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    Each Kindness
    Each Kindness
    Each Kindness
    Audiobook8 minutes

    Each Kindness

    Written by Jacqueline Woodson

    Narrated by Nikki M. James

    4.5/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    Chloe and her friends shun the new girl, Maya, who eventually stops coming to school. When Chloe's teacher gives a lesson about how even small acts of kindness can change the world, Chloe realizes how much better it could have been if she'd shown a little kindness toward Maya. With its powerful anti-bullying message and striking art, this book will resonate with readers long after they've put it down.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherWeston Woods
    Release dateMar 1, 2014
    ISBN9780545786348
    Each Kindness

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    Reviews for Each Kindness

    4.5/5

    451 ratings86 reviews

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    • 5/5
      Y'all ... I cried on break today. Each Kindness is a beautifully sad story about a child's regret at a missed opportunity. It particularly moved my heart due to experiences in my own past. As hard as it might be to read your child a sad story, think how much sadder it would be for them to feel this sort of regret. This is a brilliantly written story with which to teach a child both kindness and that sometimes there are no second chances.
    • 5/5
      With bullying being hot on American's minds, this book is a a timely episode. The young girl narrates her memories of their treatment of a new girl who shows up and just wants to fit in and make friends. The candid child's voice indicates their reasons for disliking her: second hand clothes, body odor. Nothing is sugar coated. There is no happy ending, the child learns a lesson about kindness.
    • 5/5
      Amazing! it resonates with adults too. Never too early to teach about the possibilities of kindness shown and the dangers of not showing kindness. My daughter talked about this book when I asked her what the book of the moment was. And I’m glad I engaged her in dialogue
    • 5/5
      I read this book on a day when I was feeling pretty pessimistic about the world in general, feeling conflicted about a responsibility to stay up on what is happening around me versus a need to find hope. This book helped me breathe a little, reminded me that I shouldn't discount my immediate circle of influence even if I feel like external forces are hurting so many. A contender for one I'd like to read to my high school students.
    • 4/5
      When Maya moves to school, she is teased and ignored by her peers due to her living in poverty. Chloe, our narrator, is also guilty of this behavior. The bullying continues until Maya moves school. After being taught about kindness in class, Chloe begins to feel guilty and wants the opportunity to be kind to Maya, but it is too late. I think Woodson's choice to make the bully the narrator was an important decision, because it teaches children that unkind people can learn from their mistakes.
    • 4/5
      This story is about a young girl who is not nice to the new girl at school named Maya when she came to sit by her. The young girl did not talk to Maya because she was "different" than her, as in, she wore second-hand clothing. One day Maya did not come to school and the teacher gave a lesson on kindness which really struct home with the young girl. It made her realize what she did was wrong, however, the young girl never got to apologize because Maya and her family moved away. The young girl never got a chance to apologize to her and now regrets her actions. This book teaches a students a very valuable lesson, that your words have impact on others around you and sometimes you do not get the chance to get them back. It allows readers to really reflect on their actions and think about how it can effect others.
    • 5/5
      The pieces that Jacqueline Woodson and E.B. Lewis create collaboratively, are magical. This book has such beautiful, realistic illustrations and designs to accompany the events taking place throughout the story. Lewis' illustrations, one of my favorite things about this book, show how much effort was put into creating them, and they work beautifully to paint the picture and really allow the reader to visualize everything that Woodson writes. I love this book for a few other reasons— one being that it is extremely relatable. I am confident that students who read this will be able to feel a connection to Maya, or Chloe and her friends. I also love the multiple messages that comes through with the story. Woodson and Lewis have worked together to show first show children that we should be grateful for the things that we have and not take them for granted. Maya, the new student at school, wears a lot of old, "raggedy" clothes, plays with old toys, and has things that may have been passed down to her or have been used. Chloe and her friends, use this information against Maya, rejecting her anytime Maya wants to play with them. The book teaches students not to judge one another or be mean to people that just want to find a friend. We never know how much our mean words or actions can affect another person, and Chloe eventually sees that for herself. In life, we often take people or things for granted while we have them and when they're gone, we tend to then realize that we once had a really good thing, and that message is so perfectly executed through Woodson and Lewis' work. At the end of the book, Chloe realizes that she, in fact, really wanted to be Maya's friend and to play with her and to get to know her. However, she is never able to say these words to Maya because she never returned to school. The book ends so abruptly in that way, showing us that Chloe was essentially too late and it just feels so real. Another thing I love about this book is how versatile it is in its ability to share its messages and lessons with a range of students. Any child, even a child in Kindergarten, can understand not to judge others based on what we see, but to consider them as an individual who we should take the time to get to know. That message can be so simple, and it can also be more elaborate and complex, for older children to analyze. Children of all ages and in all grades (even adults) can learn something valuable from this book and I love that. I would recommend this book to anyone that I meet— it is worth the read.
