this book, your students will learn how they can bring kindness with them wherever they go.
“Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun” by Maria Dismondy
In this memorable story, Lucy is a curly-headed little girl who eats her spaghetti in a hot dog bun, just like her Papa Gino makes it for her. When she goes to school, a boy named Ralph makes fun of her for her curly hair and how she eats her spaghetti. One day while playing in the playground, Ralph gets stuck. Lucy decides that she can extend kindness to him instead of treating him like he’s been treating her.
This book helps students realize that it’s important to be proud of what makes you YOU. It’s also a great resource to add to your counseling room library to help students talk about bullying and how to respond with kindness.
“A Little Spot of Kindness” by Diane Alber
Like so many of you, I LOVE the “Little Spot” series! In “A Little Spot of Kindness,” children learn about the great power of kindness. The little SPOT goes on a journey where he spots out kindness in relatable everyday situations at home and at school.
The kid-friendly illustrations and language in this book make it a MUST for even your youngest of students!
More Ways to Teach Kindness
Beyond using great books about kindness in your counseling sessions, you can promote kindness in your school in other ways, too!
Consider spearheading school-wide initiatives to encourage everyone to choose kindness.
Here are a few great ideas:
- Celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Week in February
- Launch A Kindness Quest
- Facilitate peer mentoring programs
- Lead a school or playground clean-up project
- Start a community service project such as writing letters to veterans, a canned food drive, a blanket/towel drive for an animal shelter, or thank you notes for school employees
By modeling and reinforcing kindness throughout the school, you play a vital role in creating a generation of students who truly care for and appreciate all individuals!
Counselor Support: Counselor Collab Membership
Also, don’t forget to be kind to yourself! Check out the Counselor Collab Membership and give yourself the gift of time by using our done-for-you resources. Make planning and prep a breeze this year, and collab with caring (and KIND!) school counselors like you!
You won’t regret this kind choice!
Using story books about kindness is sure to make teaching this important SEL concept more impactful for your elementary students. Do you have other favorite kindness books that are your go-to reads? Let me know in the comments below so I can check them out too!
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