Winner of the 2022 Northern Lights Book Awards: Honoring Children’s Literature of Exceptional Merit
"Kindness makes the world go round—and makes it better. Spare text speaks meaningfully about how small acts of kindness and thoughtfulness can make big differences, both in others’ lives and in one’s own. Imported from Belgium and the Netherlands, this slim, compact offering, just the right size for little hands, says just the right things about the myriad ways one can be kind, all enacted by a sweet, young pig in a yellow jersey and shorts. An act of kindness is stated on a verso page with a wordless illustration facing it, followed by a double-page illustration showing the consequences of the kind act. For instance, the admonition “Offer a smile” faces an illustration of a dejected rabbit; the accompanying spread depicts the pig greeting the rabbit with a big grin and then a cheery, smiley rabbit continuing on its way. The simple, sweet illustrations, rendered in black and white with judicious pops of color, are fine conversational springboards; lapsitters and kids in group read-aloud sessions will enjoy interpreting what’s happening in the pictures. Some require a bit of thought; the pig looking dismayed at a wheeled trash can with a bit of litter next to it suggests a story that is upended with the turn of the page and its retrieval of a black kitten from within the can. Kindness begets kindness and pays it forward: a timely, urgent message for all ages." - Kirkus Reviews
"Kindness is easy when it comes from the heart, as shown by a little pig, who finds solutions to various problems. He helps pick up toys for his friend mouse, offers a smile to a discouraged bunny, and builds a birdhouse for a cold little bird. Simple acts of random kindness (saying thank you, offering a smile, being patient, helping others, nurturing nature, protecting the environment, rescuing the innocent, sharing, cleaning up) can do wonders for small children who are leaning that kindness can make a difference." - TCH Literacy
"A simple but beautiful book on ways we can learn to be kind. The story is lovely and the illustrations are simple but very appealing. It would be a good storytime book to bring the idea of kindness to our little ones." - The Deep River Public Library
"Little Book of Kindness is a wonderful story with gorgeous illustrations. It has a perfect message of kindness and what can be achieved through being kind. The minimal amount of text and large illustrations help to make it interactive, and it would be easy to discuss the topic and what is happening with child(ren). I feel this would be a really good book for a story time, both at home and in public library/bookstore etc." - Waterstones
"This book is a perfect book for kids to learn about kindness. Not only does it have practical ideas, the pictures modeling how to be kind are absolutely adorable. This book is bound to become an definite favorite both at home and in the classroom." - Stevens Point Area Public Schools
2020-04-08
Kindness makes the world go round—and makes it better.
Spare text speaks meaningfully about how small acts of kindness and thoughtfulness can make big differences, both in others’ lives and in one’s own. Imported from Belgium and the Netherlands, this slim, compact offering, just the right size for little hands, says just the right things about the myriad ways one can be kind, all enacted by a sweet, young pig in a yellow jersey and shorts. An act of kindness is stated on a verso page with a wordless illustration facing it, followed by a double-page illustration showing the consequences of the kind act. For instance, the admonition “Offer a smile” faces an illustration of a dejected rabbit; the accompanying spread depicts the pig greeting the rabbit with a big grin and then a cheery, smiley rabbit continuing on its way. The simple, sweet illustrations, rendered in black and white with judicious pops of color, are fine conversational springboards; lapsitters and kids in group read-aloud sessions will enjoy interpreting what’s happening in the pictures. Some require a bit of thought; the pig looking dismayed at a wheeled trash can with a bit of litter next to it suggests a story that is upended with the turn of the page and its retrieval of a black kitten from within the can.
Kindness begets kindness and pays it forward: a timely, urgent message for all ages. (Picture book. 3-8)
