Welcome to the Read Aloud Classroom where we’re making picture books work for you even with a packed schedule. Hi, I’m Sarah, an educator who believes in the power of read alouds to transform your teaching without adding to our already full plates.
Happy Thursday, everyone! Can you believe we’re almost at the end of October? With World Kindness Day coming up on November 13th, I thought this was the perfect time to share some beautiful picture books about kindness that you can read with your students.
Now, here’s the thing—these books aren’t just for World Kindness Day. Kindness is something we can celebrate and reinforce all year long, right? Whether you’re building classroom community at the start of the year, navigating those tricky friendship situations that pop up, or just need a gentle reminder about treating each other well, these stories are perfect for sparking those important conversations.
Before we dive in, I want to remind you that all the titles I’m sharing today will be in the show notes, so no need to scramble for a pen. Just enjoy listening, and you can always come back to grab the details later.
Alright, let’s talk about some wonderful books that’ll help your students understand what kindness looks like, feels like, and behaves like!
The Trouble with Giraffes by Lisa Mantchev
First up is “The Trouble with Giraffes” by Lisa Mantchev, which just came out in September! If you loved “Strictly No Elephants”—and honestly, who didn’t?—you’re going to adore this companion book.
The story follows a girl and her pet giraffe who are the best of friends, even though they’re very different in size. You can imagine the challenges, right? Taking walks together when your legs are completely different lengths, or trying to fit a giraffe through the clubhouse door for Pet Club! But here’s what makes this book so special—when her giraffe can’t fit through that door, the Pet Club members work together to find a way for him to be included. Because that’s what real friends do.
This book is perfect for conversations about both inclusion and accessibility. It shows students that sometimes being kind means getting creative to make sure everyone can participate. I love that it goes beyond just “being nice” to actually problem-solving together.
You Can Sit with Me by Rachel Tawin Kenyon
Next is “You Can Sit with Me” by Rachel Tawin Kenyon, which came out this past June. Oh, this one is going to tug at your heartstrings!
The premise is so simple but so powerful: “If you’re worried because you’re new and you’re not sure what to do, you can sit with me.” That’s it. That simple gesture of offering someone a place to sit, just as they are, can completely change a child’s day—and maybe even their whole school experience.
We’ve all seen those new students or the kids who feel overwhelmed at circle time or lunch. This book shows how one small act of reaching out can not only make that one person feel welcomed but can actually shift the whole classroom culture toward inclusion and kindness. The illustrations by Tatiana Kamshilina are absolutely endearing, too!
Sincerely, Emerson by Emerson Weber
Now, “Sincerely, Emerson” by Emerson Weber is extra special because it’s a true story—and it was written by an eleven-year-old! How cool is that?
Emerson wrote a thank-you letter to her postal carrier, Doug. Just a simple letter expressing gratitude. But when Doug shared it with his colleagues, word spread across the country, and mail carriers from everywhere started sending Emerson thank-you letters in return! One tiny act of kindness created this nationwide ripple effect of love and appreciation.
This story is perfect for showing students that being kind doesn’t take much, but it can bring so much joy into other people’s lives. It’s also a beautiful way to talk about all the essential helpers we see every day—and even those who go unseen. Imagine the extension activities you could do with this! Students could write thank-you notes to people in their own community. What a wonderful way to spread kindness beyond your classroom walls!
Hana’s Hundreds of Hijabs by Razeena Omar Gutta
“Hana’s Hundreds of Hijabs” by Razeena Omar Gutta is absolutely stunning! Hana has this incredible collection of hijabs in every color, pattern, and style you can imagine. Her hijab is always styled superbly! But when her collection starts overflowing—literally too many to manage—she comes up with a brilliant solution.
Hana opens a hijab service to share her vibrant collection with others, helping them feel styled and confident. What I love most about this book is that Hana’s happiness comes from making others happy. She’s using her gifts and talents to be kind to others, which is such a wonderful lesson for kids.
This book celebrates self-expression, generosity, and creative problem-solving all at once. Plus, it highlights the beauty and diversity of hijab styles in a way that’s educational and inspiring for all students.
You know, speaking of finding the perfect books for your classroom—let me tell you about something that’s going to save you so much time. It’s my Book of the Week email, and teachers are loving it!
Picture this: It’s Sunday night, and instead of scrambling to find the perfect read-aloud for Monday, you already have it planned. That’s exactly what Book of the Week delivers every Friday—one carefully chosen picture book, usually a brand new release, along with a complete teaching guide. You’ll get the book summary, key concepts, skills you can teach, and discussion ideas all ready to go.
No more spending your Saturday morning hunting for books or creating activities from scratch. Your Monday read-aloud is already planned! Head to thecolorfulapple.com to sign up, or check the show notes for the link. Trust me, your weekends will thank you!
Okay, back to our kindness books!
Punch! A Story about Kindness by Michael Hall
“Punch! A Story about Kindness” by Michael Hall just came out in April, and wow—this one is clever! Badger is having a really rough time, and he takes his sadness out on his friends. He trips Frog, shoves Moose, kicks Elephant, and pokes Bear with a shovel. Pretty terrible, right?
So Bear gathers everyone together, and they come up with a plan to teach Badger a lesson. But here’s the twist that kids—and honestly, adults too—don’t expect: Instead of being mean back, his friends choose kindness. Bear gives Badger a PUNCH—but it’s a punch to drink! Elephant gives Badger a SLUG—but it’s a slug as a pet! The wordplay is fantastic, and kids will love the suspense and surprise.
