Kindness+(September)

September's Theme is Kindness.

Here are some more titles to support the theme of kindness:


 * [[image:0807535117.01._SX140_SY224_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg width="168" height="256" align="left"]] I Like Your Buttons** by Sarah Marvil Lamstein

**The Bear Who Shared** by Catherine Rayner

Bear, Raccoon and Mouse are all waiting patiently (more or less) for the wonderful plorringe to fall from the tree. When Bear catches it, he decides to share the delicious fruit with the others and thus begins a lasting friendship. Best for younger grades.

**Martha doesn't share!** by Samantha Berger

Martha refuses to share with her baby brother until she realizes that it's not as fun playing by herself as it is playing with someone else.

**Kindness is Cooler, Mrs. Ruler** by Margery Cuyler

When some of the students act grumpily in class, Mrs. Ruler tells them they must each perform acts of kindness at home. Everyone jumps eagerly into the task except David who struggles to find motivation until the perfect opportunity presents itself. The class and even the teachers become so enthused by the project that they end up creating a bulletin board highlighting one hundred acts of kindness.


 * City Angel** by Eileen Spinelli


 * The Lion and the Mouse** by Jerry Pinkney

This beautifully illustrated wordless book tells the story of the mouse's kindness towards the lion.


 * The Kindness Quilt** by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace

After reading a version of Aesop's The Lion and the Mouse, the class decides to do a "do-and-draw-and share" kindness project. As a result of one student's creativity, the project ultimately produces a large "quilt" illustrating their acts of kindness. Possible idea for a class project?

**Ordinary Mary's Extraordinary Deed** by Emily Pearson

Read how an ordinary person can make a difference and change people's behavior in this chain reaction of kindness. (also works for generosity)

**My Best Friend** by Mary Ann Rodman

In this realistic story about choosing and making friends, it takes Lily a while to realize who will make a good friend. In the end, she realizes that Keesha is kinder and more interested in being friends than the other girls she tries to befriend at the swimming pool.

**Fly Free** by Roseanne Thong

Set in Vietnam, this story is truly multicultural and encompasses Buddhist beliefs about the impact of an individual's actions. Buddhists believe that our thoughts and actions will find their way back to us in this life or in another. In this story, one child's small act of kindness inspires a chain of unexpected good deeds.

**Peace Week in Miss Fox's Class** by Eileen Spinelli

When the squabbling in her class gets to be too much, Miss Fox declares a week of peace. Various students rethink their actions in light of this pledge. Some reviews criticize the simplicity of the solutions offered, but for younger children this book might provide a good introduction to the month's theme of kindness or next month's theme of respect.

**Yoko's World of Kindness: Golden Rules for a Happy Classroom** by Rosemary Wells

This book can be found in the Trotter School library. A collection of stories connected to the theme of kindness. Best for kindergarten level.

**The Odious Ogre** by Norton Juster

Simply by reputation, the ogre terrorizes everyone in the kingdom and is happy to do so. When he meets a young girl who is not afraid of him but instead offers him tea and advice on how to improve himself, he ironically suffers a heart attack as a result of her kindness and generosity. Includes a lot of advanced vocabulary, best for upper elementary.