7 Compassionate Books With Stories Of Kindness For Kids

Children are born innately kind and compassionate. Parents and caregivers are always trying to foster that intuition in their children. While not many will agree that kids can be told about some harsh truths, especially things like where their “food” comes from, some parents on the path of compassion are ok to let their young kids learn these issues in gentler ways.

Here is a list of 7 books that you can read to kids that are sure to give them food for compassionate thought.

1. I’m Hungry By Jorge Martin

Ages 2 - 4 years

This bold and brilliant picture book is about a newly-hatched dragon going around looking for food and ends up eating all the animals on the island before finding herself all alone until her mother comes to her rescue. This book has a subtle message of kindness and one of being compassionate. It is a wonderful story for parents who can draw comparisons between their kids and the hungry dragon’s deeds.

2. Dave Loves Chickens By Carlos Patino

Ages 3 - 8 years

Dave is a kind and compassionate monster from a planet far far away who doesn’t eat animals but doesn’t understand why people of planet earth eat animals. This picture book is great for kids who have chosen to not eat animals, and they will empathize and agree with Dave that hens are smart animals that needn’t be on our plates. 

3. V is For Vegan: The ABCs of Being Kind by Ruby Roth

Ages 3 - 7 years

V Is For Vegan is a book that needs to be in every conscious parent’s home library. Author and Illustrator, Ruby Roth has taken each letter of the alphabet and explained an aspect of how we can choose to be kinder to the animals in simple language. It also talks about healthy eating by telling the kids to eat legumes, nuts, fruits and vegetables while also covering aspects of using animals for clothing and in zoos.

4. The True Adventures of Esther The Wonder Pig

Ages 4 - 8 years

This book chronicles the true story of social media sensation Esther The Wonder Pig. When her human dads got her home, they were adopting a mini pig but she turned out to grow into a 270kg pig. They had to leave their city apartment and ended up on a farm with many other animals which they turned into an animal sanctuary. A story sure to warm your heart!

5. Care for Our World by Karen Robbins

Ages 4+

Available as a hardcover but also as an animated video book in the Apple App Store, this book teaches the kids about animals from different continents and also has messages about how we can care for the plants, animals and the people who habit our planet. As you turn page by page, you meet creatures of the Earth who provide a gentle reminder for generations to come that we can do things to save the planet and the time is now.

6. Tyrannosaurus Drip by Julia Donaldson

Ages 4 – 8 years

Popular kids book author, Julia Donaldson’s Tyranosaurus Drip is about a Duckbill Dinosaur who ends up hatching in the nest of an arch rival Tyranosourus family. He refuses to eat other animals like his family and is rather drawn to eating seaweed, which the Duckbill Dionsaurs on the on the other side of the river prefer. This story is for adults who want to tell their kids that they can choose to follow a path of kindness even if they are all alone. 

7. The One and Only Ivan

Ages 9 years & up

Inspiried by true events, this is a story of a Gorilla named Ivan who has spent his life performing at a shopping mall. He never thought of life outside the mall until a baby elephant named Ruby arrives and Ivan realises he needs to find a new life for them both. It’s a story of friendship, freedom and an animal’s quest for it all.

We hope parents and caregivers can use these books as a starting point to a dialogue between the kids to help them choose the path of kindness no matter how small their ideas.