I Walk with Vanessa - A Picture Book Story About a Simple Act of Kindness by Kerascoët
Inspired by real events , I Walk with Vanessa explores the feelings of helplessness and anger that arise in the wake of seeing a classmate treated badly and shows how a single act of kindness can lead to an entire community joining in to help . By choosing only pictures to tell their story , the creators underscore the idea that someone can be an ally without having to say a word . With themes of acceptance , kindness and strength in numbers , this timeless and profound feel-good story will resonate with readers young and old .
Buckets , Dippers , and Lids : Secrets to Your Happiness by Carol McCloud , illustrated by Glen Zimmer
This bridge book release in the bestselling Bucket Fillers line takes the concept of bucket filling one step further by adding the idea that we also have an invisible lid . We “ use our lid ” to protect and keep the happiness inside our bucket . Offering charming illustrations with personified buckets , dippers and lids , readers learn what gives happiness , what takes it away and what protects it . This concrete concept helps children of all ages grow in understanding , kindness , self-control , resilience , empathy and forgiveness . A valuable teaching tool for home , school and life , this is a stand-alone or companion book to the other award-winning books by Bucket Fillers , Inc .
Kindness Snippet Jar by Diane Alber
A fun and creative way to teach children KINDNESS ! Kindness snippet jar is a story about a little snippet who wants desperately to live in a kindness jar because he learns that it brings kindness to the world , but can ’ t figure out the right words to help spread kindness . He asks several other snippets how they find their words and he soon discovers he has to do something kind for his words to appear ! It takes him a while to figure out what to do , but when he finally gets his words it turns out pretty amazing !
What makes this book so unique is that it inspires children to make their own kindness snippet jar ! There are directions in the back of the book to make your very own jar and some inspiration for the kindness snippets too !
Upper Elementary / Middle School
Count Me In by Varsha Bajaj
Karina Chopra had no interest in becoming friends with Chris , but when her grandpa starts tutoring him she realizes he is nothing at all like the mean boys he hangs out with . One day , while her grandpa walks them home from school , a stranger assaults the group because of the way Karina and her Indian-American grandfather look . Determined not to let hate win , Karina posts photos on social media that go viral and brings the community together as others post their own images that celebrate the beauty of diversity .
Wonder by R . J . Palacio
August Pullman was born with a facial difference that , up until now , has prevented him from going to a mainstream school . Starting 5th grade at Beecher Prep , he wants nothing more than to be treated as an ordinary kid — but his new classmates can ’ t get past Auggie ’ s extraordinary face . Beginning from Auggie ’ s point of view and expanding to include his classmates , his sister , her boyfriend and others , the perspectives converge to form a portrait of one community ’ s struggle with empathy , compassion and acceptance . In a world where bullying among young people is an epidemic , this is a refreshing new narrative full of heart and hope .
Restart by Gordon Korman
Chase ’ s memory just went out the window . Chase doesn ’ t remember falling off the roof . He doesn ’ t remember hitting his head . He doesn ’ t , in fact , remember anything . He wakes up in a hospital room and suddenly has to learn his whole life all over again . . . starting with his own name . He knows he ’ s Chase . But who is Chase ? When he gets back to school , he sees that different kids have very different reactions to his return . Some kids treat him like a hero . Some kids are clearly afraid of him . One girl in particular is so angry with him that she pours her frozen yogurt on his head the first chance she gets . Pretty soon , it ’ s not only a question of who Chase is--it ’ s a question of who he was . . . and who he ’ s going to be . From the # 1 bestselling author of Swindle and Slacker , Restart is the spectacular story of a kid with a messy past who has to figure out what it means to get a clean start .
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