Each Kindness (Jane Addams Award Book (Awards))

What a touching story! This story not only teaches a lesson on acceptance but with a special twist at the end. There is no happy ending. Sometimes we don't get the chance to go back and do the right thing. It is a good lesson for students and I challenged them to come up with a way it could have been a happy ending. The illustrations are beautiful.

Must have for elementary teachers and counselors. Mistreatment happens. Kindness matters! Kids relate to this book & can learn a valuable lesson about caring, relational aggression, and regret. Well-written. Great life lessons!

The story is appropriate for elementary students. It is a poignant story about how a new student feels when she is not accepted by her classmates.
It does not have a happy ending, but it will make students think about the consequences of being unkind.

Very depressing. Perfect opportunity to end it on a positive note, but took a very depressing turn which defeats the purpose of a childrens book. It identified a bullying problem, showed the impact, gave the lesson from the teacher (which was confusing), then the plan was in place to correct the action, but not taken, then the chance to correct the action was gone forever.

This would be a GREAT book IF it had ended with a new student sitting in the chair of the girl who moved away and the protagonist could have smiled at the new student. Boom perfect ending showing a corrected behavior from a lesson learned, instead it had a depressing - chance forever lost - ending. Not a great childrens book, nor a great one for me to read either. Such potential, but fell very flat.

I am a school counselor who uses lots of literature to teach. I use this book with fourth grade. They are riveted to the story the whole time and somewhat stunned at the end. It is a book that really makes us think about the effect of withholding kindness. I like the pass it on stories, but this resulted in deeper discussion with the students.

I picked up "Each Kindness" by Jacqueline Woodson, a winner of a Coretta Scott King Honor, while browsing in the children's section of my local library. I expected a feel-good story about being kind. This is not a feel-good story - this is heartbreaking, but definitely worth reading, even as an adult.

The story is told by a little girl, maybe eight or nine years old. She shares how a new girl named Maya came to their class. She was different, poor, with clothes that were different and games that were different. Maya tried to be friends with the other kids, but they rejected her every time. The other girls called her "Never New" because all she owned was second-hand.

The teacher gives a lesson on kindness, on being the pebble in the water that sends out ripples. The narrator realizes that she has not been kind, but it is too late. Maya never returns to school. Her opportunity for kindness to the different new girl has passed, and she must live with that regret.

It's a powerful message. Yes, I'm sure on some level it is meant to be an anti-bullying book, but it is also a reminder for each of us who don't necessarily bully anybody, but who sometimes fail to be kind. Once that opportunity is wasted, it can never be reclaimed. Everybody can benefit from kindness. It is an important thing to remember and put into practice.

Jacqueline Woodson is a young and very prolific writer so I wanted to explore her work. I picked up this book for children and found it lovely.

It's about a new girl who comes to school and, despite many efforts, is not accepted by others. But the book is not written from the new girl's point of view. It's from the view of one of the many children who did not welcome that new girl. And it's about the missed opportunity to show kindness.

The books is a short, powerful lesson. There's no happy ending. It would spark wonderful conversations between a parent and child. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

There's preach and there's using an object lesson to get across the same moral. And what is an object lesson? According to Webster it's "a striking practical example of some principle or idea." author Jacqueline Woodson, who also wrote the moving picture book "The Other Side," demonstrates how both kindness and the lack of showing it has a ripple effect on people close to us and society at large. Unfortunately, the main character, Chloe, who is telling this story, refuses to befriend a new fellow classmate who so wants to connect but can't because her poorness causes her to be looked down upon by others and be made fun of. When Chloe finally realizes--through an object lesson by her teacher--her lack of kindness, which she deeply wants to make up for, but it's too late: The poor girl, Maya, who sat right beside Chloe in class, is not returning to this unkind place. This book ends sadly, and very much reminds this reader of "The Hundred Dresses" by Eleanor Estes--a book of a similar theme and outcome. The only saving grace for Chloe is that she does realize she has done wrong.

Picture Book: Realistic Fiction (grades 1-3/4)
The Creative Teacher: Activities for Language Arts (Grades 4 through 8 and Up)

Mother Teresa is quoted as having said,"Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless." The importance of kindness is at the core of this poignant story centering on a young girl who is marginalized by her peers in the classroom and beyond because she comes from an impoverished background. Maya is the new girl in class, but even though she sits right beside Chloe, no one, including Chloe extends a warm welcome to Maya, all because she is poor.