    • 5/5
      A sad, but great book to help kids see the impact of their actions. I think this is a book that many people will be able to relate to and will make people want to be kinder.
    • 4/5
      Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson is an beautifully illustrated and written picture book about showing kindness to people. In the book a poor girl starts school and no one in the class want to be her friend. She reach out to the other students in the class but everyone rejects her and she move away. One day the teacher shows an example of what kindness is through water and rocks and the ripol effects its has on people and the main character regrets that showing the girl kindness. An theme that can be found in Each Kindness is Kindness.
    • 5/5
      Doesn't have a happy ending that wraps up the story. Encourages students to analyze why students were rude or what could have changed etc.
    • 4/5
      I enjoyed reading Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson. One reason I liked this book was because it was relatable. Most everyone has been mean to someone before and then regretted it later on. I was unkind to someone before and wished I could have taken that back but I couldn’t and I felt just like Chloe. In this story you really got to see how mean Chloe was to the new girl, Maya, for no reason. The girls wouldn’t let Maya play with them, then regretted it when she was gone. It shows how important it is to be kind to others. I also really liked in the book how it never told you if Maya was homeless or what she was dealing with. The text and illustrations pointed out her dirty or hand-down clothes but besides that Maya’s background was a mystery and I thought that played really well into the story. I also liked the ending because Maya was gone and Chloe never got to apologize, I thought that was very powerful because it showed that it really was too late and she should have been kind in the first place. I also liked how the illustrations of the girls were from different ethnic backgrounds, it shows that anyone can be struggling socioeconomically, not just a certain race. The message of the story is pretty simple, be kind to all people. Kindness makes the world a better place. I think this book is good because everyone needs to be reminded of that message, not just children.
    • 5/5
      This book took a darker turn for me than most of my classmates. I assumed that the bullying led to suicide and not just "moving away", and I do feel as though this is something that kids should be exposed to, even at an early age. It does happen and it happens far too often, even in young children. And one of the main reasons for it is bullying. The book really shows shows children how their actions do affect others and how important it is to just be at least civil, but friendly is best.
    • 5/5
      When a new girl, Maya, comes to school, Chloe and her friends take one look at her ragged clothes and distance themselves from her. When Maya smiles, Chloe doesn't smile back. When Maya reaches out to the girls and suggests games, they turn away. The teacher notes their lack of kindness and has the students drop a stone in water to watch the ripples that flow out - just as a kind act would yield ripples. Devastated by how she's acted, Chloe can think of nothing kind that she has done.. The ending of the story, not a happy one, is unusual in a children's book, and it's perfect, painting the realistic picture of the way the world sometimes really is. We don't always do the right thing, and we're left with regrets when we don't.
    • 4/5
      This was yet another title for my children's lit class. Unfortunately, I am not familiar with the author's work before reading this book but I've heard good things about the author.Upon opening the book, I was really surprised and impressed by the realistic tone and illustrations that accompanied this book. I loved *especially* that the children were well represented of all skin colors.Chloe has been almost mean to the new girl at school, Maya. Chloe and her friends have been noticing the differences in clothes, hair, food, and toys when it comes to Maya. However, eventually Maya leaves. On that same day, the class learns about kindness; it is compared to a stone being dropped in water, with ripples extending far past where the stone landed. Chloe believes that she missed her chance of being kind to Maya, and hopes that she comes back. But she never does, and Chloe's opportunity is lost. Woodson does a great job explaining, in a very delicate way, that once something happens, you might not be able to change it. Her details of the differences in Maya sound like something that is relatable to children currently but might be difficult to explain (e.g. lower socioeconomic status, different culture/religion, etc.). The essence of the book is clear - take advantage of being kind to other people when the opportunity arises.(On a side note, after reading others' comments, I feel that this book is especially important because EVERYONE remembers the pains of grammar/middle/high school. I had my own fair share, and I'm sure everyone remembers the bad more so than the good. Wouldn't it be great to change that?)Themes: kindness, acceptance, recognizing differences in others, cause & effect
    • 3/5
      (From the discussion in the Children's Books group.)

      I agree that it this is reminiscent of The Hundred Dresses, and I agree that I wanted more. I have enough experience in the classroom to believe that the teacher probably did suspect that Maya was being shunned, and had probably done other things to try to help. My idea is, like Jenny's, that this lesson of ripples in water is the one that finally made sense to Chloe.

      I don't know if, had the author been more explicit, the book would have retained its power. But if I were in a 1st or 2nd grade classroom now, I would def. use this book during the first week or two. Maybe the students could discuss what happens next, whether Chloe finds a way to apply what she's learned and whether Kendra and Sophie have learned anything.

