Channel Kindness: Stories of Kindness and Community


Book Description

A New York Times Bestseller For Lady Gaga, kindness is the driving force behind everything she says and does. The quiet power of kindness can change the way we view one another, our communities, and even ourselves. She embodies this mission, and through her work, brings more kindness into our world every single day. Lady Gaga has always believed in the importance of being yourself, being kind to yourself, and being kind to others, no matter who they are or where they come from. With that sentiment in mind, she and her mother, Cynthia Germanotta, founded Born This Way Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to making the world a kinder and braver place. Through the years, they've collected stories of kindness, bravery and resilience from young people all over the world, proving that kindness truly is the universal language. And now, we invite you to read these stories and follow along as each and every young author finds their voice just as Lady Gaga has found hers. Within these pages, you’ll meet young changemakers who found their inner strength, who prevailed in the face of bullies, who started their own social movements, who decided to break through the mental health stigma and share how they felt, who created safe spaces for LGBTQ+ youth, and who have embraced kindness with every fiber of their being by helping others without the expectation of anything in return. In one story, you’ll read about a young person with an autoimmune disease, who after being bullied at school, learned how to practice self-love and started an organization with the mission of educating others about the importance of self-love, too; and in another story, you’ll meet a young person who decided to start a movement to help eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health and encouraged others to talk about their feelings openly and honestly, a reminder that kindness and mental wellness go hand in hand. Not only were we moved by these individual acts of kindness, but we were also touched by the many stories of organizations, neighborhoods, and entire communities that fully dedicated themselves to helping those in need and found new, innovative ways to make our world a kinder and braver place. Individually and collectively, these stories prove that kindness not only saves lives but builds community. Kindness is inclusion, it is pride, it is empathy, it is compassion, it is self-respect and it is the guiding light to love. Kindness is always transformational, and its never-ending ripples result in even more kind acts that can change our lives, our communities, and our world.




Hey, Wall


Book Description

“Verde’s unique style and simple yet increasingly important messages of peace, mindfulness, and community make her stories a must-share...A must-purchase.” —School Library Journal (starred review) “Walls do not just create barriers and divide spaces. They can be canvases for artmaking; opportunities to shape a community.” —The Horn Book “This story of urban renewal sends a welcome double message by Verde: neighbors and neighborhoods are more than the way they look, and ordinary people can band together to transform big things.” —Publishers Weekly A boy takes on a community art project in order to make his neighborhood more beautiful in this empowering and inspiring picture book by Susan Verde, stunningly illustrated by award-winning artist John Parra. One creative boy. One bare, abandoned wall. One BIG idea. There is a wall in Ángel’s neighborhood. Around it, the community bustles with life: music, dancing, laughing. Not the wall. It is bleak. One boy decides to change that. But he can’t do it alone. Told in elegant verse by Susan Verde and vibrantly illustrated by John Parra, this inspiring picture book celebrates the power of art to tell a story and bring a community together.




Grow Happy


Book Description

Kiko is a gardener. She takes care of her garden with seeds, soil, water, and sunshine. In Grow Happy, Kiko also demonstrates how she cultivates happiness, just like she does in her garden. Using positive psychology and choice theory, this book shows children that they have the tools to nurture their own happiness and live resiliently. Includes a “Note to Parents and Caregivers” with information on how our choices and paying attention to our bodies and feelings affects happiness.




Be Kind


Book Description

A thoughtful picture book illustrating the power of small acts of kindness, from the award-winning author of Sophie's Squash.




HumanKind


Book Description

This Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestseller is filled with true stories about how one small deed can make a world of difference. “Elegant and wise” (Deepak Chopra). “The most uplifting and life-affirming book in years” (Forbes). “This might be the most beautiful book I’ve ever read. It’s lifted my soul and brought me to tears in all the right ways.”—Jane Green, author of 18 New York Times bestsellers Named best inspirational book of the year by the Independent Book Publishers Association and chosen as an International Book Awards winner, HumanKind is the heartwarming, feel-good book we all need right now. These inspiring stories will open your heart and rekindle your faith in humanity. You’ll meet the mentor who changed a child’s life with a single lesson in shoe-tying and see the far-reaching ripple effects of that seemingly small deed. You’ll also meet the six-year-old who launched a global kindness movement; the band of seamstress grandmothers who patch clothes and mend hearts for homeless people; the puppy, given as a gift, that touched the lives of thousands of children; and many other heroes. There are also practical tips for making a difference with your own words and deeds, and the resource section lists organizations where you can channel your efforts to create your own ripples of kindness. HumanKind is a great gift to yourself and anyone who’s been a source of kindness in your life. It will leave you grateful for what you have, provide a refuge from the negativity that surrounds us, and remind you of what really matters. All author royalties are donated to Big Brothers Big Sisters.




