Resources

The Story of the Kindness Elves - A Ranson & B Bryne
Introduces acts of kindness and the Kindness Elves Tradition

The Smartest Giant in Town - Julia Donaldson
A story of sacrifice to help others

How Full is your Bucket - Tom Rath
Illustrates how all that we do affects both ourselves and others around us.

Last Shop on Market Street - Matt de la Pena
This sweet book encourages kids to have empathy and understanding for others from all walks of life and includes a boy and his grandma who stop to volunteer at a soup kitchen to serve others. It’s a great starting
point for talking about ways to give back to the community.

The Invisible Boy - Trudy Ludwig
A little boy is overlooked at school and feels very left out. When a new child arrives in class he realises he is not alone and works to build a friendship with him. This is a subtle yet clear story about speaking up for others, the importance of inclusion and being strong. A great teaching tool for classrooms.

Harry the Happy Mouse - N.G.K.
A friendly little mouse looks to the needs of those around him and helps them out. A lovely rhyming story that demonstrates how easily kindnesses can be paid forward with wonderful effect.

Super worm - Julie Donaldson
Superworm thinks of everyone and is constantly looking for ways to help them. His kindness is repayed.

Little Red Robin Vest -  Jan Fearnley
Encourages children to think of others

Sharing a Shell - Julia Donaldson
A lovely story about learning to cooperate and how much better that makes the world than fighting.

The Quilt Makers Gift - Jeff Brumbeau
A beautiful story to read aloud, this is a fairytale about a greedy king who wants more and more but can’t find true happiness in possessions. The quilt maker teaches him important life lessons through the beautiful quilt she sews.

Dogger - Shirley Hughes
This tells the story of a lost stuffed toy and the great sacrifice that a sibling will give to get it back, showing such a selfless act of kindness for family.

Ordinary Mary Extraordinary  Deed - Emily Pearson
Shows no act of kindness is too small and that it can quickly snowball into something great.

Because Amelia Smiled - David Stein
This is a lovely story about paying it forward and looking at the ongoing ripples of kindness that occur from
something as simple as a smile!

Be Nice Be Kind Spread Happy - Bernadette Russell
This is quirky, fun and original with lots of brilliant ideas for small acts of kindness to do together every day. It’s written at a great level for kids and is very engaging.

The Lion and the Mouse - Miles Kelly
This timeless classic is retold in this lovely book. The mouse may be tiny but he is able to help the lion when he’s in dire need. It shows that no matter how small or young we may be, there is something we can do to help others, and as Aesop’s moral goes, “a kindness is never wasted.”

Kindness is cooler - Margery Cuyler
This gorgeous book is about a teacher who introduces the new golden rule that “Kindness is Cooler” and seeks to get the class to complete 100 acts of kindness together.

Have you filled a Bucket today? - Carol McCloud
Explains how we all contribute to the happiness of others

The Very Helpful Monsters - Sally Huss
Someone learns the kinder way to be noticed – a great conversation starter.

The Magic Paintbrush - Julia Donaldson
Written in rhyming verse, this Chinese tale of a girl who can paint anything she wishes and it will become real is
a great moral tale about serving others and resisting greed.

Horton Hears a Who! - Dr Suess
Great themes about standing up for what you believe is important even when no one is on your side.