      I'm glad we chose this book. It's def. a good one for us to discuss before we decide if, or how, to share it with children. It may not be a most enjoyable book, but it is certainly an important one.

      And I'm glad the main character is non-white, but nothing is made of that. The school is diverse, but that's taken for granted. Perfect.
    • 5/5
      Genre: contemporary realistic fictionHow I would use this book:-I would read the book aloud to my class to teach them about the importance of kindness-I would use this book to teach students about contemporary realistic fictionSummary; This book is narrated by a girl named Chloe and she tells the story of the time a girl named Maya joined their class. Maya wanted to be Chloe's friend but Chloe and her group of friends were always mean to Maya. One day, Maya doesn't show up to school. On that same day, Chloe's teacher teaches the class about the importance of being kind. Day's pass and Maya is absent at school. Chloe's teacher tells her that Maya and her family moved. Chloe begins to regret never accepting Maya. Media: watercolorCritique of contemporary realistic fiction book: "Each Kindness" is an excellent example of contemporary realistic fiction because it is relatable. For example, children in elementary school can relate to the character of Chloe, the character of Maya, or both.
    • 5/5
      A thoughtful book that would be a great read-aloud addition to many lessons. Maya is different from the other kids, everything she has is obviously secondhand and everyone takes notice. The reader is made to watch as Chloe and her friends bully Maya. Maya's desperation for a friend is palpable as is Chloe's regret when Maya stops coming to school. Sometimes amends can not be made, but one can change for the sake of tomorrow. This book will touch anyone's heart and reminds the reader that "Each kindness.... makes the world a little bit better".
    • 4/5
      I think this book is sad, but incredibly powerful. Books speak so much better than words sometimes, I definitely find that to be the case with this text. Bullying, severe or moderate is seen in any situation involving children, especially at school. Kids don't always realize the power of their words and actions, but this book helps to demonstrate that. Students see the effects of bullying in this book from the perspective of being the bully and the bullied which is brilliant. I would use this book maybe as an introduction to the school year, but probably if I noticed a bullying situation. The beginning of the year would be questionable because although this book has a positive message, it might set the tone that I just expect them to bully each other... I want to establish positive expectations.
    • 5/5
      This book teaches us to be kind to others because one day we will not be able to do so. A new girl is introduced into the classroom, and all she wants to do is make friends. She wants to befriend three girls, but they continuously make fun of her and exclude her. The new girl was nothing but nice and continued to be nice no matter how she was treated. The teacher shows the class an experiment that displays the ripple effect and how one stone has an impact to cause a ripple. This taught the class to be kind to others and they will show kindness in return. However the lesson was learned to late and the new girl was gone. One of the mean students was never able to tell the new girl that she was sorry for mistreating her in the beginning. This book tells us that we need to be kind to one another no matter what their circumstances may be. We need to treat other properly because one day we may not have the opportunity to say we are sorry for being mean.
    • 5/5
      This book talks about a girl who is new at a school and it bullied by a group of girls. After this girl is consistently bullied she ends up moving and doesn't return. The main girl who bullied her starts to feel bad for her actions. She ends up regretting not being able to apologize for her behavior. I think this is a perfect book to describe bullying to students and what the outcomes to be like.
    • 4/5
      This story is about a group of girls who are not nice to the new girl Maya. They talk about her and make fun of the way she dresses. One day Maya decides that she will no longer try and play with the other girls and that she will play alone. Shortly after, Maya does not return back to school and one of the girls, Chloe, starts to feel guilt because of the way she treated Maya when she went to school there. The ending was very sad because Maya never returned to school and Chloe was left wondering what it would be like if she was nice to Maya. I would read this book to a classroom because it teaches a great lesson on bullying. I think that it will show students that even though everyone is different, they should all be treated the same.
    • 5/5
      "Even a small act of kindness can change the world."This is a beautiful book with a very important message and that is simply to be kind to each other. I think it is important to teach kids at a young age how to be kind, respectful, and friendly toward other so that they can be a good person in the future. Teachers are not only there to teach abc but they also help shaping kids to be a better person. With this book, kids can learn to be sympathetic to other as well. Maya is the new student in class. She tries really hard to be friend with Chloe and the other classmates. She wanted to play with them but they make fun of the way she talks and dress. What Chloe doesn't understand is that Maya might come from a poor family. That's why Maya's clothes looked like it belong to someone else before hers. Even though Jacqueline Woodson never mentioned anything about Maya being poor but she gives the reader hints through her descriptions which help kids fill in the blank. What I also like about this book is that it shows the important role of the teacher in helping Chloe realizes that she was wrong her being mean to Maya. The teacher didn't need to tell her directly what she did wrong but through a simple activity which is to list one kind thing they did that day. I would like to apply that to my future class one day as well.
