Why am I passionate about this?

My interest in kindness was renewed when I became a mother. I realized the best gift I could give my children was raising them to be kind. So, I founded a children’s media company (now sold), Little Pickle Press, dedicated to fostering kindness in children. It was a Certified B Corporation, so we prioritized our people and the planet over profit. And we brought to life many stories from diverse voices that showed children and their caring adults the power of kindness. Today, I sit on the Board and serve as Treasurer of Kindness.org, a non-profit researching the science of kindness and developing programs to apply it in classrooms, corporations, and homes. 


I wrote...

What Does It Mean to Be Kind?

By Rana DiOrio , Stephane Jorisch (illustrator) ,

Book cover of What Does It Mean to Be Kind?

What is my book about?

This book is part of the award-winning What Does It Mean to Be...? series. It presents the idea of kindness…

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The books I picked & why

Book cover of Each Kindness

Rana DiOrio Why I love this book

I love this book (and my children do, too) because it makes us think and feel. It demonstrates the power of kindness and also the natural consequences of our missed opportunities to be kind. The large format and luscious illustrations by E.B. White draw you into the story deeply and meaningfully.

By Jacqueline Woodson , E.B. Lewis (illustrator) ,

Why should I read it?

7 authors picked Each Kindness as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 5, 6, 7, and 8.

What is this book about?

WINNER OF A CORETTA SCOTT KING HONOR AND THE JANE ADDAMS PEACE AWARD!

Each kindness makes the world a little better

This unforgettable book is written and illustrated by the award-winning team that created The Other Side and the Caldecott Honor winner Coming On Home Soon. With its powerful anti-bullying message and striking art, it will resonate with readers long after they've put it down.

Chloe and her friends won't play with the new girl, Maya. Every time Maya tries to join Chloe and her friends, they reject her. Eventually Maya stops coming to school. When Chloe's teacher gives a…


Book cover of The Art of Miss Chew

Rana DiOrio Why I love this book

I love this book because it gave my middle daughter the courage to explore her creativity in many mediums. I also love this book because of the subtext of kindness throughout it.

It is an autobiographical account of Patricia Polacco’s formative years. Her art teacher, Miss Chew, and the school Principal, Mr. Donovan, were exceptionally kind to Patricia. And the impact their kindness had on her was profound and life-changing.

By Patricia Polacco ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Art of Miss Chew as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 5, 6, 7, and 8.

What is this book about?

After spending the summer with her artist grandmother, Trisha knows she wants to be an artist, too. She's thrilled when her sketches get her into Miss Chew's special art class at the high school. A substitute teacher tells her she's wasting time on art when she should be studying - but fortunately, this is one battle that Miss Chew and Trisha are up for!

This true story shows just how important a teacher can be in a child's life - and celebrates the power of art itself.


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Book cover of Hemingway's Goblet

Hemingway's Goblet by Dermot Ross,

Hemingway's Goblet is a rollicking read about a mismatched relationship between a middle-aged commitment-phobic university professor in London and one of his female students, a Korean 15 years younger than him. He is accused of sexually harassing her, but somehow their relationship survives as they join forces to seek to…

Book cover of One

Rana DiOrio Why I love this book

I love this book because it shows children how to stand up to and neutralize a bully. Even more powerfully, it conveys the message that bullies need to be seen and understood, too. When they are, everyone counts. It just takes one person to be kind, and the ripple effect is powerful. 

By Kathryn Otoshi ,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked One as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Blue is a quiet color. Red's a hothead who likes to pick on Blue. Yellow, Orange, Green, and Purple don't like what they see, but what can they do? When no one speaks up, things get out of hand - until One comes along and shows all the colors how to stand up, stand together, and count. As budding young readers learn about numbers, counting, and primary and secondary colors, they also learn about accepting each other's differences and how it sometimes just takes one voice to make everyone count.


Book cover of I Am Human: A Book of Empathy

Rana DiOrio Why I love this book

I appreciate this book because it showcases the importance of kindness to ourselves, first and foremost. And when we are kind to ourselves, being kind to others is a natural extension.

It helps readers to become self-aware and vulnerable and understand that we all make mistakes. We also have the power to learn from them and the agency to make better choices and move forward. I also really love Peter Reynolds' colorful and emotional illustrations.

By Susan Verde , Peter H. Reynolds (illustrator) ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked I Am Human as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 4, 5, 6, and 7.

What is this book about?

Instant #1 New York Times Bestseller

I am human
I am a work in progress
Striving to be the best version of ME

From the picture book dream team behind I Am Yoga and I Am Peace comes the third book in their wellness series: I Am Human. A hopeful meditation on all the great (and challenging) parts of being human, I Am Human shows that it's okay to make mistakes while also emphasizing the power of good choices by offering a kind word or smile or by saying "I'm sorry." At its heart, this picture book is a celebration…


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Book cover of Confessions of a Knight Errant: Drifters, Thieves, and Ali Baba's Treasure

Confessions of a Knight Errant by Gretchen McCullough,

Confessions of a Knight Errant is a comedic, picaresque novel in the tradition of Don Quixote with a flamboyant cast of characters.

Dr. Gary Watson is the picaro, a radical environmentalist and wannabe novelist who has been accused of masterminding a computer hack that wiped out the files of a…

Book cover of The Kindness Book

Rana DiOrio Why I love this book

I love this introduction to kindness, especially for younger children, because it is so accessible and relatable. Todd Parr’s insightful prose and whimsical illustrations capture the essence of kindness and spark curiosity in readers about how they can be kind—to themselves, to others, and to their communities.

By Todd Parr ,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Kindness Book as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it. This book is for kids age 4, 5, 6, and 7.

What is this book about?

With his trademark bright colours and bold lines, Todd Parr takes on a topic more important than ever: being kind to each other. This idea is both a perfect fit for Todd's cheerful, child-friendly positivity and incredibly close to Todd's own heart. No matter what other people choose to do, you can always choose to be kind -- and what a wonderful thing to be! Today's parents and teachers are looking for ways to instil empathy and kindness in children at a young age - this book is the perfect introduction to a timely and timeless topic.


Explore my book 😀

What Does It Mean to Be Kind?

By Rana DiOrio , Stephane Jorisch (illustrator) ,

Book cover of What Does It Mean to Be Kind?

What is my book about?

This book is part of the award-winning What Does It Mean to Be...? series. It presents the idea of kindness in an accessible and understandable way. Being kind means smiling at the new student in class or giving someone a compliment.

Celebrating the differences in others. When the girl in the red hat finds the courage to be kind to the new student in class, her kindness spreads. Kind act by kind act, her whole community experiences the magical shift that happens when everyone understands-and acts on-what it means to be kind. This is a teacher must-have for the classroom and for parents in search of kindness and feelings books for children.

Book cover of Each Kindness
Book cover of The Art of Miss Chew
Book cover of One

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