February 17th is Random Acts of Kindness Day, and kindness does rock!! With that in mind, I bring you books that talk about those magic rocks of kindness, and also a long forgotten post (from November 2012) that includes books about magical rocks as well as ones where we see how kindness impacts people and trees too!
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Magic Rocks of Kindness
So Many Ways Kindness Rocks!
Kindness Rocks by Sonica Ellis with illustrations from the Fx And Color Studio is an absolute delight! The message it carries is both heartwarming and inspiring—kindness truly has a way of spreading, just like ripples in a pond. I love how Clara’s simple yet thoughtful act of painting kindness rocks brings joy to a weary turtle! And then forward to so many others. This is sure to leave you with a big smile and a warm heart!
Megan Murphy’s books Kindness Rocks and A Pebble for Your Thoughts both come from the founder of The Kindness Rocks project, and are sweet ways to pass on the message of kindness.
Creating Kindness is endearing in every way – its characters (a huggable hedgehog and a not-so-ordinary owl), their heartwarming mission, Rebecca Greene’s sweet narrative, and the cute artwork from Rebecca Sinclair!!!
Then there is another Kindness Rocks, this one written by Sheryl Webster with art by Robert García. First off, how cool is that cover?!! It is a beautiful read that not only teaches the power of kindness but also a gentle way to introduce children to the idea of homelessness. And inspired by a true rock star too.
Then, of course, there is Diane Alber’s Scribble Stones (I have written about it earlier here).
Last but note the least is Stephani Curran’s Rock On, Kindness! Pass It On! with illustrations by Samantha Williams. This one is not just about making kindness rocks, but the magic of finding them too! I know I have been on both sides of the magic and they are equally amazingly magical!!
The Knight, the Princess, and the Magic Rock
The Knight, the Princess, and the Magic Rock adapter by Sara Azizi with art from Alireza Sadeghian ( Children’s Multicultural Tales & Myths | 4- 8 yrs, & up)
Description: This book beautifully brings to life the enchanting story of Bijan, a brave young knight from the ancient land of Persia, and his star-crossed lover, Manijeh, princess of an enemy kingdom. Originally written over a thousand years ago, the story has been rendered into films, operas, and plays.
My Thoughts
This story adapts a tale from the ancient ‘Shahnameh’ written by Firdousi. While the storytelling doesn’t quite match the beauty of the tale itself and feels a bit subdued for re-reads, the bright illustrations bring the book to life. The choice to have the grandfather narrate the story wasn’t entirely necessary. However, it does hint at the wealth of wonderful folk tales grandparents and little ones can share with each other. The book also includes an interpretation of the story—an insightful addition for adults, though it may feel a bit complex for younger readers.
It’s wonderful that this book introduces children to something as rich as the Shahnameh—a remarkable effort that could have been even more engaging
The Magic of Moth Trees and More
Margaret and the Moth Tree
Margaret and the Moth Tree by Kari Trogen and Brit Trogen (Author)
Description: Lemony Snicket meets Charlotte’s Web in this spellbinding story about a quiet, brown-haired orphan named Margaret trapped in a dreadful orphanage run by the sinister, beautiful Miss Switch.
This book is one of the best I have read in the recent past. Brilliantly written with well-described characters, this book is humorous, wonderfully touching, magical, with a touch of whimsy and a dark edge to it.
Margaret is a little girl full of pluck, with wisdom beyond her age. Yet she remains a little girl who can appreciate the wonders of even the simple moth. How her life’s circumstances shape her character and her special “listening” power help impart kids valuable life lessons. Margaret’s story of triumph with the help of her little friends touches hearts while teaching us about friendship. Plus, each and every page in this book teaches and delights.
The book is short but packs a lot in it! And is a definite must-read not just for girls or for kids but for everyone.
Here is a link to an interesting article I read about listening.
Reread factor: 5/5
Reading level: Ages 7 and up
Rating: A+
The More
‘Birds of a Feather‘ and ‘Life is a Bowl of Cherries‘. Both offer a quick and simple introduction to idioms for kids.
‘Birds of a Feather’ has animal/bird-related idioms, like ‘wild goose chase’ and ‘raining like cats and dogs.’ Conversely, ‘Life is a Bowl of Cherries’ has foodie-idioms like ‘couch potato’ and ‘cold turkey’. The colorful, bright and goofy illustrations add to the appeal of these books. And both have useful, must-check-out notes at the end.
Disclaimer:Thank you to NetGalley for sending me a digital review copy of these books reviewed today: Birds of a Feather/Life is a Bowl of Cherries/The Knight, the Princess, and the Magic Rock.The rest are my personal copies.
Related Reads and More
- 13 Wonderful Books About Kindness: Picture Books and More
- Five Wonderful Kindness Poems For You
- K is for Kindness
- Words Rock and Shine Through the Book of Time
And Now, the End of This Post
Dear reader, do let me know which book appealed to you the most? Also, share any other kindness books with me so I can add them to my reading list!! Have you made and hid these magic rocks of kindness? Or found a few magic rocks yourself that made your day? Do let me know
I am all about kindness, especially these days where they doesn’t seem to be a lot of it going around. I need to check out these books.
I so like the idea of kindness rocks. It has inspired me to paint some rocks.
These books sound amazing! I wish I would have known about this on random acts of kindness day. We still do a lot of acts of kindness throughout the year though.
This was such an interesting read! The mix of nature, books, and creativity makes it so engaging 👌🏻.
We used to make lots of kindness rocks with our girl scout troop. It is good to think of random acts of kindness and just making the world a better place.
Aww, “Margaret and the Moth Tree” sounds especially enchanting. Adding it to my reading list now! Thanks for sharing these heartwarming reads and the reminder to spread kindness.