In a world that often feels divided and disconnected, one author is leading a movement that aims to unite people through the power of kindness. Lucy Ann Unwin, with her compelling insights and infectious passion, believes that even the smallest acts of kindness can create a ripple effect, transforming communities and, ultimately, the world. In this blog, she has written a piece for LoveReading4Kids telling us all about her revolutionary ideas on how to spark a kindness movement, why now is the time for change, and how each of us can play a role in making it happen. Join us on this journey to revolutionise the way we interact with one another, one kind act at a time. Here's what she had to say:

"It’s hard for our kids to avoid politics at the moment. With a new Government in the UK and a high profile US election, as well as a summer of riots here and scary and upsetting international events, politics is front and centre.

For some children it may feel more distant, for others confusing, and for many the powerlessness that comes with being unable to vote or influence events can actually be deeply upsetting. Which is why it feels more important than ever to show young readers that they do have the power to change the world and it may be even easier than they realised.

And I totally get that sense of powerlessness. Along with many others, I’m feeling it strongly at the moment in relation to the horror in Gaza. How To Be A Revolutionary was born out of a sense of powerlessness, too. I sat down and started writing it the morning after the 2019 general election. I’d campaigned to try and get a more compassionate party in office and woke up to see the left had lost again, and badly. After similar feelings of helplessness and despair following the Brexit referendum a few years earlier, I was feeling very disillusioned about what power we actually have to make the world a kinder place. Frustrated by the choices the adults around me were making, I turned to a place where I know kindness is a basic instinct: children.

My experience during the election had also given me a perfect setting. I’d been in and out of a house very much like the one in the book: a residential home used as a temporary campaign HQ. There were paper signs blu-tacked around to tell us where to find tea, or the loo, just like in the book. And in the bathroom was a toddler’s toilet seat and set of steps — despite my many visits, I hadn’t realised children lived there! I wondered where they were and what they made of all the adult chaos around them. ..?

That idea took hold and became the basis for the story. Natalie and her little sister Lily are invisible children living in a campaign HQ and desperate to be involved. Natalie convinces one of the campaigners to take her under his wing and train her up as a ‘Revolutionary’, as she calls them. It was a joy to come up with tasks and challenges for budding political activists: although Natalie is less than impressed with challenges that involved forgiving people things or smiling at random strangers.

So, I started the book hoping to encourage the next generation to be more empathetic than my own, but as I set Natalie tasks, I realised something more important. It might be obvious to everyone else, but it was something I needed to relearn: voting in elections isn’t your only opportunity to change your world, you can start much more effective change at home, with your friends and in your community. In fact, the smallest of changes can kick start a chain reaction and leave a big impact. Just like Natalie does.

Because when talking about political engagement or activism for children, it can be tempting to think too big.

My children have grown up with the wonderful Little People, Big Dreams and Rebel Girls and Rebel Boys books. I love these series, and we’ve returned to them at bedtime time and time again over the years, but an unexpected consequence of all these inspiring stories means many children feel like fixing the broken things in the world is their responsibility. If they’ve not changed government policy, invented a machine to reverse climate change or been a youth trailblazer by the time they hit 12 they’ve somehow failed. I read a quote a while ago that I think was from Katherine Rundell — I wish I could find it, but, to paraphrase, it suggested it’s not a kid’s job to fix adult messes, it’s their job to just to be kind.

I believe if we inspire kids to make small changes based on their own lives, their own interests and their own passions, and if they ground those changes in kindness, they will be empowered to change the world they know, the one they live in, and from there their influence will spread. As a teacher in How To Be A Revolutionary observes, it’s so much more impactful “to DO something small, than to TALK about something too big to get your teeth into.” The world’s problems can be upsetting and intimidating — how can a 9 year old possibly get their head around war or genocide? — but a small act of kindness is an easy win for a quick do-good dopamine hit and an introduction to the idea that politics is the build up of lots of small, local actions.

Kids don’t have to somehow be the next Greta Thunberg and start a global movement to be “Revolutionaries” and create radical change. The revolution we desperately need at the moment is a kindness revolution…and our children have the power to kick start it with something as simple as a smile…"

Click on the book below to read our review, download an extract or purchase a copy of Lucy's book How To Be A Revolutionary