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A gorgeous and powerful book about how simple acts of kindness can change the world.
Pay It Forward. Random Acts of Kindness. The Golden Rule. Choose Kind.
As parents, teachers, grandparents, aunts and uncles, we hope to teach children compassion, kindness, and selflessness.
With a gentle, poignant text by Jen Arena, and colorful, detailed illustrations by Rahele Jomepour Bell, this unforgettable story shows the power of simple acts of kindness and the potential to change other people’s days for the better.
Pay It Forward. Random Acts of Kindness. The Golden Rule. Choose Kind.
As parents, teachers, grandparents, aunts and uncles, we hope to teach children compassion, kindness, and selflessness.
With a gentle, poignant text by Jen Arena, and colorful, detailed illustrations by Rahele Jomepour Bell, this unforgettable story shows the power of simple acts of kindness and the potential to change other people’s days for the better.
40 pages, Hardcover
Published August 22, 2023
52 people want to read
About the author
Jen Arena
23 books101 followersJen Arena is lucky to have been surrounded by great children’s books her whole life. As a teenager, she worked at a children’s-only indie bookstore in Pennsylvania, and after graduating from college, she made her way to New York City, where she found a job in children's book publishing. Since then, she’s written many books for kids. She recently left New York and now lives in Florida, surrounded by sunshine, palm trees, and really weird birds.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
September 3, 2023
The sentiment expressed in this picture book is one that all readers should take to heart--good deeds are rewarded and will come back to you in some way. (Perhaps cueing Taylor Swift's song "Karma" while reading it would hammer that message home. For many youngsters, it might seem as though small acts of kindness have little significance or effect on the world around them. But as this picture book, sumptuously illustrated with oil paint on paper, then using Photoshop to layer and modify the images, shows, little things mean a lot. The message relies on minimal text and everyday scenes to show how even something as small as replacing a girl's lost ribbon with one wrapped around a present can make all the difference in the world. Several double-page spreads show that this simple act of kindness is passed on as the ribbon's recipient in turn offers her scarf to a classmate who is chilly, and so on and so forth, in a sort of kindness chain. Readers may be surprised when they reach the last double-page spread and discover what was in that big wrapped box seen on the opening pages. While it isn't always the case that there is such a sweet tangible reward for being thoughtful or caring toward others, it's comforting to know that choosing to be kind has positive results.
June 8, 2024
I chose this book because it is not so wordy and the story is in the illustrations. The topics of this book are kindness and empathy. In this story some of the children experience small troubles, like something breaking or feeling lonely and are helped by others who give what they have to make things better. This book is appropriate for children ages 4 to 8 years old. In my classroom I would begin with asking students to share experiences when they gave something to someone or received something from someone else. After reading I would ask, what are some things the characters in the book shared and Why is it important to share with others? After students will draw a large tree in a piece of paper and write or draw things they can share with others on the leaves.
November 27, 2023
A sweet and simple book that has a powerful message - be kind. If you see that someone needs something, give it to them. At first I thought this might be a wordless book. It isn't but it almost could be. The illustrations convey the actions that happen with each page turn. It's all about paying attention to what is going on around you and lending a helping hand - or warm scarf - if it is needed.
I think kids will enjoy reading through the book once and then going through it again to notice the details in the illustrations, which are truly lovely.
I think kids will enjoy reading through the book once and then going through it again to notice the details in the illustrations, which are truly lovely.
August 17, 2023
With minimal text and gorgeous illustrations, Arena and Bell present a near wordless picture book that celebrates the joy of giving. The reader sees many examples of how to be kind and how giving often pays back. This is a great book for a classroom collection to discuss the importance of thinking about others and practical ideas on how to do that.
September 26, 2023
A cute book with sparse text about showing small kindnesses and paying it forward.
In a way, the illustrations are quite simple, but the illustrator did a wonderful job of conveying emotions through facial expressions and body postures.
I think this would work well in a preschool or lower-elementary storytime.
