Here are our top 10 book selections for children under the age of 10 about kindness, love and empathy. And, since most of these books are too large for our boxes, we've linked them all so you may purchase any or all of these books directly from this blog. 

 1. Come with Me, by Holly M. McGhee - After seeing stories full of hate and fear on the news, a little girl wonders what she can do to make the world a better place. "Come with me," says her father, and shows her how friendly greetings on that subway can make people feel happy and welcome on their commute; "come with me," says her mother, and shows her how their diverse community comes together at the local grocers. Finally, the little girl is ready to try herself: "come with me," she says to the boy next door while walking the family dog, and together, the two kids see how small actions make a big difference. Purchase HERE

2. Last Stop on Market Street, by Matt De La Pena - CJ, and his grandmother on their way home one day. CJ spends most of the journey asking "How come...?" questions about everyone and everything. His grandmother answers each question with patience and eventually they leave the bus to volunteer at a soup kitchen. Purchase HERE

3. Ferdinand, by Munro Leaf - Ferdinand is the world's most peaceful and beloved little bull. While all of the other bulls snort, leap, and butt their heads, Ferdinand is content to just sit and smell the flowers under his favorite cork tree. But what happens when he is forced to compete in a bull fight? Purchase HERE

4. What Does it Mean to be Kind? by Rana DiOrio - When the girl in the red hat finds the courage to be kind to the new student in class, her kindness spreads. Kind act by kind act, her whole community experiences the magical shift that happens when everyone understands―and acts on―what it means to be kind. Purchase HERE

5. Be Kind, by Pat Zietlow Miller - After seeing a classmate spill grape juice all over her new dress and struggling to find the words that will help her feel better, the young narrator wonders: what does it really mean to be kind? She realizes that it means many things. She also discovers that even small acts of kindness can make a difference and contemplates how kindness can spread, envisioning a chain of kind acts that stretch "all the way... around the world." Purchase HERE

6. I Walk with Vanessa, by Keracoet - Vanessa's first day at a new school is a little lonely, but on the way home, things get worse. A boy shouts at her, and she runs home upset and one of her classmates sees the whole thing. Both girls are heartbroken, but the bystander realizes there are ways she can help and the next morning, she invites Vanessa to walk to school alongside her. Purchase HERE

7. Have you Filled a Bucket Today? by Carol McCloud - Children are not the only ones that need to learn how to be truly happy. It’s all in the bucket, that invisible bucket that follows you everywhere. This book teaches young readers valuable lessons about giving, sharing, and caring. Purchase HERE

8. Hey, Little Ant, by Phillip and Hannah Hoose - When a boy comes across an ant on the sidewalk and lifts his shoe to squish it, the ant quickly speaks up to make the case for why his life should be spared. The ant pleads for the boy to imagine how he’d feel if they switched positions. Purchase HERE

9. The Kindness Book, by Todd Parr - Kindness is thinking about people's feelings and helping them feel good. Be kind to others and be kind to yourself! Purchase HERE

10. Superheros Club, by Madeleine Sherak - Lily is just a regular kid with a huge heart who rallies her friends to form a Superheroes Club to help other kids in school and in their communities. She explains that it's not how you look, but what you do that makes you a superhero. It doesn't have to be hard to help others; opportunities are everywhere you look. So Lily inspires and empowers her friends to find the heroic potential that each of them possesses. Purchase HERE