Maya tries to reach out to her classmates, inviting them to play with her, but her attempts are rebuffed every time. She is nicknamed "Never New" because all of her clothes and shoes appear to be used goods. By the time the class teacher gets the children to do a simple exercise, that of throwing a pebble into the water and watching the ripple effect, symbolizing an act of kindness that can have long lasting effects, it is too late. Chloe reflects on her own behavior towards Maya, the girl who no longer comes to school because she had to move with her family. Chloe realizes that she herself was never kind to Maya, never welcoming, and realizes that it is too late because she will never have the opportunity to make it up to Maya. Though the story ends on a note of regret for missed opportunities, I feel this beautifully-written, gentle book by author Jacqueline Woodson can be used in the classroom for discussion on kindness, on how important it is, especially in today's world where bullying, ingratitude, and the culture of entitlement appear to become more prevalent. This is a timely read that can be used as an effective educational tool and serve as a gentle reminder that the littlest act of kindness can go a long way.

This picture book belongs in every child's hand at some point. There is no happy ending but a truth none the less that means so much more that a happy ending could have for this story.

Chloe now understands what kindness really means and how a simple kindness from her could have made a difference in another girl's life but her chance is gone.

#poignant #heartbreaking #PB #emotion #bullying #kindness

Written by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by E. B. Lewis and published as a Nancy Paulsen Book.

I highly recommend this book, but with a caution. This awesome book demonstrates the value of showing kindness to others, regardless of the kind of peer pressure that encourages youth to shun those who they perceive to be different than them. Part of the value of the book is that it demonstrates that there isn't always a "happily ever after" ending to each story, as we don't always get a 2nd chance. My caution is to read and evaluate this book before reading it to/with any child who is shy or feeling shunned or bullied. I unknowingly read it to my extremely shy 5 year old daughter (who also has a speech disorder) & she was sad for the rest of the day. Unfortunately for her, the book reinforced all the fears she had about being brave and trying to reach out and talk to others in an attempt to make friends, as she immediately related to the young girl in the book who was being shunned.

This picture book should be read by all children because of its underlying facet of bullying. A new girl, Maya, comes to school but because of her worn clothing and tattered shoes, she is not readily accepted as a friend. She tries to befriend Chloe and Chloe's friends, but they disdainfully keep away from her and make fun of her. It is not until after Maya has left, that a class lesson causes Chloe to question her behavior towards Maya and to regret her actions. It is a beautifully written book that conveys deep felt emotions through its plain, unembellished narration yet gentle and soft watercolor illustrations.

The illustrations are beautifully interwoven into the story, creating a mood all on their own. There's the angle looking up at Maya as she enters the classroom her first day and because Maya is looking down it is the only way to see her face. The illustration creates the sense that Maya feels uncomfortable and isolated. Then we see Chloe looking out the window, looking away from Maya, while Maya shyly smiles at Chloe. You can sense Maya's shy friendliness and Chloe's cold response to Maya. While the character illustrations say a lot about the characters feelings and personalities, it is the landscape that intensifies Maya's feelings of isolation. The vast landscapes seem to go on forever, with the sky and horizon melding together and creating a feeling of never-ending surroundings. The artwork alone speaks volumes, yet the text adds to the solemnity.

Each Kindness, received The Coretta Scott King Honor Book Award which recognizes African American authors and illustrators of outstanding literature for young readers that addresses moral values and that validates African American culture. Woodson's and Lewis' book does just that. I found myself touched by the plight of Maya, yet seeing myself as Chloe at one time or another in my childhood.

We need more books like this. This short story packs a punch. The true to life ending was unexpected, but perfect. Sometimes we may never get the chance to apologize to the people we’ve hurt, and that’s something we’ll have to live with. This short story tackles so much in a brilliant way that respects and challenges its readers. The subtle symbolism throughout the story brings a high level of sophistication that is rare but valued in children's books. Every school library needs to have this book. This is definitely the type of book that needs to be read and discussed with students from grades 4- 6.

This is a powerful book. I would not recommend reading it to a younger child but maybe age 7 or older. The story follows a girl who is not very nice to a new girl in school. She makes some mistakes but is too late to apologize to the new girl who has to move away. It is a sad yet meaningful story. It will give your child something to think about the next time they are unpleasant towards another child their age. I gave this book 5/5 stars. I thought the lesson of being kind was well presented.

This book has a powerful theme of being compassionate towards others. Bullying is one of the key issues in the book. The sort of bullying that is depicted in this story seems to be overlooked in schools which is why this book is extremely significant to educators.

I read this book several times, and couldn't read it once without getting teary eyed. This book makes a great case to really open up to people who don't look like you or don't have the same things as you. I love how the author portrays kindness through a ripple effect such as in water.

I not only recommend this to children grades 2-4, but also to adults. This book was very touching, and even I began to think about ways to be more kind and compassionate to others.

We recently got this book from the library and it's one of the best I've read in a long time (right up there with Chrysanthemum). We read a new story almost every night and a lot of the books are ones that I would never buy. But this one is really great. It's the story of a little girl who rejects a new student in her class due to peer pressure. The other student moves away and the main character ends up deeply regretting her failure to show kindness. I know this idea is a little too advanced for my toddlers, but I plan to purchase this book and read it to them often. I personally deeply regret not offering kindness at different points in my life, especially as a small child. I hope my daughters have more strength of character than I did and decide to show kindness, friendship, and charity to those around them regardless of how others may react. I'd highly recommend you check this book out. The book gives you a great opportunity to discuss kindness with your kids.

