20 Kindness Read-Alouds to Spark Big Conversations
Shape hearts and inspire action with these chapter book favorites for elementary kids
Looking for books that do more than entertain? These kindness-focused read-alouds are perfect for sparking meaningful conversations with kids — whether you're starting a book club at home, reading together as a class, or simply looking to connect over a great story.
Each recommended book explores themes like empathy, loneliness, doing the right thing, and standing up for others.
A Duet for Home by Karina Yan Glaser
Two sixth graders meet in a homeless shelter, where one shows the other the joy that can be found within. But their new home is threatened by a government policy; can they save it?
Recommended ages: Upper elementary
Birchbark House by Louise Erdrich
This coming-of-age story follows Omakakins, a Native American who discovers her life’s calling one night when a mysterious stranger comes for a visit to her family’s island lodge.
Recommended ages: Lower elementary
Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate
Facing housing concerns and food instability, a young boy leans on an imaginary cat friend for support as his family navigates their new reality.
Recommended ages: Lower elementary
Dogtown by Katherine Applegate and Gennifer Choldenko
Engage the animal lovers in your life with this sweet story of friendship, hope, belonging, and kind acts toward others, including lonely animals in shelters.
Recommended ages: Lower elementary
El Deafo by Cece Bell
This heartwarming and humorous original tall tale is peppered with Spanish words and phrases. Readers will fall in love with Doña Flor, a giant lady with a great big heart.
Recommended ages: Lower elementary
Mia, an aspiring writer, lives in a motel where she and her parents work and hide immigrants in empty rooms. Facing the constant danger of discovery, she navigates the school year, protects their secret, and pursues her dreams.
Recommended ages: Upper elementary
Healer of the Water Monster by Brian Young
This is the story of a young boy who meets the Water Horse, a holy being from the Navajo creation story. His dull summer just got more interesting, as he must help his new friend.
Recommended ages: Upper elementary
Jo Jo and her family live on an Ojibwe reservation. A lively child who marches to her own beat, Jo Jo much navigate friendship challenges and explore what it takes to make new friends.
Recommended ages: Lower elementary
She’s been told that polar bears are gone from the Arctic for good, but after spotting what looks to be a polar bear one night, April tries to help.
Recommended ages: Upper elementary
While volunteering at a retirement home — a court-ordered punishment — twelve-year-old Alex meets 107-year-old Josey. Although Josey is ready for his life to be over, he shares his life story with Alex, and a friendship blossoms.
Recommended ages: Upper elementary
The Ogress and the Orphans by Kelly Barnhill
A local ogress has been leaving gifts at an orphanage in a struggling town. But when a child goes missing, the town blames her. The children know the ogress is good; can they prove it to the town and bring the real evildoer to justice?
Recommended ages: Lower elementary
The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
A gorilla befriends a newly-arrived baby elephant in the shopping mall display where he lives in comfortable captivity. Before, he was able to ignore the loss of his jungle home, but now, he faces the reality of what he has lost.
Recommended ages: Upper elementary
Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper
Melody is an eleven-year-old living with cerebral palsy. She can’t walk, talk, or write, but she’s the smartest kid in school, and she’s resolved to prove it. Bonus: A movie version is available to stream on Disney+.
Recommended ages: Upper elementary
The Remarkable Rescue at Milkweed Meadow by Elaine Dimopoulos
A sweet story about a family of rabbits focused on the survival of their family. After realizing other animals in their meadow face danger, Butternut the rabbit questions whether they can — or should — take risks to rescue them.
Recommended ages: Lower elementary
The Sea in Winter by Christine Day
It’s been a difficult year for Maisie, after an injury has put her on the sidelines of ballerina training. She tries to put on a brave and hopeful face, but she needs more to pull herself out of a dark place while on a family trip.
Recommended ages: Upper elementary
Sofia Valdez and the Vanishing Vote by Andrea Beaty
In this story of democracy, a class must vote to choose their new class pet. But the vote goes wrong: a tie, and one vote missing?! How will the class resolve this challenge in a just way?
Recommended ages: Lower elementary
Tree. Table. Book. by Lois Lowry
Eleven-year-old Sophie’s best friend is an eighty-eight year old with the same name. When the elder Sophie faces memory loss, the younger seeks to help her, and in the process, learns much about her best friend’s life story.
Recommended ages: Lower elementary
Take Back the Block by Chrystal Giles
Wes, a popular kid in school, would rather not attend protests with his parents, but when his community is facing unwanted change, he has to find his voice to save his community.
Recommended ages: Upper elementary
Willodeen by Katherine Applegate
Nature is angry; natural disasters have become commonplace. When a beloved local animal does not arrive to her town for their winter habitat, Willowdeen seeks to find out why.
Recommended ages: Lower elementary
Wishtree by Katherine Applegate
An immigrant family moves into a neighborhood where a wise old wishing tree resides. With the family’s arrival less than welcome, the role of Red the “wishtree” as a public resource becomes more important.
Recommended ages: Lower elementary
Take Your Reading Further…
Start Your Own Kindness Book Club
Choose any of the books from this list to read with your kindness book club at home or at school.
See ideas for activities and discussion topics to accompany your reading.
Share Bookmark Kindness
Spread cheer and great reads with our printable bookmark template! Decorate, add your favorite big-hearted book recommendations to the back, and share with loved ones and/or your community.
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The recommendations we offer are based solely on our mission to empower parents to raise children who care and contribute.