The ending reveals why Badger was acting out—he was dealing with a personal loss—and it’ll make readers feel empathetic for what he’s going through. This is such a rich book for discussing big emotions, empathy, and choosing kindness even when someone hasn’t been kind to you. Michael Hall’s signature cut-paper collages make it visually stunning, too!
Hugo by Atinuke
“Hugo” by Atinuke is absolutely heartwarming. Hugo is a pigeon—but not just any pigeon. He’s a park warden who takes care of everyone in his small Parisian park. He keeps Madame Grande company, discusses the news with Monsieur Occupé, entertains little Bébé so the mothers can rest, and reminds everyone during winter that spring is coming.
But there’s one set of windows that never opens for Hugo’s visits. Hugo knows Somebody is there behind the curtains, but they hide whenever he knocks. That somebody is a shy girl named Aimee who stays inside all the time. Hugo keeps visiting, and slowly, she begins to trust him.
When Hugo gets hurt by a dog, Aimee rushes to his side—leaving her apartment for the first time to save her friend! After she nurses Hugo back to health, she joins him outside and starts making more friends in the park community.
This story is beautiful for discussing friendship, bravery, and how small acts of reaching out—like Hugo’s persistent visits—can help someone come out of their shell. The illustrations by Birgitta Sif are charming and joyful!
One Small Thing by Marsha Diane Arnold
“One Small Thing” by Marsha Diane Arnold shows what community looks like in action. When Raccoon’s home burns down in a lightning storm, his friends don’t know what to do. They all go back to their own homes, trying not to think about it—which feels so real, right? Sometimes we don’t know how to help when tragedy strikes.
But then each friend discovers one small thing they can do. Beaver helps build Raccoon a new home. Squirrel gathers herbs for Raccoon’s hurt feet. Rabbit shares honey so Raccoon can eat. Each small act doesn’t feel so small when they all come together!
This is such a gentle yet powerful look at how small actions can make a big impact. It’s perfect for showing students that you don’t have to do something huge to help someone—sometimes the small things matter most.
The Kindest Red: A Story of Hijab and Friendship by Ibtihaj Muhammad
“The Kindest Red” by Ibtihaj Muhammad is the sequel to the acclaimed “The Proudest Blue,” and it’s wonderful! It’s picture day, and Faizah is so excited to wear her special red dress with matching hair ribbons—passed down from her mother and sister.
Her teacher starts the day by asking students to imagine the kind of world they want, which inspires Faizah and her friends to spend the day helping one another in ways large and small. But when it’s time for sibling pictures, Faizah realizes she and her older sister Asiya don’t match like her classmates do with their siblings because Asiya wears a hijab.
With help from her classmate Sophie, who shares her dress sash so Faizah can wear it as a hijab, Faizah discovers that acts of kindness can come back to you in unexpected ways. This book beautifully explores friendship, faith, and the joy of spreading kindness wherever you go. Plus, the illustrations by Hatem Aly are stunning!
A Small Kindness by Stacy McAnulty
“A Small Kindness” by Stacy McAnulty has such a unique visual approach that your students will love! The story starts with brown and white illustrations, and as small acts of kindness spread through the community—a smile here, sharing there—the illustrations literally transform into full color!
It’s like watching kindness bring color to the world, which is such a powerful visual metaphor for kids. The book shows how kindness is like a game of tag, spreading from person to person throughout a small community of kids and teachers. The text is minimal but packs a punch, and it’s perfect for preschool through early elementary.
Illustrator Wendy Leach creates a diverse cast of characters while using color as that visual cue for how kindness spreads. This one is definitely going to resonate with your students!
Be Kind by Pat Zietlow Miller
And finally, we have the classic “Be Kind” by Pat Zietlow Miller—a New York Times bestseller that’s become a staple in so many classrooms for good reason!
When Tanisha spills grape juice all over her new dress, her classmate wants to make her feel better. But she wonders: What does it mean to be kind? Throughout the book, she explores all the ways kindness can show up—using people’s names, asking the new girl to play, standing up for someone being bullied, putting dirty dishes in the sink, listening to others.
What I love about this book is that it gives concrete examples of kindness in action without being heavy-handed. It shows that any act, big or small, can make a difference—or at least help a friend. The gentle text and irresistible illustrations make it perfect for those important conversations about how we treat each other.
And here’s a little bonus: I’ll leave a link in the show notes to a free interactive read-aloud lesson for this book, so you’ll have everything you need to teach with it right away!
And there you have it—ten beautiful picture books about kindness that’ll spark meaningful conversations in your classroom! Whether you’re celebrating World Kindness Day on November 13th or just looking for ways to reinforce kindness any time of year, these books are perfect for showing students what it means to treat everyone with compassion and empathy.
Remember, you don’t have to read all of these! Pick one or two that resonate with you and your students. Sometimes the best lessons come from really diving deep into one story and letting it spark those authentic conversations.
All these titles are listed in the show notes, so head there to grab the complete list. And if you try any of these books with your students, I’d love to hear about it! Send me a message on Instagram @thecolorfulapple and let me know which one was your favorite.
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Thanks for joining me today! Don’t forget to sign up for Book of the Week at thecolorfulapple.com—because your weekends deserve a break from Sunday night scrambling!
I can’t wait to see you next week in the Read Aloud Classroom!