Kindness Is My Superpower


Book Description

Teach your children the power of Kindness, one of the most important skills a child can learn. Are you one of 90 percent of American parents, saying that one of their top priorities for their kids is to be caring? This makes sense: Kindness and concern for others are held as moral virtues in nearly every society and every major religion. The best book for raising kind children. This charming story with gentle rhymes and colorful illustrations will explain to your child that it is okay to make a mistake and say I'm sorry. Lucas will teach your child good manners and positive behaviour at home, at school, in the store, and on the playground. Kids learn best by example. With the perfect examples, this book offers, your child will have more understanding for others, accept differences, and show more empathy. Throughout the story, little Lucas will learn what kindness means and understand what it is like to be kind, sensitive, caring, and generous. Practice Random Acts of Kindness. Also included are Acts of Kindness Ideas to promote empathy and kindness. Kindness is something you can quickly learn: when you give and ask for nothing in return. Helping others is the least you can do. If you are kind, kindness will come back to you. "Kindness is my Superpower" is intended for children of all ages. We warmly recommend it to parents, teachers, and anyone who works with children.




Simple Acts


Book Description

Simple and actionable tools to help busy young people make a difference in the world. Young people can make a difference in the world no matter how busy they are. Simple Acts shows them how, with easy and practical tips, activities, and resources that will inspire teens to add intentional acts of kindness and service to their everyday lives. Simple Acts equips tween and teens with the hands-on tools and know-how they need to make small but meaningful change, such as: honoring happy occasions by giving back raising money and awareness for the causes they care about harnessing the power of social media to spread positive messages A passionate advocate for family and youth service, Natalie Silverstein, MPH, wrote Simple Acts to inspire a more realistic approach to service for young people, a more organic way to make the world a better place: one simple act at a time.




Grow Kind


Book Description

Grow Kind is a gentle narrative based on positive psychology and choice theory, essentially about cultivating kindness. Kiko grows and cultivates her garden, harvesting and sharing the fruits and veggies with her friends, neighbors, and family. This delightful tale serves as a metaphor of nurturing relationships and community, while sharing kindness with others. Grow Kind is the perfect read alongside Be Kind by Pat Zietlow Miller and Jen Hill, I Am Kind by Suzy Capozzi and Eren Unten, I Am Human: A Book of Empathy by Susan Verde and Peter H. Reynolds, Kind Ninja: A Children’s Book About Kindness by Mary Nhin, Tomorrow I'll Be Kind by Jessica Hische, and Channel Kindness: Stories of Kindness and Community by Born This Way Foundation Reporters and Lady Gaga. GROW READERS with the acclaimed Grow series of books Grow Kind, Grow Grateful, and Grow Happy.




The Little Things


Book Description

One girl’s simple act of kindness causes ripples in her community in this witty, heartwarming story about paying it forward The day after a mighty storm, a little girl finds a sea star that has washed up on shore, and she returns it to the ocean. Seeing her small act of kindness, an old man heads to an animal shelter with his grandson to pick a dog in need of a home. His grandson feels inspired to help an elderly woman clean up her yard, which inspires a teenager to pack an extra lunch for someone in need, and on and on until each small gesture builds toward a magnificent conclusion. Full of humor, heart, and proof of the generosity that we all have inside of us, Christian Trimmer and Kaylani Juanita’s story is a welcome reminder: It’s the little things that make a big difference.




Next Generation Genres: Teaching Writing for Civic and Academic Engagement


Book Description

Students need updated writing genres, and a real reason to write. Evolutions in technology and connectivity have brought about significant changes in the ways writing is produced and shared. Yet despite monumental shifts in the practice of writing, how we teach writing has remained largely static. What we need is a new set of genres for writing instruction: genres that will speak to students who are already immersed in rich and multifaceted literacy practices through social media, gaming, and new technologies. Jessica S. Early’s Next Generation Genres provides an alternative framework for a secondary writing curriculum that places a central emphasis on helping students gain the experience they need to write with confidence in academic and civic life. If your students’ eyes glaze over when they face a standard essay assignment, perhaps it’s time to let them try writing an infographic or a podcast!