This book is incredible. I treasure "The Other Side", but, if push came to shove, I would prize this book even over that most excellent one. That shows you just how fantastic THIS book is, if you're at all familiar with Jacqueline Woodson's books. Teaches without preaching, not that there's anything wrong with preaching- it's just that this really hits on a child's level. The gist of this book's lesson is slanted toward the egocentrism of younger children, in the most beautiful way. Serves as a good reminder for adults, too! Highly, highly recommend this sensitive and beautifully-written book.

This is a Caldecott winner book. This is a beautiful book for older children to help them teach the lesson of friendship, compassion and caring for others. It doesn't have the 'happy ending' that many children books have. But instead a little girl realizes how terrible she feels after she wouldn't include another 'new' little girl when the new girl came to her classroom. Instead they made fun of her second hand clothes, and her simple games, and wouldn't be friends with her. When she didn't show up day after day the little girl's teacher tells them her family had to move again. Leaving the original little girl sad and lonely and empty as to how she treated her, knowing she should have been friends with her.

This book is a wonderful teaching tool. I teach third grade, and the kids recognize all the behaviors the children in the book, but especially Chloe, use regarding their new classmate Maya. There are gentle examples of how Maya reaches out and the kids ignore her attempts. It is thoughtful, realistic and a great way to open a discussion. Growth can come from this story.

This was one of the most touching children's books I ever read. I read it to my 8 year-old son who related to feeling different like Maya in the story. He liked the idea that people who keep their distance from him or bully may someday reconsider the way that they acted toward him. I felt it healed some of the pain I felt from bullying in my childhood because it just presented it in a beautiful way without giving a happy ending. Sometimes those don't happen and I felt better after the tears just flowed out.

This book is incredible. I treasure "The Other Side", but, if push came to shove, I would prize this book even over that most excellent one. That shows you just how fantastic THIS book is, if you're at all familiar with Jacqueline Woodson's books. Teaches without preaching, not that there's anything wrong with preaching- it's just that this really hits on a child's level. The gist of this book's lesson is slanted toward the egocentrism of younger children, in the most beautiful way. Serves as a good reminder for adults, too! Highly, highly recommend this sensitive and beautifully-written book.

This is a Caldecott winner book. This is a beautiful book for older children to help them teach the lesson of friendship, compassion and caring for others. It doesn't have the 'happy ending' that many children books have. But instead a little girl realizes how terrible she feels after she wouldn't include another 'new' little girl when the new girl came to her classroom. Instead they made fun of her second hand clothes, and her simple games, and wouldn't be friends with her. When she didn't show up day after day the little girl's teacher tells them her family had to move again. Leaving the original little girl sad and lonely and empty as to how she treated her, knowing she should have been friends with her.

This book is a wonderful teaching tool. I teach third grade, and the kids recognize all the behaviors the children in the book, but especially Chloe, use regarding their new classmate Maya. There are gentle examples of how Maya reaches out and the kids ignore her attempts. It is thoughtful, realistic and a great way to open a discussion. Growth can come from this story.

This was one of the most touching children's books I ever read. I read it to my 8 year-old son who related to feeling different like Maya in the story. He liked the idea that people who keep their distance from him or bully may someday reconsider the way that they acted toward him. I felt it healed some of the pain I felt from bullying in my childhood because it just presented it in a beautiful way without giving a happy ending. Sometimes those don't happen and I felt better after the tears just flowed out.

There is nothing not wonderful about this book. I was in tears remembering all the times in my own life when I could have chosen kindness. It introduces the concept to children that sometimes, it is too late to do the right thing.

This very original book contains a haunting truth: We don't always get a second chance to do the right thing. I recommend the book to every elementary school teacher out there, but I also think that it serves as a catalyst for some important conversations between parents and their kids. You'll be thinking about this book for a long time....

When a new girl, Maya, starts at school, Chloe does not smile or say hello; she does not invite Maya to play with her friends. When Maya leaves the school, Chloe's teacher talks her class about kindness. Like ripples from a stone in the water, Chloe learns that every kindness counts. With lovely watercolor illustrations, this picture book will teach children ages 4-7 about friendship and kindness, and the beauty of reaching out.

This book was wonderful because it is perfect material for a young audience to learn about bullying, rejection, kindness, class, ethnicity etc. Every grade school teacher/counselor should have this on their book shelves to allow children the chance to explore the emotions your actions can cause.

This book represents a powerful portrayal of both culture and social class differences. This book is a great one to have in the classroom, as it leaves students with a message that it is important to show kindness. A great representation of multicultural literature.