Susie’s Book Nook - November ‘24 Children’s Book Review: “Each Kindness”
One of my themes for this Book Nook has been social justice. In today’s climate I feel strongly about focusing on “kindness” as a means to better social justice in our homes, schools, neighborhoods and ultimately in our world as a whole. Last month’s blog was a book geared toward our very youngest. This month I want to bring your attention to another excellent book for your elementary aged child (third to 5th grade) that can open conversations around what it might feel like to be new to a school and “left out.”
Why do some of us shy away from being inclusive and welcoming to a someone new? In this story “Each Kindness” by Jacqueline Woodson, Chloe doesn’t really know why she turns away from a new student in her class. Every time Maya tries to befriend Chloe and the other girls they turn away. The author illustrates many examples that are common ways students ignore or ostracize others about whom they know very little or make assumptions about as in this story.
Having been a new student in the elementary years and a teacher of elementary aged children, I have witnessed this story personally on both fronts. Chloe and her best friends make decisions about Maya by the clothes she wears, or the food she has in her lunchbox, and ignore all her gestures to reach out to share her things and be their friend. All these examples are great conversation starters for families to learn what is happening in their own children’s classroom or as they participate in activities.
One day, Maya doesn’t return to school. It is after that fact that the teacher introduces a great picture of how one small act of kindness can radiate out into the world. I loved the image Jacqueline Woodson creates dropping a small stone into a bowl of water and watching how tiny waves rippled out away from the stone. Imagine, “each little thing we do goes out, like a ripple, into the world.” This should give us all something to consider. This is what kindness does….one small act can make a difference which can make a difference, which can make another difference. The difference one small act can make may never be known to us, but a difference it can make.
The narrative in the story of Chloe reflecting on her actions and non-actions with Maya while tossing small stones into a pond is poignant. The author leaves every reader, no matter their age, considering not only Chloe’s actions but their own to be inclusive, welcoming, and kinder. I see kindness as a way to bridge our differences and learn from one other and a way to build a kinder world for all of us to live and share. Yes, and it all can begin with just one small act of kindness by many people.