Back when I was a kid, I always loved seeing the selection of books every time I visited my grandmother's house. They were packed away in a small basket by the television. These books — like More Spaghetti, I Say! by Rita Golden Gelman and Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion — really helped make my childhood even more memorable. They're the books that I can't wait to read to my own daughter, who's almost 4.
Luckily, my daughter is also excited about books. Reading to her is almost like revisiting my own childhood. So many incredible titles have come out since I was a kid — and some classics still hold up and hold even more meaning today.
Books are a great way to show children of all ages the importance of kindness and togetherness. Through reading, your child can meet new characters and understand the importance of being a good friend. If you're looking to revamp your child's home library and add some fresh titles, here are some great selections.
1. 'Love Monster and the Last Chocolate'
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There are three Love Monster books, and all of them are quite good — but this just happens to be my favorite. After receiving a mystery box of chocolates, the Love Monster doesn't know whether or not he should share or keep them to himself. The end reveals a heartwarming surprise that both adults and children will cherish.
2. 'Kindness Is My Superpower'
This title by Alicia Ortego is quite popular for social-emotional learning. Children can follow along with the book and learn how kind actions benefit others. This book is also great at tackling the topic of diversity, as well.
3. 'The Kindness Book'
This book is a favorite among teachers and recommended for kids who fall between the ages of 4 and 8. Written by Todd Parr, this book is great for children to learn about both kindness and empathy in a fun and vibrant way.
4. 'Elmo Is Kind'
If anyone can properly teach kindness, it's everyone's favorite fuzzy red monster. This book is geared toward a younger crowd, but the message is great for everyone. And since it focuses on Elmo's Monster Scout troop, it's also a great selection for kids who are aiming to be Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts someday.
5. 'Llama Llama Time To Share'
Your child may already be quite familiar with the Llama Llama books by Anna Dewdney. This one focuses on sharing, kindness, and love. In this book, Llama meets a new friend and is having trouble deciding what to share and how to act.
6. 'Why Can't I Fly?'
This was yet another favorite childhood title of mine. The book focuses on Minnie the monkey who is trying so hard to learn how to fly. At the very end, she's helped by some very unlikely friends to achieve her goal. It's a reminder that we're better when we work together.
7. 'How Do Dinosaurs Stay Friends?'
The How Do Dinosaurs series by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague is a popular one. This book in particular shows the importance of keeping friendships strong, and it pushes the importance of saying "I'm sorry" when a situation calls for it. As always, the drawings for this series are also pretty humorous.
8. 'How To Be a Friend: A Guide To Making Friends and Keeping Them'
Friendship is important for many reasons. Children need to learn the value of friendship and how to be a good friend — which is why this book by Laurie Krasny Brown is so important. This book talks about how to handle bullies who don't express kindness and how to approach others whom you'd like to form friendships with.
9. 'Extra Yarn'
In Mac Barnett's book Extra Yarn, a young girl helps transform her whole community with a little bit of kindness and a lot of heart. The illustrations are also beautiful, making this a charming read for both kids and adults.
10. 'Love Is'
This book focuses on the journey of love and friendship between a little girl and a duckling. The girl finds the duck and tries her hardest to take care of it. Aside from teaching children about the power of love, it'll also teach them about responsibility and emotional labor.
Psst: If you choose to purchase an item on this list, LittleThings may receive a small cut. Each item and price is up to date at the time of publication; however, an item may be sold out or the price may be different at a later date.
*Psst: if you choose to purchase an item from this post, LittleThings.com may receive a small cut. Each item and price is up to date at the time of publication; however, an item may be sold out or the price may be different at a later date.
