28 February 202121 August 2022 Kirsten

33 Picture Books about Empathy and Understanding

33 Picture Books about Empathy and Understanding

Books about empathy help your students understand the consequences of their actions by imagining other people's feelings, supporting them to be reflective and open-minded.

Books about Empathy and Understanding

Children need a good understanding of empathy and open-mindedness to counteract negativity in the world. They learn from the actions of adults around them, and teaching empathy is one of our most important responsibilities.

Opportunities to discuss the consequences of their actions helps children imagine other people’s feelings during intolerant or difficult situations, developing reflection and open-mindedness.

The recommended books show characters who:

recognise the emotions of others
understand how their actions may affect others
understand the struggles of others
are caring, thoughtful and respectful to others
listen to what others have to say
try to help others

You can also read about characters who try to use the empathy of others to get their own way. Other books instil empathy in the reader.

Picture Books about Empathy

14 Cows for America by Carmen Agra Deedy

A true story of kindness and compassion. After the devastating attacks on 9/11, a Maasai village in Kenya wanted to express their sympathy to a grieving America. They presented a gift of 14 cows, a symbol of life to the Maasai.

Babu's Song by Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen

Bernardi lives in Tanzania with his mute grandfather, Babu, who makes toys. He gives Bernardi a handmade music box. When a tourist offers a lot of money for the box, he sadly sells it. Bernardi hands over the money to his grandfather who uses the money for his grandson to attend school. Promotes compassion, empathy and responsible decision-making.

Be Kind by Pat Zietlow Miller

Tanisha's classmate wants to help her feel better when she spills grape juice down her new dress. But what does it actually mean to be kind? Be Kind explores the different actions, big and small, that can make a difference, particularly to a friend. This book reinforces the themes of empathy, relationship skills, thoughtfulness and kindness.

Beautiful Moon: A Child’s Prayer by Tonya Bolden

A boy prays under the light of a full moon for people struggling in the world before he prays for his family. Promotes themes of empathy, poverty and spirituality.

The Buddy Bench by Patty Brozo

A compassionate group of children encourage their teacher to let them build a buddy bench. They understand that some children find the playground a lonely place. Promotes kindness, empathy, loneliness and making friends.

A Chair For My Mother by Vera B. Williams

Rosa, her mother and grandmother are devastated when their home is destroyed by fire. The community helps them by donating items they will need. Promotes community, generosity, responsible decision-making and perseverance.

The Day War Came by Nicola Davies

A girl returns home to find is a bombed-out hole. Alone, she follows a stream of refugees to an immigration camp. She visits a school but is turned away because there is no chair for her. That evening she is visited by a boy who brings a chair with him - a chair to sit on and learn. Reinforces themes of courage, fears, immigration, perseverance and tolerance.

The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson

The Day You Begin considers the difficulty of entering a room where you don’t know anyone. In these situations, we are “an only” until we share our personal stories. Woodson reminds us that we are all outsiders and it takes courage to be ourselves.

The Digger and the Flower by Joseph Kuefler

A digger spots a single blue flower on the construction site. Dozer charges in and cuts the flower down. An upset Digger salvages the seeds. He travels far away, plants them on a hill, and cares for the seeds as they grow. Promotes responsible decision-making, compassion and social awareness.

A Dog Wearing Shoes by Sangmi Ko

Mini finds a lost dog which is wearing yellow boots. She wants to keep the dog, but knows she must find the dog’s owners. She sadly returns the dog and adopts her own dog. Use to discuss empathy, kindness, and adoption.

Faithful Elephants: A True Story of Animals, People, and War by Yukio Tsuchiya

A zookeeper describes the heartbreaking decision to starve three elephants to death so they wouldn't roam free in Tokyo if the zoo was bombed during World War II. This true story promotes themes of conflict and perspective.

Four Feet, Two Sandals by Karen Lynn Williams

In a Peshawar refugee camp, Lina and Feroza find matching sandals. They share the sandals, wearing them on alternate days. Lina and her mother emigrate to America and gives her sandal to Feroza. Feroza hands it back telling Lina they will share the sandals again one day. Promotes a sense of belonging, compassion and social awareness.

The Hard-Times Jar by Ethel Footman Smothers

Emma Turner loves books. As she can’t afford one she saves her money from picking apples and puts it in her mama’s hard-times jar. When she is ready to start school, she is met with a wonderful surprise. Reinforces themes of reading, determination, self-management and immigration.

Hey, Little Ant by Phillip M. Hoose

Before a boy squishes a tiny ant, the little insect speaks up. They begin a debate on why the boy shouldn’t kill the ant. With an open ending, the reader gets to decide what the boy should do. Promotes persuasion, perspectives, empathy and bullying.

Horrible Bear! by Ame Dyckman

A girl and bear struggle to manage their emotions over a misunderstanding. But are they actually horrible? Use to discuss forgiveness, empathy, manners, self-management and conflict-resolution.

