A List of Children's Literature to Teach Empathy for Others

Because understanding how others may feel about a given situation may seem as though it comes naturally to most adults, it can be easy to forget that empathy is a learned skill. Young children often have difficulty putting themselves in someone else's shoes. Many pieces of children's literature for preschool-age kids can help teach youngsters the importance of thinking about the feelings of others.

  1. Hurt Feelings

    • Many children don't realize how their words and actions can affect others. Simply saying, "I don't want to be your friend," can send another child into an emotional tailspin. "Watch Your Tongue, Cecily Beasley" by Lane Fredrickson is the story of how an obnoxious girl finally learns how her rude manner affects others. "Speak Up, Tommy!" by Jaqueline Dembar Greene is about a boy who moves to a new school in a new country and has trouble fitting in because the other kids are not very welcoming.

    Sharing

    • Kids can be very resistant to sharing their toys with their friends. They can seem to believe that the whole world belongs to them and they don't want to give up control of any of it. Many books help teach children why sharing is beneficial. "It's Mine!" by Leo Lionni is about three self-centered frogs who learn that working together can help them much more food than snatching bits and pieces for themselves. Shel Silverstein's "The Giving Tree" is the story of a tree who loved a little boy so much that giving him her apples and branches to make him happy filled her with joy as well.

    Dealing With Disaster

    • Children generally believe that everyone else grows up in an environment that's pretty much the same as their own. They have a hard time understanding the disasters that many children face, such as war, extreme weather, earthquakes or the loss of a loved one. Karen Lynn Williams' "Four Feet, Two Sandals" is about two girls living in a refugee camp near Pakistan. When a relief truck brings clothing and shoes, the girls get only one pair of shoes they decide to share. "14 Cows for America," by Carmen Agra Deedy, was written to communicate feelings of other cultures about the occurrences of 9/11, giving an example of global compassion.

    Bullying

    • Bullying has been a focal point of schools all over the world for quite some time. The emotional and physical abuse children inflict on their peers can lead to a lifetime of physical and psychological damage. "Hey, Little Ant" by Phillip M. Hoose is the story of a little boy who learns how his actions affect others when the ant he attempts to crush begins to explain how frightened he is. Eleanor Estes' "The Hundred Dresses" is about a girl who wears the same dress to school every day, but tells the girls at school she has many more dresses at home. The other girls begin to tease her, until one finally sees how much the teasing is hurting and takes a stand against it.

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