10 Books to Promote Kindness in Upper Elementary Classrooms

kindness picture books upper elementary

You do not need to celebrate a Kindness Challenge or Random Acts of Kindness Week to celebrate kindness in your classroom. These read alouds will effortlessly make kindness a classroom focus all year long.


Being kind is a way of life. Teaching one kindness lesson, or reading one book about being kind is not enough to have a truly kind classroom. That is why I teach about kindness all year long. By kicking off the school year with community building and kindness activities and continuing to weave them throughout the year, students truly digest the message that is being sent.


One simple way to create a classroom climate rich with kindness is to use your read aloud time to share books with kindness themes. There are so many books appropriate for upper elementary that have a strong theme of kindness. By discussing the theme of kindness you can easily tie in kindness read alouds with all of your themes in literature lessons, too!


While there are so many books about being kind, I have found that these work perfectly for upper elementary classrooms. You will love these books as each book can be re-purposed for other lessons in your classroom, helping to save you valuable time in the classroom. Teacher win!


Read about each of my favorite kindness books below and scoop up aligning kindness activities for FREE at the bottom of this post. 

Ordinary Mary's Extraordinary Deed
written by: Emily Pearson


ordinary mary's extraordinary deeds free activities


Bust out the chart papers and markers and get ready to calculate just how far one random act of kindness can go! I love that this in-depth story includes math concepts, perfect for the upper elementary classroom. Following a reading of this book, challenge students to figure out how long it would take to reach 100 people if they completed a random act of kindness to two people in their lives. Modify the number to meet the needs of your students. Want to go further? Watch this quick heart warming video to bring this story to the real world for your students.

Re-Purpose this Book!  Ordinary Mary's Extraordinary Deed is perfect for identifying character traits and emotions. Revisit this book during character and making connections units.

Enemy Pie
written by: Derek Munson

9 Books to Promote Kindness in Upper Elementary Classrooms


This is one of my classroom favorites to read each year! With its themes of friendship and being kind, it is a great choice to read right at the start of the year. Enemy Pie pairs well with creating "recipes" for kindness and friendship. You can create recipes with students as a class, or send students off in pairs to create recipes to share with the class.

Re-Purpose this Book!  Enemy Pie is perfect for character development lessons in your classroom, specifically discussing how characters change throughout the story.

A Bike Like Sergio's
written by: Maribeth Boelts

9 Books to Promote Kindness in Upper Elementary Classrooms


This book is chock full of important messages for children: kindness, empathy, and integrity. The main character Ruben experiences it all. Students always connect with Ruben and cheer him on even as Sergio brags about his bike. This book lends itself to discussions on being kind, showing empathy, and using integrity. Try this: following a reading of this book, have students create a list of things that Sergio should have said to Ruben about his bike if he chose kindness instead of bragging.

Re-Purpose this Book! Use this book again during story structure lessons. Pairs perfectly with story elements, problem/solution, and cause and effect lessons.

Each Kindness
written by: Jacqueline Woodson

9 Books to Promote Kindness in Upper Elementary Classrooms


No list of kindness read alouds is complete without Each Kindness.  This book tells the story of Chloe, who chooses not to be kind to a new student in class. After the student moves away, Chloe regrets how she treated Maya and is saddened by the fact that she can not make it up to her. The teacher in the book explains kindness as a ripple in a pool of water. Grab a big bowl and mimic the lesson the teacher in the book gives with your own students. It is an amazing visual of the power of kindness that your students will not forget.

Re-Purpose this Book! Use Each Kindness to practice students' story ending writing skills. Since the book ends with Chloe feeling regretful, have students write the next chapter or sequel of the book.

The Big Umbrella
written by: Amy June Bates


9 Books to Promote Kindness in Upper Elementary Classrooms


I love that the red umbrella in this book is a symbol for kindness! This book tells the story of the "big, friendly red umbrella who loves to help others and spread its arms wide." Share this book with students during a figurative language unit and challenge students to create other symbols for kindness.

Re-Purpose this Book!  The Big Umbrella can also be used to kick off any figurative language unit. Using kindness as a focus, students can create similes and metaphors about kindness, too!

I Walk With Vanessa
written by: Kerascoet

9 Books to Promote Kindness in Upper Elementary Classrooms


This is a wordless book with a big impact! Students instantly connect with Vanessa and empathize with her. Students always cheer and clap at the end as they imagine the words that tell the story of the beautiful images they see on each page. This book lends itself perfectly to having students turn and talk throughout the book to tell the story with words. Pair students up following the read aloud and have them write a summary of the story. I also love to have students write letters to Vanessa to cheer her up.

Re-Purpose these Books! Use I Walk With Vanessa to teach students the power of images for lessons on visualizing. Try this! Have students write short kindness stories without any illustrations. When students share their writing with a peer or the class, have the listeners close their eyes and visualize what they are hearing. Students then draw a quick sketch and share how their mental images helped them to understand the writer's words more deeply.

