Books To Teach Babies and Toddlers About Forgiveness
by Lindsay Barrett
Babies and toddlers are famous for their extensive and ever-changing feelings — huge smiles one minute and dramatic despair the next. But, while life for the 0 – 2 is often “me, me, me,” our littlest loves also show extraordinary capacity for connecting with others, noticing feelings, and trying to make amends when needed. Whether it’s giving back a swiped toy or sympathizing over a bumped knee, even tiny hearts can begin to understand the impact of a genuine apology. Here are some sweet books to introduce babies and toddlers to the power of forgiveness.
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I Am Horton
Available from:Forgiveness can inspire new friendships! Introduce a classic character with pleasing Seussesque rhymes for little listeners. Horton models kindness and inclusivity when he encourages all the Jungle of Nool residents to treat each other respectfully.
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Bears in a Band
When the little bears find a collection of instruments, they bang and clang with joyful abandon — until their cacophony wakes Big Bear. When he storms out of the bedroom, they worry he’ll be angry. But he’s quick to forgive the racket and lend some musical tips!
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Duck & Goose
Available from:When Duck and Goose both discover an unfamiliar round object, they fight over the “egg.” But while they wait for it to hatch, they reconcile and dream together of the baby bird that will hatch. (Kiddos love knowing the inside scoop that the egg is a ball!) Duck's and Goose’s facial expressions and body language are fantastic for helping toddlers recognize others’ feelings.
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ABCs of Kindness
Available from:F is for forgiveness — and all the other letters stand for kindness-themed vocabulary words, too! The illustration for each letter makes a terrific conversation starter with toddlers. Whether it’s saying sorry for breaking a toy, saying thank you for a gift, or including everyone in a fun game, there is much to learn about leading a kind and happy life.
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Bubbles (A Narwhal and Jelly Board Book)
Available from:When Narwhal’s sharp tusk accidentally pops Jelly’s perfect bubble, he spares no effort to help his friend feel better. It turns out, with a friend by your side, popped bubbles are “no trouble!” What a treat that the most endearing graphic novel characters in the ocean now star in board books!
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Ollie Feels Fine
Available from:Ollie the Octopus wants to have a fun day in the ocean, but his day isn't going as expected. A big wave lands him headfirst in the sand, a scary shark gets too close, and he loses his favorite hat. His friend helps him forgive and forget each setback and focus on the joy of spending time together.
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Blocks
Ruby wants to build with her red blocks, and Benji wants to build with his blue blocks. When blocks get grabbed and buildings crash, will they be able to forgive each other? With spare text and easy-to-interpret illustrations, this toddler-perfect tale invites kids to move forward from disagreements.
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Grumpy Monkey's Little Book of Grumpiness
Available from:Sometimes forgiveness requires sitting with hard feelings until they pass. Grumpy Monkey is in a foul mood, and nothing — not even a pile of his favorite treats — will fix it. Finally, after giving it time, a good friend helps turn Monkey’s mood around.
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