Books for Kids on Prosocial Behavior

Giving a hug. Lending a hand. Apologizing for a mistake. Prosocial behavior comes in many forms. Kids are capable of these actions, and books help encourage them. No matter the developmental stage of your kids, you can find books that cover prosocial topics such as friendship, empathy, altruism and manners.

  1. Friendship

    • Preschoolers enjoy seeing different animals come together to share a common interest in "Where Are You Going? To See My Friend!" by Kazuo Iwamura. In "Frog and Toad Are Friends" by Arnold Lobel, early elementary students find long-term friends successfully working through problems and disagreements. Gemma Reece's "The Girls' Book of Friendship" covers a wide range of topics for middle elementary girls, such as helping a friend, making new friends and forgiving a friend. Many friendship-oriented crafts are included. "The Fingertips of Duncan Dorfman" by Meg Wolitzer appeals to tweens because of the unusual friendship that develops among two boys and a girl as the result of a Scrabble tournament.

    Empathy

    • Young children find lessons about understanding others in "The Berenstain Bears and the Bully" by Stan and Jan Berenstain. The cubs realize that bullies often have their own troubles, and they take out their frustrations on others. In "Stand in My Shoes: Kids Learning About Empathy" by Bob Sornson, a girl learns the word "empathy" from her older sister, then tries to use empathetic behavior during an ordinary day. Older kids can read Stacey A. Lundgren's "True Bucketfilling Stories: Legacies of Love." Ten short stories illustrate acts of love and compassion.

    Altruism

    • "Tiger and Mouse: The Gift of Helping Others" by Theodore Allen Lightfoot uses animals to show preschoolers how altruistic behavior benefits the giver. "The Giving Book: Open The Door to a Lifetime of Giving" by Ellen Sabin is an activity book that helps youngsters understand how they can positively affect the world. Middle elementary students enjoy Mary Pope Osborne's "A Ghost Tale for Christmas Time," part of the Magic Tree House series. Siblings Jack and Annie discover they can aid an adult who seems to have everything. Tweens learn about peers who have made significant contributions in Garth Sundem's "Real Kids, Real Stories, Real Change: Courageous Actions Around the World." Role models include a 15-year-old anti-segregationist and a 6-year-old fundraiser.

    Politeness

    • In "Excuse Me!: A Little Book of Manners," author Karen Katz encourages toddlers and preschoolers to suggest polite responses to everyday situations such as breaking someone's toy. "What Do You Say, Dear?" by Sesyle Joslin presents unlikely and hilarious scenarios to early elementary students. Older kids find "Dude, That's Rude!: (Get Some Manners)" by Pamela Espeland entertaining and informative in such areas as parties, meals and email. Alex J. Packer's "How Rude! The Teenagers Guide to Good Manners, Proper Behavior, and Not Grossing People Out" gives tweens a head start towards good manners. The humorous and thorough book covers topics such as telephone etiquette, gift-giving and civilized arguments.

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