Cool to Be Kind: Children’s Books That Champion Kindness
by Dena McMurdie
My husband and I have spent many family discussions teaching our children about kindness. We tell our kids that what goes around comes around. If you want to be treated with kindness, you need to treat others with kindness. We’ve been successful for the most part, but kids make mistakes (who doesn’t?) and need a refresher now and then. Here are some books that celebrate kindness and help my family remember how and why we should be kind.
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Kindness Makes Us Strong
Buy from:From the author of Love Makes a Family comes a bright new picture book celebrating all the ways that kindness makes us strong. From the neighborhood to the playground, young readers will discover the benefits of kindness in their communities.
(Ages 0 – 3)Buy from: -
The Nice Book
Buy from:Adults often say “Be nice!” to little tots who don’t yet understand what that really means. This sweet little book uses clear, simple statements — like “When you get in a snit, don’t hit” and “If you have more than you need, share” — to teach children how to treat others.
(Ages 0 – 3)Buy from: -
How Kind!
Buy from:Kindness is contagious. When Hen gives Pig an egg, she starts a domino effect of kindness that spreads throughout the barnyard. This adorable board book is straightforward and simple in its message of expressing kindness to others.
(Ages 2 – 5)Buy from: -
Loving Kindness
Buy from:Through this gentle meditation by His Holiness The Dalai Lama, young children and their caregivers learn how to breathe, practice empathy, and cultivate loving kindness towards others. If you enjoy this board book, check out the companion title, Acts of Kindness, coming in March 2026.
(Ages 2 – 5)Buy from: -
Kindness Counts 123
Buy from:Learn about small acts of kindness as you count down from 10 with your little one. Whether it's picking flowers for a friend or sharing kind words with a loved one, this book illustrates several ways young children can show kindness to others.
(Ages 2 – 5)Buy from: -
I Am Kind to Myself
Buy from:This adorable social-emotional book helps children learn to manage their emotions by being kind to themselves. Tiny readers will learn that kindness starts with themselves and will help in every situation where big feelings arise.
(Ages 2 – 5)Buy from: -
The Last Stop on Market Street
Buy from:Messages of optimism, kindness, and serving those less fortunate than you are palpable in every word and page of this beautiful book. A grandmother teaches her grandson to look on the bright side of life and lift up those around him.
(Ages 3 – 5)Buy from: -
How to Be Kind in Kindergarten
Buy from:Kindergarten provides children with numerous opportunities to meet new friends and demonstrate kindness to their peers. This collection of poems follows a kindergarten class throughout the year, spotlighting acts of kindness such as holding the door for a friend and saying hello to someone new.
(Ages 3 – 5)Buy from: -
Dude. Be Nice
Buy from:Dude is a bear on a mission to be extra nice throughout the day. Fizz, his penguin pal, follows behind. Yet Dude’s well-meaning plan becomes a series of mistakes. Unraveling a sweater, dumping water on a cake, and giving his pal balloons that carry him away. Dude quickly learns that asking others if they would like help (and listening to their answers) is a better way to be nice. Kids will appreciate the humor in this one, while parents will appreciate the overall message.
Buy from: -
Madeline Says Be Kind
Buy from:In school, Madeline and her friends learn the importance of kindness. As they walk around Paris, the girls have many opportunities to be kind to others, from visiting a sick friend to sharing a cookie with someone at the park.
(Ages 3 – 7)Buy from: -
Tomorrow I’ll Be Kind
Buy from:You’re going to love this companion book to Tomorrow I’ll Be Brave. With Jessica’s beautiful hand lettering and illustrations, you’ll find messages of hope, kindness, and love. Read it before bedtime to end the day on a positive note.
(Ages 3 – 7)Buy from: -
The World Needs More Purple People
Buy from:From actress and producer Kristen Bell and creative director Benjamin Hart comes a timely and much-needed challenge: be kind. A #1 New York Times bestseller, this book encourages you to look for commonalities with others, regardless of differences in political beliefs or appearance.
(Ages 3 – 7)Buy from: -
Everybody’s Welcome
Buy from:A little mouse is building a house when a frog comes along and laments the fact that his pond has dried up. The little mouse immediately invites the frog to live with him. Soon birds that lost their tree, rabbits chased away from their burrow by eagles, and other animals looking for a home join in building a home where “everybody in it will feel that they belong.”
(Ages 3 – 7)Buy from: -
Here We Are
Buy from:Created specifically for the author’s newborn son, this award-winning and bestselling book is a guide to life on Earth. Insightful, sweet, and funny, it lovingly teaches children how to live in the world and treat others with kindness.
(Ages 3 – 7)Buy from: -
I Walk with Vanessa
Buy from:A classmate wonders how she can help when she sees Vanessa, the new girl at school, walking home crying after a confrontation with a bully. A sweet and simple wordless picture book that opens up conversations around kindness, caring, and stepping up against bullying.
(Ages 4 – 8)Buy from: -
My Heart
Buy from:Living with kindness benefits yourself as well as others. With lyrical prose and stunning illustrations, this bestselling picture book shows children how to open their hearts. As they show kindness to others, they’ll also be kinder to themselves.
(Ages 4 – 8)Buy from: -
Kind Karl
Buy from:Karl is a crocodile with anger issues. As Karl learns to cultivate mindfulness, he also comes to understand that the things we say and do matter. With a cast of adorable animal characters, this book encourages young readers to lead with curiosity and choose kindness whenever possible.
(Ages 4 – 8)Buy from: -
The Invisible Boy
Buy from:Shy, quiet Brian feels invisible in the hustle and bustle of his classroom. Then a new student arrives, and Brian sees an opportunity to make a friend. The Invisible Boy provides a gentle reminder of how it feels to be left out and how small acts of kindness — something as simple as saying hi — can make a big difference in someone’s life.
(Ages 6 – 9)Buy from:
Editor’s note: This post was originally published in 2016 and updated in 2025.