Will You Be the I in Kind?

by Julia Cook, Jomike Tejido (Illustrator)

Overview

A Picture Book About Kindness, Empathy, and Compassion.

From best-selling author, Julia Cook, comes a book that teaches children the many ways they can make the world a kinder place by being the "i" in "Kind."

Join the fun as "K_nd" goes on an adventure to find his missing "i." Along the way, he meets a diverse group of children who learn what it means to share their kindness through everyday actions both big and small. Whether helping someone who's hurting, pitching in to protect our planet, allowing others to go first, or learning to share, this engaging story will spark conversations at home and in the classroom about the concepts of kindness, empathy, and compassion. Featuring beautiful illustrations and Cook's signature rhyming style, this book will encourage children to bring kindness along wherever they go!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781953945532
Publisher:	National Center for Youth Issues
Publication date:	11/04/2021
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	7.60(w) x 8.80(h) x 0.10(d)
Age Range:	5 - 10 Years

About the Author

Julia Cook, M.S. is a national award-winning children's author, counselor, and parenting expert. She has presented in thousands of schools nationally and internationally, regularly speaks at education and counseling conferences, and has published children’s books on a wide range of character and social development topics. The goal behind Cook's work is to actively involve young people in fun, memorable stories and teach them to become lifelong problem solvers. Inspiration for her books comes from working with children and carefully listening to counselors, parents, and teachers, in order to stay on top of needs in the classroom and at home. Cook has the innate ability to enter the worldview of a child through storybooks, giving children both the "what to say" and the "how to say it."

Jomike Tejido is an architect and award-winning illustrator and author who has made over 50 children's books in his hometown in Manila. Apart from art, Jomike enjoys playing soccer, eating seafood, cooking and traveling to new places with his wife and daughter.

Editorial Reviews

2021-09-30
In an unusual how-to book, children are instructed in the art of kindness.

A piece of lined paper with a painted face and printed with the word K_nd asks members of a racially diverse group of children if they wish to be the missing “ ‘i’ in Kind.” All the children reply in the affirmative, asking how they can achieve that goal. Each child is given a specific behavior to practice. Smile at everyone, and they will smile at you. Pay attention to people around you; provide help and encouragement when it’s needed. Allow someone to take a turn before you, pick up litter, or just do something unexpected to make someone feel good. The children gladly receive the suggestions and immediately implement them with great success. The intent of the work is to present kindness as an everyday, achievable part of a good life. It works as a vehicle for discussion among parents, teachers, and children. But it is too earnest, with the tone of the instructions becoming preachier and more condescending with each example. A floating paper narrator is hard enough to accept, but there is also a second nonhuman character, in the form of graffiti on a brick wall that proclaims “BE KIND” in giant letters. Just in case readers miss the point, the piece of paper announces that kindness is a “great, big, huge” concept.

Well-intentioned but way over the top in execution. (afterword) (Informational picture book. 6-9)

Kirkus Reviews