Picture books to develop empathy

Sharing picture books is a great way to grow social-emotional skills like empathy. Reading a story offers a great opportunity to put yourself in another's shoes and understand how they're feeling. Ask questions as you read - how do you think the characters feel? How would you feel? What would you do in the same situation? Here are some great newer titles that I love and that build empathy!

I LOVE CAKE! STARRING RABBIT, PORCUPINE AND MOOSE by Tammi Sauer and Angela Rozelaar

Rabbit and Porcupine are excited to share the cake at Rabbit's birthday party. But it's gone!? When moose shows up with cake crumbs on his sweater, he denies eating the cake. Will he come clean? Questions to ask while you read: How do you think Rabbit and Porcupine feel? Moose? What would you do if you were Moose?

HOORAY FOR HAT! by Brian Won

Elephant receives a surprise box in the mail. One by one, he shares the surprise with his friends, turning their bad moods into good.

THE RABBIT LISTENED by Cori Doerrfeld

When birds knock a child's blocks over, they are ANGRY. Lots of animals have suggestions for how the child should handle that anger - but what they really need is just someone to listen.

BE KIND by Pat Zietlow Miller and Jen Hill

A girl tries to think of ways to help her friend who has spilled grape juice on her dress.

I WALK WITH VANESSA by Kerascoet

A girl witnesses another child being bullied. She wants to figure out how to help.

LULI AND THE LANGUAGE OF TEA by Andrea Wang and Hyewon Yum

In an ESL class with others learning English, Luli finds a common language: tea.

YOU GO FIRST by Ariel Bernstein and Marc Rosenthal

Duck is excited to try the new slide but cat is anxious and tries to dissuade them.

LUBNA AND PEBBLE by Wendy Meddour and Daniel Egnéus

Lubna lives in a refugee camp and has no toys, so she draws a face on a pebble and makes it her friend. But when she and her father are set to leave the camp, she decides to give her pebble to a boy who needs it.

I AM HUMAN by Susan Verde and Peter Reynolds

A child shares all the things that make them human.