Be Kind

One of the things I love about this book is that Miller addresses the very true idea that being kind is not always easy. Often, we tell kids to “be kind,” but we don’t tell them how. In this book, the main character tries to help her friend, Tanisha, who spills grape juice on herself. But her initial attempts aren’t successful. The main character wonders what it means to be kind and knows that she can do small kindnesses. She thinks about how small kindness can be contagious and “spill out of the school” and go all around the world.… show more.

There’s a reason why this little jewel became a NYT bestseller: Be Kind is such a thoughtful story that models for young readers what it means to be kind. It shows various scenarios, including standing up for someone who is being bullied. The reader’s takeaway is that our words and acts of kindness have the potential to spread far and wide in positive ways.