Every Living Thing
written by Cynthia Rylant


9 Books to Promote Kindness in Upper Elementary Classrooms


If you are looking for short stories about kindness, this is it! Each short story has different characters, themes, and life lessons. Though each short story is different, evidence of kindness can be found throughout. This book is perfect to read aloud during those awkward chunks of time you often find yourself with. Create a class chart or bulletin board display of the different acts of kindness and other related themes that students find as you read this book.

Re-Purpose this Book! Use this book to reinforce how to site evidence from texts.


Kindness is a Kite String
written by Michelle Schaub





With easy-to-read and rhythmic pages, this book will ignite the kindness bug in anyone who reads it! What I especially love about this book is that the illustrations truly bring the theme of one: small kind act can make a difference to light. Students of all ages will love connecting with the characters who do different acts of kindness throughout the book.


Re-Purpose this Book! Use this book to learn about figurative language, especially similes and metaphors. The author's note at the end of the book explains how she used similes and metaphors to describe kindness. Challenge your students to come up with more similes and metaphors to describe kindness. Have students write their similes and metaphors and then illustrate them, too! This activity makes a great bulletin board display.




written by Todd and Peggy Snow and
 
written by Rana DiOrio

written by Candance Christiansen


Kindness Free Activities for the classroom


What Does it Mean to Be Kind? and Kindness A-Z

While both of these books have a more simpler text than the others, I love them both. They are perfect to help introduce how to be kind to others. Kindness to Share A to Z is perfect to read and then have students create their own A to Z kindness book of how they can be kind at school, at home, and their community. A similar activity can be done with the book What Does it Mean to be Kind?. I use a flip book to have students share how they can be kind. Grab the flip book for free below.

Re-Purpose these Books! I love using these books when my upper elementary students work with their younger " book buddies." The simpler text is perfect for their younger buddies and the activities mentioned above allow my students to truly promote kindness with the younger students that they work with.

The Mitten Tree

While I love this book, it does have a winter theme, making it perfect for the long season of winter. This book follows the story of kind deeds exchanged by one special community member and the kids who live there.


Share Some Kindness, Bring Some Light written by Apryl Stott






The book, Share Some Kindness, Bring Some Light, written by Apryl Scott is one of my new favorite kindness books. This sweet, sweet story follows Bear, a large animal that the other animals say is mean just because he is big. As Bear and his friend Coco travel around the woods to spread some kindness they discover that kindness is a gift that only comes from the heart. This will be your new favorite! Grab the free printable to use with this book at the bottom of the post.

Re-Purpose this book: This book is perfect to discuss themes and life lessons. The characters in this book also change from the beginning to the end, making it a great read aloud for any character focused lesson.



Will You Be the I in KIND? written by Julia Cook





The talented Julia Cook has done it again! This easy-to-relate-to, kid-friendly book helps kids to see how easy it really is to spread kindness. Your students will see themselves in each page of this book as they learn simple ways that they can make a big difference! This book lends itself to important classroom discussions about being kind and doing random acts of kindness for those in need. Grab the free printable to use with this book at the bottom of the post.

Re-Purpose this book: This book is perfect to accompany different social-emotional lessons such as asking for help when you need it, every person can make a difference, and mindset shifts.



9 Books to Promote Kindness in Upper Elementary Classrooms




When it comes to promoting kindness in your classroom, begin with a book. The conversations that develop among your students after one of these powerful read alouds is what will develop kindness in your classroom. Is there a book you read with your students that promotes kindness? I would love to hear about it in the comments below!








Looking for more Kindness activities and bulletin board sets and cursive alphabet?
Click the image below or  HERE



9 Books to Promote Kindness in Upper Elementary Classrooms



You might also be interested in these 

Kindness Writing Activities and Bulletin Board Display!





You will love displaying this Cursive Kindness Alphabet set in your classroom!








And these Classroom Expectations to promote kindness, too!





Love these ideas? Pin for later!



9 Books to Promote Kindness in Upper Elementary Classrooms










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  15. "Enemy Pie" by Derek Munson is a delightful children's book that teaches a valuable lesson about friendship and empathy. The story revolves around a young boy who learns to overcome his preconceived notions about an 'enemy' through an unexpected friendship. Munson's engaging storytelling and vivid illustrations make this book a heartwarming and relatable read for kids. It beautifully conveys the message that understanding and kindness can transform even the fiercest of foes into friends. "Enemy Pie" is a must-read for parents and teachers looking to impart important life lessons to young readers in a fun and memorable way.
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  22. The list of books promoting kindness in upper elementary classrooms is comprehensive and offers unique perspectives on kindness, empathy, and character development. These books are relatable and accessible, with activities and re-purposing suggestions adding value to each book. 'Each Kindness' emphasizes the ripple effect of kindness, while 'Share Some Kindness, Bring Some Light' captures the essence of kindness as a heartfelt gift. 'Will You Be the I in KIND?' by Julia Cook provides practical examples, while 'Enemy Pie' introduces kindness early in the school year. The diverse range of books ensures students can relate to characters and situations, making lessons on kindness more impactful. 'I Walk With Vanessa' and 'The Big Umbrella' demonstrate that kindness can be expressed through actions, even in wordless picture books. 'Every Living Thing' is a brilliant way to incorporate kindness lessons into various curriculum aspects. The variety of activities and extensions makes it easy for teachers to integrate these lessons into their existing curriculum, saving valuable classroom time contract dispute lawyers near me

