Be Kind

Be Kind
Written by Pat Zietlow Miller, Illustrated by Jen Hill

Publisher’s Summary:
When a young girl named Tanisha spills grape juice all over her new dress, her classmate wants to make her feel better and remembers that Mom always says, “Be kind.” But what does it mean to be kind? As the child ponders everything from asking a new girl to play to standing up for someone being bullied, this story explores what kindness is, and how any act, big or small, can make a difference–or at least help a friend.

Primary Source Pairing:
“What does it mean to be kind anyway?” our main character asks as she contemplates how actions can help others. For this primary source pairing, use the photograph of three kids playing together as a way to start a discussion about kindness. Begin by analyzing the photograph and asking students to make connections to what they see. Next, ask students to make connections to what they see in the photograph to what they read in the book. Use and cite visual evidence from the photograph and the book’s illustrations. As an extension, invite students to draw a picture about a time when they were kind or when someone showed kindness to them.

Discussion Questions:

  • Describe what you see.
  • What do you notice first?
  • What people and objects are shown?
  • What is the physical setting?
  • What’s happening in the image?
  • Where do you see kindness in the image?
  • When have you been kind to someone?
  • When has someone been kind to you?
  • When have you seen kindness in your community?

Credits:
Kids Playing photograph:
Book Cover and Summary: Follett