First Book: Books to Learn about Empathy
Thank you to First Book for generously sharing its book recommendations with the Big Heart World community. Eligible teachers can follow the links to find discounted versions of the books on the First Book Marketplace. Parents and other caregivers can find the book at First Book’s Bookshop.org shop.
The Rabbit Listened
In the wake of a terrible loss, Taylor doesn't know where to turn. All the animals are sure they have the answer—but it isn't until the rabbit arrives and simply listens that Taylor begins to feel better. A deeply moving exploration of grief and empathy.
Age Groups: Babies, Little Kids, Toddlers
Skills: Empathy, Feelings
Discussion Questions
- What happens in the story?
- Have you ever had something bad/scary happen to you?
- Who listens to you when you're feeling bad?
More
Eligible Teachers: Find it on the First Book Marketplace.
Parents/Caregivers: Find it at First Book's Bookshop.org shop.
We Don't Eat Our Classmates
It's the first day of school for Penelope Rex and she can't wait to meet her classmates. But it's hard to make human friends when they're so darn delicious! That is, until Penelope gets a taste of her own medicine and finds she may not be at the top of the food chain after all.
Age Groups: Big Kids, Little Kids
Skills: Empathy
Discussion Questions
- Describe Penelope.
- What happens to Penelope to make her realize how she's making her classmates feel?
- Have you ever had an experience that changed how you were thinking about other people?
More
Eligible Teachers: Find it on the First Book Marketplace.
Parents/Caregivers: Find it at First Book's Bookshop.org shop.
Sam Is My Sister
Evan loves being big brother to Sam and Finn. They do everything together—go fishing, climb trees, and play astronauts. But lately, Evan notices that he and Sam don't look like brothers anymore. Sam wants to have long hair, and even asks to wear a dress on the first day of school. As time goes by, Evan comes to understand why Sam wants to look like a girl—because Sam is a girl. Sam is transgender. And just like always, Sam loves to dream with Evan and Finn about going to the moon together.
Age Groups: Big Kids, Little Kids
Skills: Empathy
Discussion Questions
- What does Evan feel about his siblings?
- What does Evan realize about Sam?
- Imagine how YOU would feel if you were Evan. Do you have any ideas or questions?
More
Eligible Teachers: Find it on the First Book Marketplace.
Parents/Caregivers: Find it at First Book's Bookshop.org shop.
I'm New Here
Through self-determination and with encouragement from their peers and teachers, three students (immigrants from Guatemala, Korea, and Somalia) learn to feel confident and comfortable in their new school without losing a sense of their home country, language, and identity.
Age Groups: Babies, Little Kids
Skills: Empathy, Similarities and Differences
Discussion Questions
- How do the characters feel in the start of the story? At the end?
- Have you ever felt different from or excluded from others?
- Can you think of friends/peers who might feel this way sometimes?
- What can we do to help people who are feeling left out, sad, or scared?
More
Eligible Teachers: Find it on the First Book Marketplace.
Parents/Caregivers: Find it at First Book's Bookshop.org shop.
Milo Imagines the World
Milo is on a long subway ride with his older sister. To pass the time, he studies the faces around him and makes pictures of their lives. There's the whiskered man with the crossword puzzle; Milo imagines him playing solitaire in a cluttered apartment full of pets. There's the wedding-dressed woman with a little dog peeking out of her handbag; Milo imagines her in a grand cathedral ceremony. And then there's the boy in the suit with the bright white sneakers; Milo imagines him arriving home to a castle with a drawbridge and a butler. But when the boy in the suit gets off on the same stop as Milo—walking the same path, going to the exact same place—Milo realizes that you can't really know anyone just by looking at them.
Age Groups: Big Kids, Little Kids
Skills: Empathy
Discussion Questions
- Do you ever observe people on the train or bus?
- What do you think about them?
- What does Milo realize about the boy in the suit and bright white sneakers? How does this affect his thinking?
- Have you ever realized it's hard to KNOW about someone else (or their feelings) from just looking at them?
More
Eligible Teachers: Find it on the First Book Marketplace.
Parents/Caregivers: Find it at First Book's Bookshop.org shop.
Since 1992, First Book has distributed more than 200 million books and educational resources to programs and schools serving children from low-income communities in all 50 states and provinces in Canada. First Book currently reaches an average of 5 million children every year and supports more than a third of the estimated 1.3 million classrooms and programs serving children in need. First Book members work in classrooms, after school, and summer or early childhood programs, shelters and health clinics, libraries, community programs, military support programs, and other settings serving a majority of children in need.