Kindness and community book recommendations for children (chapter books &graphic novels)

If you're working on our February SweetBean challenge and looking for related reading recommendations, look no further! Here are some books that center kindness and community for children.

Looking for recommendation lists for other age groups?

See the list for adults here.

See the list for teens here.

See the list for picture books here.

Updated February 1, 2024
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Book Uncle and Me
Krishnaswami, Uma.
Paper Book
Winner of the International Literacy Association Social Justice Literature Award An award-winning middle-grade novel about the power of grassroots activism and how kids can make a difference. Every day, nine-year-old Yasmin borrows a book from Book Uncle, a retired teacher who...
Dictionary for a better world : poems, quotes, and anecdotes from A to Z
Latham, Irene
Paper Book
How can we make the world a better place? This inspiring resource for middle-grade readers is organized as a dictionary; each entry presents a word related to creating a better world, such as ally, empathy, or respect. For each word, there is a poem, a quote from an inspiring person, a...
Rica Baptista : llamas, iguanas, and my very best friend
Bates, Janet Costa
Paper Book
Rica's very best friend is moving away. How can she convince her parents to let her get a pet so she won't be lonely? Friendship and family shine in this engaging young chapter book. Rica Baptista wants--no, needs--a pet. A llama, a kinkajou, or maybe an iguana? She even...
Ways to grow love
Watson, Renée
Paper Book
Grow and glow with Ryan Hart! Newbery Honor and Coretta Scott King Author Award winner Renée Watson continues her charming young middle grade series starring Ryan Hart, a girl who is pure spirit and sunshine. Ryan Hart loves her family and friends. She's looking forward to...
Wishtree
Applegate, Katherine
Audiobook
Trees can't tell jokes, but they can certainly tell stories. . . . Red is an oak tree who is many rings old. Red is the neighborhood "wishtree"―people write their wishes on pieces of cloth and tie them to Red's branches. Along with her crow friend Bongo and other...
Wonder
Palacio, R. J.
Paper Book
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * Millions of people have fallen in love with Auggie Pullman, an ordinary boy with an extraordinary face--who shows us that kindness brings us together no matter how far apart we are. Read the book that inspired the Choose Kind...
Your pal Fred
Rex, Michael
Paper Book
* Best Graphic Novel for Kids selection by the American Library Association* *Texas Little Maverick Reading List selection* *101 Great Books for Kids selection by the Evanston Public Library* From Michael Rex, the bestselling author/illustrator of Fangbone! and...

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