Horton Hears a Who! by Dr Seuss

Horton the elephant, shows compassion, persistence, respect and community spirit for a tiny community no one else can hear. Read to promote social awareness, compassion, community, perspectives and tolerance.

I Walk with Vanessa by Kerascoët

Witness how an act of kindness, born from feeling helpless about how others are treated, changes a community for the better.

The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig

Brian struggles to make himself stand out. When he befriends a new student from Korea, she helps him grow in confidence and feel less invisible. Promotes themes of loneliness, kindness and relationship skills.

Joy by Corrinne Averiss

Fern decides to bring joy back to her Nanna’s life. She attempts to capture joy she finds in her neighbourhood but Fern learns that it is herself that bring joys to her Nanna. Reinforces themes of empathy, love, thoughtfulness and kindness.

The Lion and the Bird by Marianne Dubuc

A lion discovers an injured bird and nurses it back to health. The two become close but as Spring arrives the bird returns to its family now flying north. The lion continues on with its life, and as Autumn comes around, the lion hears the familiar sound of the bird. This wordless book reinforces themes of empathy, friendship, compassion and kindness.

Little Wise Wolf by Gijs van der Hammen

Translated from Dutch. Little Wise Wolf has learned many things from the books he loves reading. But he learns a tough lesson when he finds he is unprepared for a long journey to help the sick king. Use to promote friendships, asking questions, knowledge, self-awareness and kindness.

Lotus and Feather by Ji-li Jiang

Lonely Lotus cares for Feather, a crane injured by a bullet. They grow closer and the crane follows Lotus everywhere. One day, the little girl knew she had to let Feather migrate with the other cranes. Promotes discussions on empathy, kindness, loneliness and friendship.

The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld

Taylor struggles to cope with his emotions when something sad happens. The animals all try to help him in different ways but their help is not quite right for Taylor. It is only when the rabbit arrives and just listens that Taylor finds the best way to cope. Promotes compassion, empathy and emotions.

Red: A Crayon’s Story by Michael Hall

Red’s label says red but no matter how hard he tries he can only create blue. Red’s new friend, Berry, suggests he casts aside his label, opening a whole new world to Red. Deals with adaptability, identity, self-awareness and acceptance.

The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka

The reader gets to decide who is telling the truth in this fractured fairy tale of The Three Little Pigs. The wolf insists he was just trying to borrow some sugar to make a birthday cake for his poor old granny. Promotes different perspectives, persuasion and honesty.

The Uncorker of Ocean Bottles by Michelle Cuevas

A lonely man delivers messages found in bottles in the sea. His loneliness grows as his wish of receiving a message are never realised. When he finds a message with no name he wonders how to deliver it he starts an amazing chain of events.

We’re All Wonders by R J Palacio

Auggie shares how he likes to do ordinary things, but he just doesn’t look ordinary. He wants to believe someone will accept him for who he is. Promotes self-esteem, identity, friendship and open-mindedness.

What Is Given from the Heart by Patricia C. McKissack

When a family loses everything in a fire, the community come together to help. James wonders how he can contribute as he doesn’t think he has anything worth giving. He makes the daughter, Sarah, a book all about her. She is so delighted with this precious gift she presses it to her heart.

While We Can't Hug by Eoin McLaughlin

Best friends, Hedgehog and Tortoise, want to hug each other, but are not allowed too. They find different ways to show their love for each other, like waving, blowing kisses, singing, dancing and writing letters. Reinforces social distancing, empathy, friendship, and love.

Why Am I Me? by Paige Britt

Who would you be if you were someone else? This is the question posed by a young boy and girl. They ponder if they weren’t who they are would they be taller, faster, smaller, smarter or lighter, older, darker, bolder. This book represents the diversity of our world and an open-minded and respectful attitude.

Why Do We Cry? by Fran Pintadera

Mario asks his mother why we cry. She answers his questions with all the different reasons, sadness, loneliness, anger, confusion and happiness. The book captures the emotion and empathy of the mother and how she teaches her son it is okay to cry.

Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge by Mem Fox

A boy named Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge lives next to an old people’s home. His favourite resident is Miss Nancy Alison Delacourt Cooper. When Wilfrid finds out she has lost her memory he goes on a journey to discover what memories are so he can help Miss Nancy find hers. Promotes a sense of community, friendship, compassion and different perspectives.

You Hold Me Up by Monique Gray Smith

You Hold Me Up illustrates the love and respect between intergeneration First Nations communities in Canada. The book prompts discussions about the importance of connection to family, friendships and classmates. Use to teach relationship skills, respect, a sense of community, empathy and resilience.

Empathy Questions

What is empathy?
How do you show empathy?
How do you feel when someone shows empathy towards you? Why?
How did [character] show more empathy as the story went on?
Describe how [character] showed empathy?
Why did [character] need to show empathy towards [character]?
Why did [character] and [character] have different perspectives on being empathic?
How did [character’s] empathy impact those around them?
How did [character’s] empathy impact their community?
Why do you think [character] and [character] empathise in different ways?
Why do you think [character] was more emphatic than [character]?

Resources

Further Reading

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