Each Kindness a Jane Addams Award Book by Jacqueline Woodson, also was named a 2013 Coretta Scott King Honor Book. This is truly an exceptional book. As I read it goose bumps shivered my arms. E.B. Lewis captured the deep emotion of the story in dreamy water color. The illustrations juxtapose both beauty and heartache because they reveal the children's lack of kindness, their unwelcoming cold shoulder and judgmental rejection of the new girl.
One might think this replays the classic story line of the challenge that every "new" kid faces. But it is exceeds that think-how-the-shunned-kid-feels meme as the children rebuff her repeated efforts to break into their circle. Instead, it asks the reader to imagine being the child who chose unkindness, who joined the taunting, who derided and jeered.
After the teacher uses a pebble-dropped-in-water to demonstrate how one act ripples in an ever-widening circle, Chloe undergoes a change of heart. She wants to include the outcast girl. She anticipates making amends, only to discover, it is too late.
The book ends with the words, Chloe "watched the water ripple as the sun set through the maples and the chance of a kindness with Maya became more and more forever gone." The final illustration shows Chloe in a lush, lovely pond side spot. The beauty contrasts with Chloe's uncomfortable realization that it is too late to make amends for her ugly treatment of Maya. The reader feels the weight of that understanding. There is no and-she became-Maya's-best-friend easy answer.
The message is clear. Sometimes, do overs are not possible. Some mistakes and lost opportunities cannot be corrected. Our choices matter. Powerful. True. Important. This book merits every award it won.
(Memories of the classic story The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes illustrated by Louis Slobodkin popped to mind, because it deals with a similar story line. Each Kindness makes its point with eloquent brevity and contemporary, visually appealing illustrations.)
Adoption-attuned (AQ) Lens: Our kids certainly understand, in a very personal way that choices have permanent consequences. This book can easily open conversations about the decisions made by their birth parents. (Not in terms of a cruelty done to them but with an intent to help kids understand that adoption was in no way their fault but rather is a decision made by adults for very adult reasons.)
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About the author
Disappointed
I was so excited to purchase this book to read to my 8 year old sons class for read around the world day. I wanted to buy a book with a meaningful lessons and represented them. It’s so difficult as a Black parent to find good books that show characters that represent our children. I saw the author and illustrator were Black. The story is very meaningful hence the three stars however the demographic of the characters are not Black. We already live in a world where white persons and white characters are central always and this book is no different despite having a Black writer and illustrator. Had I been able to review the entire book I would have passed on purchasing it.
Top reviews from the United States
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Top reviews from other countries
- Deirdre MullaneyReviewed in the United Kingdom on July 18, 2017
beautifully written.
Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase - Pearl Rhea PerisReviewed in India on August 12, 2020
Brilliant Read for Children
Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
It's absolutely a brilliant book for children to learn about kindness and empathy.Pearl Rhea PerisBrilliant Read for Children
Reviewed in India on August 12, 2020
I brought this book over a recommendations and love it. The illustration by E.B. Lewis are exceptional.
A simple message of, sometimes a second chance is never there! which is depicted clearly, where on all other heroic movies/children's book there is always a happy ending with second chances and No mistakes.
But to be aware of the opportunities and the choices we make matter and once lost there is no turning back to correct it, is a huge takeaway from this book. Which is very true and is much needed.
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- Olivia BorgesReviewed in Canada on November 30, 2020
Good condition.
Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase - CAROLINE SOCCIOReviewed in the United Kingdom on October 8, 2016
Great to educate children about compassion and kindness
Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
