Each Kindness

Each Kindness a Jane Addams Award Book by Jacqueline Woodson, also was named a 2013 Coretta Scott King Honor Book. This is truly an exceptional book. As I read it goose bumps shivered my arms. E.B. Lewis captured the deep emotion of the story in dreamy water color. The illustrations juxtapose both beauty and heartache because they reveal the children's lack of kindness, their unwelcoming cold shoulder and judgmental rejection of the new girl. One might think this replays the classic story line of the challenge that every "new" kid faces. But it is exceeds that think-how-the-shunned-kid-feels meme as the children rebuff her repeated efforts to break into their circle. Instead, it asks the reader to imagine being the child who chose unkindness, who joined the taunting, who derided and jeered. After the teacher uses a pebble-dropped-in-water to demonstrate how one act ripples in an ever-widening circle, Chloe undergoes a change of heart. She wants to include the outcast girl. She anticipates making amends, only to discover, it is too late. The book ends with the words, Chloe "watched the water ripple as the sun set through the maples and the chance of a kindness with Maya became more and more forever gone." The final illustration shows Chloe in a lush, lovely pond side spot. The beauty contrasts with Chloe's uncomfortable realization that it is too late to make amends for her ugly treatment of Maya. The reader feels the weight of that understanding. There is no and-she became-Maya's-best-friend easy answer. The message is clear. Sometimes, do overs are not possible. Some mistakes and lost opportunities cannot be corrected. Our choices matter. Powerful. True. Important. This book merits every award it won. (Memories of the classic story The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes illustrated by Louis Slobodkin popped to mind, because it deals with a similar story line. Each Kindness makes its point with eloquent brevity and contemporary, visually appealing illustrations.) Adoption-attuned (AQ) Lens: Our kids certainly understand, in a very personal way that choices have permanent consequences. This book can easily open conversations about the decisions made by their birth parents. (Not in terms of a cruelty done to them but with an intent to help kids understand that adoption was in no way their fault but rather is a decision made by adults for very adult reasons.)

As an elementary school counselor I could not be more OVERJOYED to have discovered this amazing teaching tool. It tackles bullying, friendship, rejection, kindness, empathy, bystanders and so much more. This is going to be one of the most important books I read to students this year. It will definitely be one of my favorites. If you are an educator it is a MUST for your bookshelf. This is a powerful story PACKED FULL of life lessons. A new student Maya is treated horribly by her classmates. She tries making friends with the other students but is rejected and becomes a target because of her economic status. Students will feel sadness as you read this story - because they will be filled with an overwhelming empathy for Maya. In the end, we never know the full damage that may have been caused to Maya because she moves. We can surely guess though. However, it's Chloe who teaches us the lesson. She had shunned Maya but is filled with guilt, remorse, and emotional pain as she becomes aware of her own hurtful behavior. She is never able to make amends. I cannot wait for the discussion this will create. If we can teach our children to live their lives in complete kindness - hopefully they will not have to learn this lesson the hard way.

“Each Kindness” written by Jacqueline Woodson and illustrated by E. B. Lewis is a phenomenal realistic fiction picturebook that created a powerful message that will stay with any person after reading. This book is about a young girl, Maya, who is the new girl to a school. She is different than the other students and they all see her as being weird. The other students say mean things about her, won’t play with her, or even look at her. Maya stops coming to school and the children learn a lesson from their teacher that every act of kindness is like a ripple that continues to flow out. After learning this, Chloe can’t wait for Maya to come back to school to show her kindness. However, Maya never returns. This book is great in showing children a realistic way in which they can show kindness towards their peers. It is told from the perspective of an elementary school student that helps children that are around that age relate to the story. The author of this novel is African American and the main character, Chloe, appears to be African American, as well. This aspect helps this book relate to a wider range of ethnicities because it includes more than just white children.

My 8 year had to do a project on an author, and we chose one that looked like her. The author does such a great job storytelling while providing positive messages/reminders. My daughter and I will definitely be purchasing more from Jacqueline Woodson.

What a powerful book! This book is so gentle with its lessons about kindness and yet it is so profound. A student doesn't use kindness and misses the opportunity to make someone else feel included, valued, and seen. It's an important lesson for us all to reach out with kindness so you don't live with haunting regret. I used to read this to my 2nd graders, however, older students and adults could learn this beautiful lesson too. One of my favorite books!

I lost my original vote. I just bought another one to read to my classes in seventh grade. It is a wonderful book and I never tired of it. It’s such a great lesson in many different grade levels and subject areas.

This is a great tool to use during classroom guidance for Kindness week and unity day! Love this book.

This story makes me cry! My 5-year-old kid loves it, too, and asks to read it over and over again. The kids are mean to the new girl and they can't make it better once they realize the harm they've caused. There is no easy resolution at the end, it's more like real life. Stunning art, and Jaqueline Woodson's writing is what really shines.

Powerful, beautifully written ... leaves a tingle

It's absolutely a brilliant book for children to learn about kindness and empathy. I brought this book over a recommendations and love it. The illustration by E.B. Lewis are exceptional. A simple message of, sometimes a second chance is never there! which is depicted clearly, where on all other heroic movies/children's book there is always a happy ending with second chances and No mistakes. But to be aware of the opportunities and the choices we make matter and once lost there is no turning back to correct it, is a huge takeaway from this book. Which is very true and is much needed.

It is a very good book for children to learn kindness and empathy. I love this book. I read it in my class and all children connect well with the story and feel it. I recommend for every class

Powerful, realistic, non-standard, non-happy-ending. The little girl postpones and misses her chance to be kind to her new class mate, because the new girl leaves the school one day, unexpectedly. Real feelings, with no sugar coating. As life is, oftentimes.

I had read many good reviews so I decided to buy it. Made me cry a little. Highly recommended!