“Three things in human life are important: the first is to be kind; the second is to be kind; and the third is to be kind.” Thinking about efforts towards social justice, peace and what we can do to shift society, let's explore the idea of giving of ourselves, our time, talent, listening skills, to help someone else. The idea of a gift economy where we give without expecting something back helps connect us to each other and the world. Here are some books that explore the concept of kindness.  Because Amelia Smiled by David Ezra Stein When Mrs. Higgins sees Amelia's smile, she smiles too and sends her grandson, Lionel who lives in Mexico, some homemade cookies setting off a chain of events. Smiles, good feelings, kindness and love travel across the world. This quote inspired the book--"We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly." Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  "This beautiful and powerful illustrated edition brings my father's inspiring message of freedom, equality, and peace to the youngest among us--those who will one day carry his dream forward for everyone." Dr. Bernice A. King Two time Caldecott honor winner Kadir Nelson has created magnificent and moving paintings that have immediacy and the power to inspire awe.  Each kindness makes the world a little better Chloe and her friends won't play with the new girl, Maya. Maya is different--she wears hand-me-downs and plays with old-fashioned toys. Every time Maya tries to join Chloe and her gang, they reject her. Eventually, Maya plays alone, and then stops coming to school altogether. When Chloe's teacher gives a lesson about how even small acts of kindness can change the world, Chloe is stung by the lost opportunity for friendship, and thinks about how much better it could have been if she'd shown a little kindness toward Maya. Publisher's description Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson  In Ordinary Mary's Extraordinary Deed by Emily Pearson, Mary starts a chain reaction of good deeds in a way similar to Amelia and her smile. Each five people inspired to help others by her deed multiply until 6,103,515,625 people are touched.  Minna has a class assignment to do something kind and make a picture of it. After observing many acts of kindness she makes a quilt with all of them on it. When the class sees it, they want to take all their pictures and make them into a quilt. The Kindness Quilt by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace.  Have you Filled a Bucket Today? A Guide to Daily Happiness for Kids by Carol McCloud. An invisible bucket that everyone carries can be full or empty. Full buckets are happy making and empty ones make us sad. We need people to fill our bucket and others need us to fill theirs. Kindness, compassion, love and caring are fillers. Being mean, exclusive, and insensitive can empty the bucket of others as well as your own. Filling someone's bucket can fill your own too. Some of the third grade teachers have a bucket "system" in their rooms.
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