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The ReadDown

The Best Books on Kindness

Stories teach us how to empathize with others and learn about different experiences. This list includes children’s picture books, up lit fiction, and well-researched nonfiction on the importance of kindness. No matter what age reader you are, there’s a book for you!

  1. 1
    The War for Kindness Book Cover Picture
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    The War for Kindness

    by Jamil Zaki

    In this groundbreaking book, Jamil Zaki shares cutting-edge research, including experiments from his own lab, showing that empathy is not a fixed trait—something we’re born with or not—but rather a skill that can be strengthened through effort. He also tells the stories of people who embody this new perspective, fighting for kindness in the most difficult of circumstances.
    The War for Kindness Book Cover Picture
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    Paperback
    $19.00

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  2. 2
    The Little Paris Bookshop Book Cover Picture
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    The Little Paris Bookshop

    by Nina George

    Internationally bestselling and filled with warmth and adventure, The Little Paris Bookshop is a love letter to books, meant for anyone who believes in the power of stories to shape people’s lives.
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    Paperback
    $19.00

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  3. 3
    Wonder Book Cover Picture
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    Wonder

    by R. J. Palacio

    In a world where bullying among young people is an epidemic, this is a refreshing new narrative full of heart and hope. R.J. Palacio has called her debut novel “a meditation on kindness” –indeed, every reader will come away with a greater appreciation for the simple courage of friendship. Auggie is a hero to root for, who proves that you can’t blend in when you were born to stand out.
    Wonder Book Cover Picture
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    Hardcover
    $17.99

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  4. 4
    The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time Book Cover Picture
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    The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

    by Mark Haddon

    Christopher John Francis Boone knows all the countries of the world and their capitals and every prime number up to 7,057. He relates well to animals but has no understanding of human emotions. He cannot stand to be touched. And he hates the color yellow.  The improbable story of Christopher’s quest as he investigates the suspicious death of a neighborhood dog makes for one of the most captivating, unusual, and widely heralded novels in recent years.
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    $16.00

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  5. 5
    Last Stop on Market Street Book Cover Picture
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    Last Stop on Market Street

    by Matt de la Peña

    Every Sunday after church, CJ and his grandma ride the bus across town. But today, CJ wonders why they don’t own a car like his friend Colby. Why doesn’t he have an iPod like the boys on the bus? How come they always have to get off in the dirty part of town? Each question is met with an encouraging answer from grandma, who helps him see the beauty—and fun—in their routine and the world around them.
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    $18.99

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  6. 6
    The Story of Arthur Truluv Book Cover Picture
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    The Story of Arthur Truluv

    by Elizabeth Berg

    Wonderfully written and full of profound observations about life, The Story of Arthur Truluv is a beautiful and moving novel of compassion in the face of loss, of the small acts that turn friends into family, and of the possibilities to achieve happiness at any age.
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    $18.00

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  7. 7
    The Power of Kindness Book Cover Picture
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    The Power of Kindness

    by Piero Ferrucci

    When The Power of Kindness first appeared in 2006 it thrilled and challenged readers with one audacious promise: Your acts of generosity and decency are the secret to a fuller, more satisfying life. Kindness is not some squishy virtue but the very key to your own happiness.
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    $19.00

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  8. 8
    The Music Shop Book Cover Picture
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    The Music Shop

    by Rachel Joyce

    The journey that two quirky, wonderful characters make in order to overcome their emotional baggage speaks to the healing power of music—and love—in this poignant, ultimately joyful work of fiction.
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    $18.00

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  9. 9
    The Rabbit Listened Book Cover Picture
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    The Rabbit Listened

    by Cori Doerrfeld

    When something sad happens, Taylor doesn’t know where to turn. All the animals are sure they have the answer. The chicken wants to talk it out, but Taylor doesn’t feel like chatting. The bear thinks Taylor should get angry, but that’s not quite right either. One by one, the animals try to tell Taylor how to act, and one by one they fail to offer comfort. Then the rabbit arrives. All the rabbit does is listen . . . which is just what Taylor needs.
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    $18.99

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  10. 10
    Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine: Reese's Book Club Book Cover Picture
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    Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine: Reese’s Book Club

    by Gail Honeyman

    Soon to be a major motion picture produced by Reese Witherspoon, Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine is the smart, warm, and uplifting story of an out-of-the-ordinary heroine whose deadpan weirdness and unconscious wit make for an irresistible journey as she realizes. . .
    Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine: Reese's Book Club Book Cover Picture
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    Paperback
    $19.00

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