5 children’s books that help you become a kind person

Hey cool cats – I found out that people who read Harry Potter often are really good and lovely people. True story – according to one scientific study. (Here’s some science about how Harry Potter helps battle prejudice. It’s a little bit tricky to read so maybe you could show your parents and have a chat about it with them?)

So I thought since all you Harry Potter fans are so kind and nice to people who are different to you then you may want to read some of these books about unusual heroes.

The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch, illustrated by Michael Martchenko. Ever heard that, “Girls can’t defeat a dragon, only boys can!” Well this book has a very cool princess – in a paper bag no less – who manages to defeat a dragon.

 

 

 

Malala : the girl who stood up for education and changed the world by Malala Yousafzai with Patricia McCormick. Sometimes girls are told they aren’t clever enough to do well in school. Well Malala fights for the right for girls to get educated in her country – she believes girls are incredibly clever and deserve to have bright futures by going to school and learning everything they can. Malala is a very wise and courageous person!

 

 

Wonder by R.J Palacio. “You can’t blend in when you were born to stand out. My name is August. I won’t describe what I look like. Whatever you’re thinking, it’s probably worse. August Pullman wants to be an ordinary ten-year-old. He does ordinary things. He eats ice cream. He plays on his Xbox. He feels ordinary – inside. But Auggie is far from ordinary. Ordinary kids don’t make other ordinary kids run away screaming in playgrounds. Ordinary kids don’t get stared at wherever they go.” Goodreads. This is a great book about how it’s important to make friends with people who look different to you. They may get bullied just for how they look and they’ll need a good friend to stand by them when things get tough.

My princess boy : a mom’s story about a young boy who loves to dress up by Cheryl Kilodavis ; illustrated by Suzanne DeSimone. Sometimes people say boys can’t wear pink because it’s a girl colour. But that’s just not the case. This is a fun book about a boy who knows he can wear whatever makes him happy and there’s nothing wrong with that. “My Princess Boy is a nonfiction picture book about acceptance. With words and illustrations even the youngest of children can understand, My Princess Boy tells the tale of 4-year-old boy who happily expresses his authentic self by happily dressing up in dresses, and enjoying traditional girl things such as jewelry and anything pink or sparkly.” Goodreads.

Sadako and the thousand paper cranes by Eleanor Coerr. “Hiroshima-born Sadako is lively and athletic–the star of her school’s running team. And then the dizzy spells start. Soon gravely ill with leukemia, the “atom bomb disease,” Sadako faces her future with spirit and bravery. Recalling a Japanese legend, Sadako sets to work folding paper cranes. For the legend holds that if a sick person folds one thousand cranes, the gods will grant her wish and make her healthy again. Based on a true story, Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes celebrates the extraordinary courage that made one young woman a heroine in Japan.” This is an amazing story about the determination of a young Japanese girl dealing with the after-effects of a terrible event in Hiroshima history.

I hope you enjoy these good books!