The Sound of Kindness

by Amy Ludwig VanDerwater, Teresa Martinez (Illustrator)

Overview

This heartwarming book touches on the themes of kindness and socio-emotional resonance and the idea that our words matter.

Follow an adult and child as they explore their neighborhood, listening for the sounds of kindness. Words of friendship, gratitude, support, generosity, and love . . . we can see and hear them if we try. What will you hear if you take a kindness walk? Kindness is all around us every day, if we know where to look—and listen!—for it. This book is a gentle and encouraging acknowledgment of how much it matters to be kind . . . in our families, friendships, and communities.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781433841491
Publisher:	American Psychological Association
Publication date:	08/15/2023
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	145,444
Product dimensions:	10.10(w) x 8.20(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	7 - 8 Years

About the Author

Amy Ludwig VanDerwater has taught writing for over 20 years, and her children’s books have received accolades from the Junior Library Guild, the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, and the National Council of Teachers of English. She lives in an old farmhouse in Holland, NY. Visit amyludwigvanderwater.com and @amylvpoemfarm on Twitter and Instagram.

Teresa Martinez is a children’s book illustrator who grew up in Mexico. She studied Graphic Design in Arte AC and took painting courses in Italy to learn different techniques. She currently lives in Puerto Vallarta, a small beach town full of kindness that inspires her work. Visit @teresamtzjun on Instagram.
 

Editorial Reviews

2023-03-29
A parent and child go for a walk in their neighborhood, finding examples of kindness in the dialogue they hear.

The duo’s rhyming adventure is told entirely through upbeat dialogue balloons. “ ‘You can do it.’ ‘That sounds fair.’ ‘Oh! I’m sorry.’ ‘We can share.’ ” An adult cheers on a young cyclist; two children play cards; and two children work out playing with one toy. Other overheard kindnesses include offers to help, recognition of a good deed, declarations of friendship, examples of compassion and empathy, extensions of courtesy, reassurances, and affirmations—all easy for children to emulate. Martínez’s illustrations effectively highlight the parent and child and the people interacting in each spread by picturing them in full color. The rest of the various scenes are in muted shades. Parent and child share the same brown skin and short black hair; other people are diverse. Backmatter lists other types of kindness walks; e.g., a quiet kindness walk is for noticing people’s actions, and on a literary kindness walk, you read a story while pausing to point out examples of the characters helping others. The author notes that “when we look for something in our world, we have a greater chance of finding it,” and that “our world and its loud news offers many angry sounds.” Kindness walks counteract the negative by seeing ways others “lift each other up.” (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Inspiration to find—and perhaps spread—acts of kindness in our world. (Picture book. 3-10)

Kirkus Reviews