In a way, the illustrations are quite simple, but the illustrator did a wonderful job of conveying emotions through facial expressions and body postures.
I think this would work well in a preschool or lower-elementary storytime.
February 13, 2024
Here is a book that gives wonderful ideas of action. This story shows the power of simple acts of kindness and the potential to change the days of those around us for the better. Here are ways we can teach ourselves and our children compassion, kindness, and selflessness.
March 5, 2024
Age: Preschool+
Sometimes bad things happen, so give what you can. Simple acts of kindness and reassurance spread through a school and community. No new ground is tread with this subject but the oil illustrations are incredible and the subject of paying it forward is always worth revisiting.
Sometimes bad things happen, so give what you can. Simple acts of kindness and reassurance spread through a school and community. No new ground is tread with this subject but the oil illustrations are incredible and the subject of paying it forward is always worth revisiting.
July 1, 2024
Here is a book that gives wonderful ideas for action. This story shows the power of simple acts of kindness and the potential to change the days of those around us for the better. Here are ways we can teach ourselves, and our children, compassion, kindness, and selflessness.
October 12, 2024
A touching story about giving a little if you can. It will be especially well received as we enter the holiday season. The oil painting illustrations are gorgeous, but I suspect adult will appreciate them more than children.
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September 13, 2023Turn/Level: 2/2
Generosity
Set in fall, simple, very about giving. The illustrator is from Iran but lives in WA.
Generosity
Set in fall, simple, very about giving. The illustrator is from Iran but lives in WA.
October 4, 2023
I don't agree!!
November 1, 2023
Wonderful illustrations!
I love that this is kind of a 'pass it on' story, as well a partly wordless,
and a circle story.
I love that this is kind of a 'pass it on' story, as well a partly wordless,
and a circle story.
November 30, 2023
Readers see what happens when other share what they have so everyone has what they need. Told with few words and fully detailed illustrations.
December 18, 2023
Sweet, simple story about generosity and the impact it can have on others.
December 29, 2023
This stunning picture book with minimal words and engaging illustrations is a masterpiece!
For those elementary schools teaching students to give kindness, here is first purchase!
For those elementary schools teaching students to give kindness, here is first purchase!
January 14, 2024
1/7/2024 ~ Reading the illustrations along with the text is imperative. Read and discuss - one never knows how a bit of kindness will spread.
January 18, 2024
Cute papercut art, very few words, sweet message.
April 7, 2024
Arena Attack #8
Bascially a manifesto on being kind and generous - give, which is a great message.
Bascially a manifesto on being kind and generous - give, which is a great message.
April 20, 2024
Good lesson but nearly wordless.
May 7, 2024
A great introduction to all the ways we can give. Discuss the example of compassion found in the pictures.
May 25, 2024
Children's lives are changed as one child passes on kindness to another in the span of one day. Preschool and up
July 30, 2024
Because the book is almost wordless, readers/listeners must pay close attention to the illustrations, the same way, in real life, we must pay attention to those around us in order to GIVE.
October 15, 2024
A tale of few words but filled with emotion and caring. It all starts with giving what you can, and paying it forward when the opportunity presents itself.
November 12, 2024
I really love the "pay it forward" message of this book, and the bonus is my kids really like it too!
November 28, 2024
Beautiful message ❤️
March 27, 2025
Giving is more than gifting a present to someone. It's giving and sharing time, supplies, comfort.
The books wraps up with "The good you give comes back to you."
Reviewed from a library copy.
The books wraps up with "The good you give comes back to you."
Reviewed from a library copy.
April 5, 2025
I like this book. According to some impressive sentences, what you give will come back to you.
February 3, 2024
This is a wonderful circular story that shows how sharing can come back to you. It starts with a boy taking the ribbon off a wrapped gift he is carrying and giving it to a girl who lost her hair ribbon in the wind; the girl gives her scarf to another girl who is cold, and on it goes until kindness comes back to the first person. Great illustrations.
September 2, 2023
A story of kindness that pays itself forward.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews