Empathy Walk - story suggestions

Reading stories can help children understand more about the

situations they encounter on empathy walks. We’ve selected some of
our #ReadForEmpathy stories as starting points. Your local library or
independent bookshop will have other suggestions. Picture books are
denoted by a yellow star, primary titles, a white star and secondary
titles, an orange star. Remember, picture books appeal to many age
groups.

Valuing our communities

Polonius the Pit Pony - Richard O’Neill *

The Boy in the Jam Jar - Joyce Dunbar *
The Space We’re In - Katya Balen *
Kick the Moon - Muhammad Khan *
Rosie Loves Jack - Mel Darbon *

Refugees

The Suitcase - Chris Naylor-Ballesteros *

Lubna and Pebble - Wendy Meddour *
No Ballet Shoes in Syria – Catherine Bruton *
When Stars Are Scattered - Victoria Jamieson & Omar Mohamed *
Boy, Everywhere - A.M.Dassu *

Homelessness and Poverty

It’s a No-Money Day - Kate Milner *

The Last Chip - Duncan Beedie *
The Invisible – Tom Percival *
Running on Empty - S. E. Durrant *
No Fixed Address - Susin Nielsen *
 Social action - how can I help my community?

Clean Up! - Nathan Bryon & Dapo Adeola *

How to Change the World - Rashmi Sirdeshpande & Annabel Tempest *
A Kind of Spark - Elle McNicoll *
Owen and the soldier – Lisa Thompson *
Tender Earth - Sita Brahmachari also suitable for secondary children *
Bereavement

Ride the Wind - Nicola Davies & Salvatore Rubbino *

Mum’s Jumper - Jayde Perkin *
The Pond - Nicola Davies *
The Star Outside My Window - Onjali Q. Rauf *
And the Stars Were Burning Brightly - Danielle Jawando*
Older People

The Truth About Old People - Elinor Ellis *

Julian is a Mermaid - Jessica Love *
Talking to the Moon - S.E. Durrant *
Toffee - Sarah Crossan *
The Last Paper Crane - Kerry Drewery & Natsko Seki *

Understanding emotions

Umbrella - Elena Arevalo Melville *

Felix After the Rain - Dunja Jogan & Olivia Helllewell *
Me and My Fear - Francesca Sanna *
Jelly - Jo Cotterill - also suitable for secondary children *
Clap When You Land - Elizabeth Acevedo *

Racism/Injustice/Prejudice

The New Neighbours - Sarah McIntyre *

Windrush Child - Benjamin Zephaniah *
Planet Omar: Accidental Trouble Magnet - Zanib Mian *
The Undefeated - Kwame Alexander & Kadir Nelson - (picture
book for older readers) **
Noughts and Crosses - Malorie Blackman *
The Environment

Clean Up! - Nathan Bryon & Dapo Adeola *

Belonging Street- Mandy Cole (poetry)*
Sky Dancer - Gill Lewis *
The White Fox - Jackie Morris *
Tin Boy - Steve Cole *

Friends and Family

Julian is a Mermaid - Jessica Love *

Too Small Tola – Atinuke *
The Time of Green Magic – Hilary McKay *
The Super Miraculous Journey of Freddie Yates – Jenny Pearson *
The Black Flamingo - Dean Atta *

There are lots more empathy-boosting books in our #ReadFor

Empathy book collections. Each collection has a free guide, with
more details about each title.

Find out more here: https://www.empathylab.uk/RFE:

Read stories. Build empathy. Make a better world.