3 Books That Naturally Teach Compassion

• byFocusOnYourChild.com
• June 18, 2025

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Raising compassionate kids sounds lovely in theory, right up there with kids who voluntarily wipe their own noses.

But between getting shoes on the correct feet and negotiating vegetable quotas, it can feel as if teaching anything “big” like empathy is a wish on a shooting star.

Good news: some wonderful books can do a lot of the heavy lifting. Settle in for a few minutes—probably while someone’s refusing to brush their teeth—and discover three stories that hand your child the heart skills on a silver platter (or at least between two covers).

1. The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld

https://www.amazon.com/Rabbit-Listened-Cori-Doerrfeld/dp/073522935X

Toddlers and young school-agers are miniature emotional tornadoes. They knock over towers, lose toys, fall out with playmates—then look up at you, soggy-eyed and sniffling, searching for the world’s reset button.

The Rabbit Listened, a modern classic, hands children a gentle lesson in what it means to show up for someone in distress.

The plot’s simple: Taylor, a little kid, painstakingly builds a block tower, only to watch it tumble down. Well-meaning animals flock in, eager to “fix” Taylor’s feelings.

The chicken wants to talk it out, the bear wants to shout, the elephant wants to remember. It’s the rabbit, quiet and patient, who makes the real difference. The rabbit just listens.

What’s behind the magic? Researchers have long shown that actively listening is at the heart of true empathy. Kids don’t need to solve every problem, but they can offer a soft place to land for a friend who’s hurting.

This book gives them a script for how to be present—no pep talks or grand advice required.

How it works at home:
Even the youngest children mimic what they see. After reading, try acting out “listening” with your child’s favourite toy.

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Let Teddy have a rough day, and ask your little one what Rabbit might do. You’ll be stunned how quickly they pick up on the comfort of just sitting close, ears wide open (if only this translated to bedtime instructions).

Bonus for busy parents:
It’s a breeze to read, beautifully illustrated, and—should you be feeling a little worn out—it teaches adults a thing or two about just being there, rather than fixing everything.

2. Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by E. B. Lewis

https://www.amazon.com/Each-Kindness-Addams-Award-Awards/dp/0399246525

Every parent loves the idea of kindness. But what about those moments when your child stares at a new kid on the playground, then turns away?

Each Kindness explores that uneasy territory, nudging kids to think deeply about how their actions ripple out to others.

The story follows Chloe, who’s part of a tight-knit group at school. When Maya, a quiet new girl, tries to join in, Chloe and her friends snub her.

Maya’s repeated attempts to connect are met with silence or side-eyes. The teacher offers a lesson about kindness—how even small gestures ripple like pebbles in a pond—just as Maya disappears from the classroom for good.

It’s not a story with a neat, happy ending. And that’s the point. The regret Chloe feels is palpable.

Woodson’s approach reflects research showing that stories with moral complexity foster deeper empathy in children. When kids experience regret, even vicariously, it can motivate a change in behaviour the next time they see someone left out.

How you can make it work:
Use this book for gentle dinner table talk: “Has anyone ever felt left out at school?” Or: “How do you think Maya felt?”

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Real-life stories from your own school days (yes, the time you wore your jumper backwards all day and nobody told you) help make it real.

Try encouraging “random acts of kindness” as a family game. The winner isn’t the person who hands out the most stickers, but the one who notices someone who looks a bit lonely and says hello.

Why parents love it:
Each Kindness doesn’t sugar-coat things, but instead gives your child a safe space to feel sorry, to reflect, and to try again. And that’s a life skill worth its weight in all the gold star stickers in the world.

3. Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña, illustrated by Christian Robinson

Some of the most important lessons about compassion come when the world doesn’t look glossy or easy. Last Stop on Market Street is a joyful, gently subversive read that shows kids how to notice and care for people who don’t have much.

CJ, the main character, rides the bus with his Nana through a city that’s not picture-perfect. He grumbles about rain, wishes for a car, wonders why a blind man can’t see the street.

Nana, wise as only grandmothers can be, turns every complaint on its head. She points out beauty in unlikely places and reminds CJ (and, by extension, all of us) that everyone has something to give—and everyone has something to learn.

This isn’t a preachy book. It’s a celebration of noticing, of seeing the people around us as whole and worthy.

Studies suggest that children who see diversity and difference as normal parts of life are more likely to develop genuine empathy.

How to bring it alive:
Take a page from Nana’s playbook. Go on a “noticing walk” around your neighbourhood—who do you see? What’s beautiful, even in the everyday? Spot a neighbour with groceries? Chat about how you might help next time.

Some families make a monthly ritual of helping out at a local food bank or collecting gently used toys for community groups. Kids love feeling useful and included, and regular acts of giving turn compassion into muscle memory.

Why this book sticks:
It’s a warm, vibrant story with inclusive illustrations, perfect for reading aloud.

Adults leave feeling a tad more hopeful about the next generation, and kids see that kindness isn’t just for storybook characters—it’s something they can do on the 3:15 bus or the walk to school.

Turning Stories Into Action

Reading about kindness and empathy is a fantastic start. But the real magic happens when stories inspire conversations—and those conversations turn into action, even if it’s just a shared biscuit at snack time.

Here’s a little secret: compassion isn’t innate, but it’s incredibly contagious. Books like The Rabbit Listened, Each Kindness, and Last Stop on Market Street don’t just fill your bookshelf—they build a toolkit for real life.

Next time your child has a wobble, or you notice them watching another kid on the fringes of play, you’ll have a quiet reminder of what to do.

Sometimes the best parenting trick isn’t a lecture or a sticker chart, but a story shared at the end of a long day.

And if you’re lucky, you’ll find your child “listening like the rabbit” to a mate, or spotting beauty on a gloomy street, or quietly including the class’s quietest member.

It might not earn them a prize. But it’ll make you feel like you’ve won the parenting lottery—at least for tonight.