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  28. Integrating these books into your upper elementary classroom can spark meaningful discussions about kindness, empathy, and the importance of treating others with respect. Reading and reflecting on these stories can contribute to creating a positive and compassionate classroom environment.leyes de divorcio sin oposición de virginia

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  30. "Wonder" by R.J. Palacio - This novel follows the story of Auggie, a boy with a facial difference, as he navigates the challenges of starting school and teaches valuable lessons about empathy and acceptance. "Each Kindness" by Jacqueline Woodson - This picture book explores the impact of small acts of kindness and the importance of being inclusive and empathetic toward others. traffic lawyer chesterfield virginia

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    This book list is a valuable resource for promoting kindness in upper elementary classrooms. It includes various genres and themes, from picture books to chapter books, each offering unique perspectives on kindness. These engaging and thought-provoking books spark meaningful discussions about the power of kindness and inspire students to make a positive difference in their school and community. The stories teach values like acceptance, forgiveness, and inclusivity, fostering a kind and supportive classroom environment. The author has used some of these books in their classroom, and they have had a profound impact on their students. The book list is highly recommended for upper elementary teachers seeking to cultivate a culture of kindness.

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  32. The list of books that promote kindness in upper elementary classrooms includes Ordinary Mary's Extraordinary Deed by Emily Pearson, Enemy Pie by Derek Munson, A Bike Like Sergio's by Maribeth Boelts, Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson, The Big Umbrella by Amy June Bates, I Walk With Vanessa by Kerascoet, Every Living Thing by Cynthia Rylant, Kindness is a Kite String by Michelle Schaub, Kindness to Share from A to Z by Todd and Peggy Snow & What Does it Mean to Be Kind? by Rana DiOrio, and Share Some Kindness, Bring Some Light by Apryl Stott & Will You Be the I in KIND? by Julia Cook. These books offer diverse lessons, including character development, empathy, story structure, figurative language, and more. They can be repurposed to suit various classroom activities, fostering a continuous focus on kindness throughout the year. The Mitten Tree by Candace Christiansen exemplifies kind deeds shared within a community, while Share Some Kindness, Bring Some Light by Apryl Stott explores the transformative power of kindness and character changes. abogado de accidentes de motocicleta cerca de mí

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  33. In upper grades, promoting kindness and compassion is crucial for students to develop a deeper understanding of empathy and social dynamics. Some books that can help promote kindness and compassion include "Wonder" by R.J. Palacio, "Fish in a Tree" by Lynda Mullaly Hunt, "Each Kindness" by Jacqueline Woodson, "The Hundred Dresses" by Eleanor Estes, "Restart" by Gordon Korman, "Save Me a Seat" by Sarah Weeks and Gita Varadarajan, "The One and Only Ivan" by Katherine Applegate, "Out of My Mind" by Sharon M. Draper, "Rules" by Cynthia Lord, and "The Lemonade War" by Jacqueline Davies.

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  35. ley de divorcio en nueva jersey The selection reflects a diverse range of themes, ensuring inclusivity and relevance to a broad audience. Each book's synopsis provides a clear understanding of its content, helping educators make informed choices based on their classroom goals

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    "10 Books to Promote Kindness in Upper Elementary Classrooms" is a comprehensive guide for educators, offering a diverse selection of books to promote kindness in classrooms. The article provides concise summaries of each book, discussion prompts, and age-appropriate themes. It also includes real-world examples and testimonials from successful teachers. The article balances classic and contemporary titles, catering to a range of preferences and ensuring timeless relevance. It also suggests how these books can be integrated into broader character education initiatives.

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  37. Exploring literature that fosters kindness in upper elementary classrooms is crucial for shaping compassionate individuals. These 10 books serve as valuable tools, nurturing empathy and understanding. While cultivating kindness in students, consider prioritizing their well-being with access to direct primary care physicians near me for holistic support in their educational journey.

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  42. Hey there! I stumbled upon your article about books that promote kindness in upper elementary classrooms, and I just had to drop a comment. First off, major kudos to you for curating such an insightful list! As an educator myself, I'm always on the lookout for resources that not only educate but also instill important values like kindness in my students. Your suggestions are spot-on, and I can't wait to add them to my classroom library.

    I totally agree with your point about the power of literature to shape young minds. Books have this magical ability to open up conversations about empathy, compassion, and inclusivity, and it's awesome to see you highlighting that. Plus, your brief summaries of each book are super helpful for getting a sense of what they're all about. Thanks for sharing your expertise and spreading the kindness vibes – the world needs more educators like you!

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