Is it possible to teach a child about empathy? Author Amanda Morin thinks so. She has written one story two different ways, from the perspective of two different individuals, to help kids learn how to see what might be going on in another person’s life.
Friends Sofia and Ava used to be best friends, but then Sofia and her mother had to move. But now it’s the first day of school, and Sofia is excited to finally be reunited with her best friend after a long summer apart. As soon as Sofia gets on the bus, she is happy to see Ava and wants to share the bus seat with her. But Ava isn’t alone. She’s sharing a seat with Madison, and Madison makes it very clear that she doesn’t want Sofia to sit with them. As the days go on, Madison continues to make Sofia feel unwelcome, and Ava goes along with her. It’s not until Sofia talks to her mother about the situation that she learns about empathy and thinks about what she can do to improve her friendship with Ava.
But that’s just the first half of the book. The second half of the book is the same story, but it’s told by Ava’s perspective. We see why Ava made the choices she made, seeming to side with Madison and freeze Sofia out. But feelings and relationships are never that simple, and once she talks to her mother and then Sofia, Ava is ready to move forward with compassion and empathy, joining with Sofia to stand up to Madison and her bullying.
What Is Empathy?: A Bullying Storybook for Kids is a book for kids 5-7 to help them understand that others have a different point of view, and that it helps us all when we stop to try to figure out why a friend has changed her or his behavior towards us. It’s a great teaching tool for parents and educators to initiate a conversation about bullying and friendship, with tips and questions for the adult to use while going over the stories.
While this is an interesting concept, and I think it could be helpful in showing kids what empathy is and for thinking up strategies in dealing with a bully, it could be confusing without that adult intervention. I don’t recommend just handing this to a child and expecting them to understand the concepts. But if there is a caring adult there with them, What Is Empathy? could start a conversation that offers help and clarity for difficult relationships to come.
A copy of What Is Empathy?: A Bullying Storybook for Kids was provided by Rockridge Press through the Callisto Media Publisher’s Club, with many thanks.
