10 Storytime Favorites for Random Acts of Kindness Day 

Ever catch your preschooler sharing a toy or giving someone a hug and wonder how to encourage more of it? Random Acts of Kindness Day, celebrated on February 17, is the perfect time to turn those moments into lasting habits. Books about kindness for preschoolers can make empathy tangible and fun, showing kids what helping, sharing, and caring looks like in everyday life. Reading together not only encourages language growth in your child, but it also gives you a chance to spark meaningful conversations about feelings and thoughtful actions. 

Why Kindness Matters in Early Childhood 

Why teach kindness to young kids in the first place? Teaching empathy to preschoolers early sets the foundation for strong relationships, self-confidence, and emotional growth further down the road. Your child naturally learns how their actions affect others at a very young age. They have you as the first role model and, when they see storybook characters making thoughtful choices or helping friends, it gives them a blueprint to mimic in real life. Even small things, like sharing a snack or helping clean up, can make a big difference when encouraged consistently.  

Combining books with hands-on Random Acts of Kindness Day activities for preschoolers will give these lessons a serious boost. Here are ten of our favorite stories to get you started!  

1. Have You Filled a Bucket Today? by Carol McCloud 
Have You Filled a Bucket Today? uses a classic metaphor to help kids understand kindness. Everyone carries an invisible bucket, and kind words and actions fill it while unkind ones empty it. Parents can ask questions after reading, like “What could we do today to fill someone’s bucket?” or help kids draw their own bucket and track kind acts. It’s an easy way to make abstract ideas concrete and encourage empathy in daily life. 

2. Kindness is Cooler, Mrs. Ruler by Margery Cuyler 
This story shows a whole class discovering how kindness can spread quickly. In Kindness is Cooler, Mrs. Ruler, kiddos learn that helping classmates, sharing materials, or offering compliments can make everyone feel happier. Parents can extend the lesson by creating a classroom or home chart where kids add a sticker each time they do something kind. This encourages them to notice acts of kindness and take pride in them. 

3. The Berenstain Bears and the Golden Rule by Stan and Jan Berenstain 

A true classic, The Berenstain Bears and the Golden Rule teaches the idea of treating others the way you want to be treated. The Bears learn that kindness and fairness go hand in hand. It’s a great starting point for talking about everyday situations like taking turns, sharing toys, or using kind words when feelings get big. 

4. Corduroy by Don Freeman 

Another classic, Corduroy teaches kindness, patience, and empathy. When Corduroy is missing a button, a little girl shows him compassion instead of judgment. You can use this story to talk about noticing what someone might need and choosing kindness over teasing or ignoring. 

5. Bear Feels Sick by Karma Wilson 
In Bear Feels Sick, Bear gets sick and his friends step in to help him feel better. Kids see examples of care, sharing, and support. You can create opportunities for children to practice caring at home, such as helping their sibling, delivering a snack, or offering a hug. It teaches that small acts of attention make a big difference. 

6. The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister 

Sharing is caring. A longtime favorite, The Rainbow Fish shows how sharing and generosity can lead to happiness and friendship. It opens up great conversations about sharing, fairness, and how kindness helps build strong relationships. You can connect it to everyday moments like sharing toys or helping a sibling. 

7. Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes 
Chrysanthemum shows the importance of being kind when someone feels different or self-conscious. Try asking questions like “How would you feel if someone said that to you?” or encourage children to compliment classmates. It helps preschoolers develop empathy by seeing others’ feelings from different perspectives. 

8. A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip C. Stead 
This story is an adorable reminder that kindness goes both ways. In A Sick Day for Amos McGee, Amos always makes time for his friends at the zoo. When he gets sick, they return the kindness. Parents can ask children to identify how the characters showed care and then create a simple list of ways to help friends or family members at home. 

9. Enemy Pie by Derek Munson 
Enemy Pie is a picture book that shows how kindness can turn an enemy into a friend. You can use it to teach your little one how sharing, listening, or including someone new can solve conflicts and build relationships. It’s a practical way to connect kindness to problem-solving in a realistic way. 

10. The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig 
This one is a gentle story that packs an emotional punch. The Invisible Boy helps kids understand what it feels like to be left out and how a small act of inclusion can make a huge difference. You can discuss ways to include classmates in games or help a friend feel welcome. Stories like these are perfect for illustrating to preschoolers how to notice others and make someone feel seen. 

Random Acts of Kindness Day Activities and Crafts 

Now it’s time to put kindness into action, today and every day, by helping your preschooler turn storytime lessons into things they can actually do. Kindness sticks when kids can see it, touch it, and repeat it. Start with a kindness jar that stays somewhere visible. Each time your child helps a sibling, uses kind words, or includes a friend in play, let them add a drawing or simple note to the jar. At the end of the week, read them together so your child can see how often they made someone’s day better. Try making thank-you cards for teachers, grandparents, or community helpers, even if the message is just a few scribbles and stickers. Let them choose one favorite toy to share for the day or help with age-appropriate chores like setting napkins on the table or matching socks.  

Create a kindness tree by taping a paper trunk to the wall and adding leaves each time your child does something thoughtful. Decorate heart-shaped bookmarks to give to friends or tuck into library books. Try simple games like passing a stuffed animal and taking turns saying something nice, or acting out how to help when a friend feels sad or left out. Playing pretend now will increase the chance that your child will show kindness when the moment strikes.  

Kindness That Lasts Beyond One Day 

Random Acts of Kindness Day is a great reminder that teaching empathy to preschoolers can be fun, practical, and meaningful (even for us grownups!). Reading books about kindness and pairing them with hands-on activities helps kids see the difference they can make every day. At Creative World School, we make kindness a part of daily learning. Our classrooms are full of stories, creative games, and hands-on experiences that help children grow compassionate, confident, and curious. Schedule a tour today to see how your child can explore, learn, and practice kindness every single day!