February Children’s Books About Kindness, Love & Empathy 💖
February often brings thoughts of love and kindness but for homeschool families, it’s also a beautiful time to slow down, cuddle up with good books, and explore empathy, friendship, and emotional awareness together during the shortest month of the year.
Reading stories centered around kindness and compassion helps children build emotional intelligence, understand others’ perspectives, and practice gentle problem-solving in everyday life. These books pair perfectly with cozy winter mornings, unit studies on emotions, or simple kindness activities throughout the month.
Below is a curated list of children’s books that focus on kindness, love, empathy, friendship, and emotional growth, ideal for homeschool families with young learners.
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đź“– Kindness & Compassion Books
1. Be Kind by Pat Zietlow Miller
A beautiful, relatable story that shows how small acts of kindness—sharing, helping, listening—can make a big difference. Perfect for everyday discussions about being kind even when it’s hard.
2. Have You Filled a Bucket Today? by Carol McCloud
A classic in emotional education. This book introduces the concept of emotional “buckets” and teaches children how their actions affect others.
3. Kindness Is My Superpower by Alicia Ortego
A simple, affirming book that helps children see kindness as a strength they already have inside them.
❤️ Love & Connection
4. Love Monster by Rachel Bright
A sweet and quirky story about belonging, love, and finding where you fit in. Great for children who sometimes feel different or left out.
5. Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney
A timeless favorite that beautifully expresses unconditional love between caregiver and child—perfect for younger homeschoolers.
🤍 Empathy & Emotional Awareness
6. The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld
An incredible book for teaching empathy and emotional regulation. It gently shows children that sometimes the best way to help is simply to listen.
7. The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig
This story helps children understand what it feels like to be excluded and encourages inclusion and compassion in social settings.
🌎 Kindness in the World Around Us
8. Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña
A heartwarming story that helps children see beauty, gratitude, and kindness in everyday moments and diverse communities.
9. Enemy Pie by Derek Munson
A fun, clever way to teach children about empathy, conflict resolution, and how misunderstandings can turn into friendships.
✨ How to Use These Books in Your Homeschool
You don’t need worksheets or pressure to make these books meaningful. Here are a few gentle ideas:
Read aloud during morning time or before bed
Ask open-ended questions like “How do you think they felt?”
Create a kindness jar inspired by the stories
Let children act out scenes through play or drawing
Pair with journaling or art for older kids
February doesn’t have to be about crafts and curriculum overload. Sometimes, the most powerful lessons come from a simple story, shared together.