Be Kind With This Selection of Children's Books About Kindness

By Charlotte Carus | Posted: 7th November 2022 | Updated: 22nd January 2025

Kindness is the golden thread that connects us all. It's the gentle act of making someone smile, the courage to stand up for what’s right, and the joy of sharing with others. For children, kindness is more than just being nice—it’s a superpower that can transform their world and the lives of those around them.

This Collection of books curated by LoveReading4Kids celebrates the many forms of kindness, from helping a friend in need to showing compassion for animals and the environment. Through exciting adventures, heartwarming tales, and relatable characters, these books teach children how small acts of kindness can spark big changes.

Each book is a stepping stone, guiding young readers to understand empathy, generosity, and the power of love. Together, let’s inspire children to build a kinder, brighter future—one page at a time.

Oxford Children's Word of the Year 2024 is Kindness

61% of children surveyed by the prestigious publisher Oxford University Press (OUP) chose Kindness as their word of the year. OUP’s research published on 22nd January 2025, which surveyed opinions from over 6,000 children aged 6-14 years across the UK, revealed mental health to be a reason for some children selecting kindness, with teachers also citing a growing awareness among young people of the wider impact of kindness on mental wellbeing. Numerous references to global violence and current conflicts further emphasised how attuned children are to current affairs; with words such as ‘need’ and ‘should’ frequently used in their responses.

Several children mentioned learning about kindness at school or at home (e.g. Kindness is one of my school values and it is our family word), while others noted: At the moment with all the conflict and the issues the world faces, kindness is a good way to go.

Anti-Bullying Week and World Kindness Day

Anti-Bullying Week and World Kindness Day are annual events which take place in November, and encourage us to spread the message of kindness and tolerance.

Following the success of the campaign in 2023 – when 80% of schools marked the week, reaching over 7.5 million children and young people. ABA are official organisers of Anti-Bullying Week and Odd Socks Day in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Anti-Bullying Week 2024 took place from Monday 11th - Friday 15th November, with the theme: Choose Respect. Odd Socks Day took place on Tuesday 12th November, with adults and children being encouraged to wear odd socks to celebrate what makes us all unique.

The theme of Choose Respect was chosen following consultation with teachers and pupils by the Anti-Bullying Alliance which coordinates Anti-Bullying Week every year in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Teachers and children wanted a theme that empowered them to do something positive to counter the harm and hurt that bullying causes.

Anti-Bullying Week 2025 will take place from 10th to 14th November, with the theme to be announced in May.

There are some great resources for these events, written by teachers, suitable for children in both Primary and Secondary Schools, at www.anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk

And for information on the growing problem of cyberbullying, how it can affect kids and adults, and the ensuing mental health-related problems, visit www.broadbandsearch.net/blog/cyber-bullying-statistics.

World Kindness Day is an internationally recognised shared event introduced by the World Kindness Movement in 1998 to highlight, unite and promote good deeds within the community and in day to day life.

There are many ways to take part and schools and community groups across the country will be holding special events including making kindness cards and encouraging random acts of kindness. In the past Kindness UK has handed out 10,000 free chocolate bars at London Train stations and encouraged a Text Wave that swept through the country.
You can find out what's planned for this year at kindnessuk.com and perhaps plan your own act of kindness!

LoveReading4Kids' Selection of Children's Books Featuring Kindness

Scroll down for a selection of books that tackle both the theme of bullying and also stories about kindness and kind acts, plus we have also a large collection of books that focus on Friends & Friendships.