These stories help children connect with other people, animals, and nature. Children are encouraged to think about how they might feel if they were in a similar situation to the protagonist or antagonist within the story and to think about how this could be carried over into their own lives.

Our top 3 books for empathy are:

1. My Teacher is a Monster – by Peter Brown

2. The First Slodge – by Jeanne Willis & Jenni Desmond

3. The Giving Tree – by Shel Silverstein

4. Albert’s Tree – by Jenni Desmond
5. Cyril & Pat – by Emily Gravett
6. Desmond & the  Mean Word – by Desmond Tutu & Douglas Carlton  Abrams
7. Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! – by Mo Willems
8. Extra Yarn – by Mac Barnett
9. Fish is Fish – by Leo Lionni
10. Frederick – by Leo Lionni (Mfufu in Zulu)
11. Gast! – by Carol Swain
12. Grrrrr – by Rob Biddulph
13. I Am An Artist – by Marta Altes
14. I Want My Hat Back – by Jon Klassen
15. I’ll Wait, Mr. Panda – by Steve Antony
16. Iron Man (Origin Story)
17. Last Stop on Market Street – by Matt de la Pena
18. Matilda’s Cat – by Emily Gravett
19. Mr. Big – by Ed Vere
20. My First Skateboard – by Karl Watson
21. My New Home – by Marta Altes
22. No! – by Marta Altes
23. Odd Dog Out – by Rob Biddulph
24. Oh No, George! – by Chris Haughton
25. One Gorilla – by Anthony Browne
26. Please Mr. Panda – by Steve Antony
27. Rain – by Linda Ashman
28. Room on the Broom – by Julia Donaldson
29. Shh! We Have a Plan – by Chris Haughton
30. Spiderman (Origin Story)
31. Square – by Mac Barnett
32. Stellaluna – by Janell Cannon
33. Swimmy – by Leo Lionni
34. The Colour Monster – by Anna Llenas
35. The Crayons Book of Colours – by Drew Daywalt
36. The Fate of Fausto – by Oliver Jeffers
37. The Great Paper Caper – by Donald Crews
38. The Lorax – by Dr. Seuss
39. The Mysterious Tadpole – by Steven Kellogg
40. The Skunk – by Mac Barnett
41. The Sneetches – by Dr. Seuss
42. The Story of Ferdinand – by Munro Leaf
43. The Straw Giant and the Crow – by Jess Bosworth Smith
44. The Way Back Home – by Oliver Jeffers
45. The Wolf, the Duck, and the Mouse – by Mac Barnett
46. The Zax – by Dr. Seuss
47. This Is Not My Hat – by Jon Klassen
48. Tidy – by Emily Gravett
49. Triangle – by Mac Barnett & Jon Klassen
50. Verdi – by Janell Cannon
51. Where the Wild things are – by Maurice Sendak