    • 5/5
      I really liked the book, "Each Kindness," by Jacqueline Woodson. First, I like how the story was relatable. For example, in the story the other students either won't talk to Maya or they are mean to her by not including her. I felt that I could relate to the story because even though I was never a new student, I have transitioned between grade-schools and experienced the same feelings. Secondly, I liked the main character, Maya. I liked Maya because she is independent and strong. For instance, in the story when the students ignore Maya and refuse to play with her, she doesn't act like she cares and continues to play by herself. Lastly, I liked the two main ideas the story depicted. The main idea was that a little kindness to go a long way, and be kind before it's too late. I liked the ideas because they are mottos of life that many people tend to not realize or forget about, and I think it's really important that kindness is shared more frequently.
    • 5/5
      The story told in Each Kindness was one of my favorites. After the first read through of the book I wasn’t sure how I felt about the ending, but then when I really thought about it the ending was actually really profound. It is a hard concept to grasp, when things don’t always end perfectly, but I believe that by writing this story and ending it like this Woodson really taught children the reality of life. The topic of bullying is a hard one for some to deal with, but the more it is talked about the more people will know and the less the issue will occur. One of the things that I seem to notice about all books that I read is the illustration. The illustrations in this book really helped the story. One of the things I liked that this book did that others normally don’t is that the illustrations are all drawn at different angles. For example on the second page the child is drawn from a viewpoint where the reader is looking up at the character while the character looks down at the reader. This helps the story, because it evokes a mood with it. Instead of just having a straight on picture the characters demeanor and stance toward the reader help to convey that emotion. Another aspect about the book, which I really liked, was how descriptive it all was. For example the author was describing how worn Mia’s clothes were. The author talked about how none of her clothes looked new and how everything she wore was secondhand. By having this description in here it allowed the reader to get a better feel for both Mia and the girls at the school. For Mia is showed us in insight into her life at home and to how she has to live. For the girls at school it showed the reader how ruthless the young girls were being. Finally I liked that the book dealt with the issue of bullying, but in a way that young children can relate to. The issue of bullying is such a prominent one today and when there is a book such as this one that is able to show the reader what really happens when you’re bullied and how you don’t always get a chance to take things back it allows students to think about their actions before speaking next.
    • 5/5
      A new girl comes to school and tries to make friends with Chloe. Chloe resists the girl's attempts to be her friend because the girl does not have clothes as nice as everyone else. The girl does not show up to school one day. Chloe realizes she was not being kind to the girl and decides to apologize. The girl moves away and Chloe does not get the chance to apologize. This is my favorite of Woodson's books. It really teaches kids how they should not judge people by their appearance and to be kind to all.
    • 4/5
      really powerful book about the choices we make to be kind (or not) to those around us. Because the lone student moves before the main character has a chance to learn her lesson and be kind, there is also a great lesson in not WAITING to do the right thing. I would love to use this in class to discuss classroom culture and community.
    • 5/5
      This is a good book to teach children to be kind to others always. Maya moves into a new school and tries to be friends with Chloe. But Chloe worries to much about what other kids will think. She does not follow her heart and befriend Maya. One day Chloe decides that she is going to forget what the other kids say and like Maya. But it is too late, Maya has moved again. Chloe can never be her friend. She is sad.
    • 5/5
      What a wonderful book and a teaching moment for all children! Maya, a new student, comes to a new school. She is obviously poorer than her classmates, and therefore they shun her. Her teacher notices this, and takes the time to teach the students a lesson about how to be nice to others. This leads Chloe, the main character, to wonder about opportunities lost in being nice to Maya once Chloe learns that Maya won't be returning to their school.
    • 5/5
      Poignant story of an African American girl, Chloe, who is not kind to the new student, Maya, when she arrives at school. Chloe and her friends ignore Maya and make fun of her used clothes over the course of many months. Maya isn't at school one day and although Chloe wishes she would have been kinder, she cannot do anything to make it up to Maya. Students are surprised with a such a sad ending. They are used to "happy" endings where the bully stops his behavior and the children are friends again. This story is so much better because it has more to talk about - friendship, kindness, bullying,teasing, regret, change.
    • 4/5
      This story is about a little girl named Mya, who just moved into town and is new at school. she is being picked on by the other kids for wearing second hand clothes. After multiple attempts to play with the others, Mya begins to play by herself. One day, Mya stops coming to school. The teacher decides to do a lesson on kindness. The lesson made one of the girls, who had once picked on her realize how wrong she was. She then wanted Mya to come to school so she could play with her. The sad part was she never seen Mya again! This is a great story to read to children. This book helps children to understand you may not get another chance to be nice. I really enjoyed reading this book.