A Small Kindness

by Stacy McAnulty, Wendy Leach (Illustrator)

Overview

Teach the importance of goodwill with this impactful picture book with a solid pay-it-forward message to encourage kindness in young children—from the award-winning author of Excellent Ed and Sun! One In a Billion.

It was like a game of tag, with one small act of kindness spreading throughout a small community of kids and teachers alike. Award-winning children's book author Stacy McAnulty packs a powerful punch with minimal text, providing a sweet message about all the small ways one can be kind. Illustrator Wendy Leach creates a diverse cast of characters while using color as a visual cue to how kindness is able to spread, even in a small community like a school. Overall, A Small Kindness is sure to speak to this new generation of children and their parents.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780762495221
Publisher:	Running Press Book Publishers
Publication date:	02/02/2021
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	11.20(w) x 9.60(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	4 - 6 Years

About the Author

Stacy McAnulty is a children's book author, who used to be a mechanical engineer, who's also qualified to be a dog therapist (is that a thing???), a correspondent for The Daily Show (why not), and a Green Bay Packer coach (totally!). She has written dozens of books including her debut middle-grade novel, The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl , a Junior Library Guild Selection, and the 2017 Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Honor book Excellent Ed, illustrated by Julia Sarcone-Roach. She's also authored the chapter book series Goldie Blox, based on the award-winning toys, and The Dino Files. When not writing, Stacy likes to listen to NPR, bake triple-chocolate cupcakes, and eat triple-chocolate cupcakes. Originally from upstate New York, she now lives in Kernersville, NC with her 3 kids, 3 dogs, and 1 husband.

Wendy Leach was born in the heartland of the United States and has very stubbornly stayed put. She currently lives in Overland Park, Kansas, a suburb of Kansas City. She loves that she is ten minutes away from her favorite Caravaggio painting and five minutes away from a walk in the creek with her family.

Editorial Reviews

"A clever visual conceit helps demonstrate the simple power of paying kindness forward in this gentle, encouraging picture book."
 —Booklist

"A solid addition to the 'starting school' shelf as well as for the frequently requested topic of kindness." —School Library Journal
 —School Library Journal

"A sincere, joyous and child-centered take on what it means to pay it forward."
—Shelf Awareness
 —Shelf Awareness

From the Publisher

2020-12-15
Small, thoughtful acts ripple through a classroom until everyone’s day has brightened.

A diverse group of children lines up in front of their teacher, a Black woman named Ms. Jones. In this first spread, the scene is done in a sepia-toned monochrome except for one Asian-presenting child, who appears in full color. Then, “like a game of tag,” her color spreads to Lucas when she smiles at him, and Lucas’ newfound color spreads to Jasmine when he says hello to her. At each page turn, the person who has just received a kindness does someone else a kind turn—listening, helping, complimenting, being friendly—spreading smiles while those still in sepia wear uncertain expressions. The class moves together from arrival through a full day to dismissal, finding moments throughout to show consideration. By the final spread, the entire scene is in full, vibrant color. One simple line of text per spread allows readers to absorb the clever visual storytelling on the wide, landscape-oriented illustrations. Young readers will enjoy scanning each scene and guessing who will receive the next act of kindness. As a satisfying first book for a child to peruse independently and as an instructive group read to set a tone and expectations, this offers a lesson that goes down easy.

A kind addition to bookshelves in homes and classrooms. (Picture book. 3-8)

Kirkus Reviews