Thank you to NetGalley and Orca Book Publishers for sending me a free ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

When We Are Kind is a beautifully simple story with great illustrations and a clear message about being kind to yourself, the planet, and the people around you. It’s a great story to read aloud (I’m already thinking it would be a great addition to our library’s story time) and to use as a stepping stone to ask more questions. What does kindness look like? What everyday examples can be acts of kindness? How can you show kindness to others and the planet? How does if feel to be kind to yourself, or when someone is kind to you?

While I enjoyed When We Are Kind, I do wish there had been a resource page with next steps for parents (or educators or librarians) wishing to continue the conversation beyond the story.

Thank you again to NetGalley and Orca Book Publishers for the privilege of reviewing an ARC.

4.5/5 stars

The text was difficult to read on several pages (with some awkward breaks), but I loved both the poem and the artwork. It's not really a book on learning how to read, but the experience of reading.