The Doing Good Together books and websites list connected me with this simple story. Lisa McCourt’s tale, Chicken Soup for Little Souls: Goodness Gorillas, offers an excellent example of kids taking the initiative to be kind, even when it isn’t easy.

To be honest, even though I like to think that I have the heart of a do gooder, I generally don’t have an affinity for the Chicken Soup  book franchise. I’ve picked them up at bookstores or off the shelves of loved ones and read a story here or there. Though the stories are nice, I somehow don’t find them engaging.

In contrast with the adult stories that fell flat for me, I found Goodness Gorillas to be both nice and engaging. Clearly, my daughters did too. They asked for it repeatedly at reading time and objected fiercely when the time came for its journey back to the library.

The hook, I think, is the test the main characters face. They form a wonderful group of helpers, the Goodness Gorillas, dedicated to deploying random acts of kindness throughout their school, town, and ultimately the world. It’s all very nice and sweet and simple.

Except for the one kid, and isn’t there always at least one, who ridicules the idea and by extension the kids themselves.

When their bully falls on hard times, the goodness gorillas have to decide whether they will spread kindness even to this unkind boy. Ultimately, of course, they do. Ultimately, of course, he is moved by their efforts.

Rounded out with a happy ending and several concrete ideas that had my own kids talking about doing some good in the neighborhood, this story was a simple and effective illustration of kindness.

Tags: Children's Books

About Sarah

Sarah Aadland is striving to make family volunteering a meaningful habit for her family of five. Join the conversation as she ponders what they may (or may not have) learned and looks for helpful information about raising compassionate kids.Though she plans to one day put her Masters in Public Policy back to work for social justice, she sees family volunteering as a way to build a stronger community, a better world, and a more connected family. In addition to her children, Sarah tends a large garden, a small flock of chickens, and a habit of mindfulness amid the necessary rituals of parenting.

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