Children’s Books That Show Kids the Goodness in the World
by Denise Schipani
You can be forgiven if, in recent times, it’s gotten harder for you to show and tell your kids stories that reflect goodness and a spirit of community. My boys, now teens, are old enough to absorb not just negative news stories, but my reactions to them. So I find myself casting about for the good stories to counterbalance the bad. We got lucky last winter when, while walking through a local park, we saw a bird in a pond, struggling helplessly, its wing tethered to a tree by a length of fishing line. My husband — a more intrepid person than I (this was winter, remember) — waded chest-deep into the mucky pond to free the bird. My husband’s a good guy, but he’s hardly alone. Just a few weeks ago at a beach in Florida, scores of beachgoers formed a human chain in the surf, saving a family that was in danger of being swept out to sea in a rough riptide.
But you don’t have to wait for heroic avian saves or heartwarming news tidbits, especially if you have little ones. Tons of books provide opportunities to bring to life inspiring stories of the innate goodness of our fellow humans. Start with these eight simple tales.
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The One Day House
Available from:How many times have we looked into a hazy future and promised ourselves that “one day” we will do something to pay our good fortune forward or build something lasting or make a measurable difference in someone’s life? For young Wilson, that “one day” comes when he looks at his friend Gigi’s house, which is in obvious need of repair, and realizes there is something he can do. On that “one day,” a community comes together to rebuild the house — and restore everyone’s faith in themselves and each other. The book also includes information about nonprofits Labor of Love, United Way, and Habitat for Humanity, in case it’ll soon be your “one day.”
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Lost and Found Cat: The True Story of Kunkush’s Incredible Journey
Unfortunately, there’s no shortage of heartbreaking stories in the news about refugee families desperately searching for new homes in a world turned upside down by conflict. But sometimes harrowing tales have happy endings and many involve simple but indelible acts of kindness and grace. This book tells the true story of an Iraqi refugee family whose beloved cat, Kunkush, travels with them as far as Greece, hidden away for safety. But he’s lost at some point in the journey, and the heartbroken family must go on. Amazingly, Kunkush resurfaces, a worldwide community of kindhearted folks scour the scattered refugee world via the Internet, and … well. No spoilers!
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I Walk with Vanessa: A Story About a Simple Act of Kindness
Available from:Inspired by true events, this wordless picture book tells the story of a young girl who is deeply troubled when she sees Vanessa being bullied after school. The next day she knocks on Vanessa’s door to walk with her to school, a small yet effective gesture that saves Vanessa from further mistreatment. I Walk with Vanessa is a simple story with a powerful message for little ones about caring for one another.
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How to Heal a Broken Wing
Available from:My husband isn’t the only bird whisperer out there. Young Will, on a city street streaming with oblivious people, notices a pigeon struggling on the sidewalk. With the help of his parents, Will carefully takes the injured bird home and nurses it back to health. It’s a simply told tale, but one that reflects the expression of kindness children are drawn to — noticing the suffering of something even smaller than they are, and having a desire to help.
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Love
Available from:Matt de la Peña and Loren Long’s lyrical meditation on love will have you and your family, as the Wall Street Journal writes, "brimming with feeling." The gentle and heartfelt prose poem makes love tactile — it starts with parents’ voices when you’re new to this world and grows into community and universal bonds. Love is everywhere, especially in us.
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The First Day of Peace
Available from:After a scorching summer, the people of the valley face a severe rainstorm that results in a hazardous flood. A girl from the mountain village senses the valley people's troubles and offers her help. The First Day of Peace teaches children the importance of kindness, cooperation, and sharing instead of fighting over the earth's natural resources.
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A Hat for Mrs. Goldman
Available from:This sweet book introduces young readers to the concept of a mitzvah — a good deed. Mrs. Goldman is always knitting hats and scarves for people in the neighborhood, but as winter sets in, Sophie realizes Mrs. Goldman doesn’t have a hat for herself. The little girl decides to surprise her neighbor with her own handmade hat. But Sophie isn’t very good at knitting, and the hat she makes has too many holes. Filled with small acts of kindness throughout, this heart-warming story of friendship is a model for creating generous and caring communities.
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People
Available from:There are a great many people who share this planet — people that come in all shapes and sizes from different lifestyles, cultures, and personalities. The visually stunning, insightful illustrations in this picture book deftly capture the human experience across the globe, setting children up to be open-minded and respectful citizens of the world. People is a celebration of the cultural diversity that makes up humanity and a reminder that what makes us different is what makes this world beautiful.
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A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
Available from:Of course, no reading list about finding goodness in the world would be complete without the voice of beloved educator and television host, Fred Rogers. This new collection of 75 songs-turned-poems is sure to become a household favorite: earnest and comforting messages are joined by charming illustrations for an experience akin to curling up and watching an episode of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.
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What Is Given from the Heart
Available from:Celebrated author Patricia C. McKissack left behind a legacy of poignant children’s books, including her last, What Is Given from the Heart. Though James Otis and his Mama are grieving the loss of James’ father, they still want to help when a family from their church loses everything in a fire. James is worried they don’t have anything good enough to give, but Mama shows him that heartfelt generosity is always enough.
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Come with Me
Available from:Sometimes what it takes to see the goodness in your surroundings is deceptively simple: Get out there, and really open your eyes. In this story, a young girl is feeling overwhelmed by stories of fear and hatred, and asks her dad what she should do. “Come with me,” he says, and the two of them go for a walk and greet passersby. Later, the girl takes her father’s cue and goes out walking with her dog and the boy across the hall. Turns out you don’t have to stray too far to find examples of basic human kindness.
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Miss Rumphius
Available from:The award-winning classic Miss Rumphius, written and illustrated by Barbara Cooney, tells the timeless story of the real-life Alice Rumphius, who lived in Maine and wished to leave the world a lovelier place. The gorgeous lupine blooms that grow wild on the coast of Maine are Miss Rumphius’s legacy, and the telling of her story reinforces that even simple acts have profound and lasting effects.
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Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth
Available from:This bestselling picture book provides a brief yet illuminating tour of Earth for little readers. With an emphasis on being kind, Jeffers reminds kids that our planet’s diverse ecosystems and people are what make it so beautiful. In its final pages, the book reiterates that no matter what, we humans are here for one another — after all, we’re “never alone on Earth.”
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All Are Welcome
Available from:Our world is made more beautiful by diversity and inclusion, as exuberantly demonstrated in All Are Welcome. At one urban elementary school, families of all kinds bring their children to learn and spend the days together. Whether they arrive wearing hijabs, yarmulkes, or baseball caps, the children can feel comforted by the knowledge that they’re not just welcomed but celebrated, and there’s more than enough room for everyone’s cultural traditions.
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Three Magic Balloons
In Three Magic Balloons, award-winning actress Julianna Margulies shares a sweet tale her father wrote for her and her sisters when they were children. Every Saturday, three sisters use their treat money to buy food for the animals at the zoo. A balloon man is so moved by their selflessness that he gives each girl a magic balloon. A whimsical story that demonstrates the limitlessness of kindness — and how it can appear when you least expect it.
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She Persisted Around the World
Available from:One thing that can always lift me up during difficult times is the reminder that so many people are out there doing their utmost to make the world a better place. She Persisted Around the World highlights 13 such women who changed history — including Marie Curie, Malala Yousafzai, and more — whose stories bring comfort but also valuable inspiration.
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Editor’s note: This post was originally published in 2017 and updated in 2019.