Ten of the Best Best Books to boost empathy 10


Which books have really helped you empathise with someone else? Books have a unique power to help us see the world anew, through the eyes of characters whose experiences are very different from our own. A building body of neuroscience research shows that reading fiction can actually expand our brain’s capacity for empathy, and that 98% of us can train our plastic brains to become more empathetic. EmpathyLab, a new organisation, harnesses this power. They’ve been collecting recommendations for great books to build strong empathy habits and the list below, chosen by EmpathyLab founder Sarah Mears, includes some of their favourites.


The Jar of Happiness Ailsa Burrows, Child’s Play (International) Ltd, 978-1-8464-3728-1, £5.99 pbk


Meg is a little girl who creates her own happiness in a jar. The jar of happiness cheers everyone up and when she loses it, Meg is distraught. The support and kindness of friends and family helps Meg to recognise where her happiness really comes from and that it isn’t found in a jar. This lovely book will help young children to understand what it means to be a good friend.


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Something Else Kathryn Cave, illustrated by Chris Riddell, Puffin, 978-0-1413-3867-5, £6.99 pbk


Something Else is different and is rejected by the others. But then Something arrives at his door.


Something Else is wary but


realises that he has been given the best gift of all – a new friend. We loved the way the non-judgemental text heightened the emotional punch of the illustrations. We defy anyone not to empathise with the sad little figure trudging to his lonely home at the start of the story.


10 Books for Keeps No.216 January 2016


Love That Dog Sharon Creech, Bloomsbury Publishing, 978-0-7475-5749-4, £5.99 pbk


Told through a series of poems, Sharon Creech’s poignant story in verse tells the story of Jack – reluctant poet, and lover of the yellow dog. Jack’s character shines through, defensive at first but gradually revealing his deep sense of loss. For the reader, the brittle sadness which threatens to overwhelm Jack if he lets his guard down, is painfully, but exquisitely apparent and creates a rich emotional connection to the character. It is a vivid and tender account of how it feels to be a bereaved child.


The Colour of Home Mary Hoffman, illus Karin Littlewood, Frances Lincoln Children’s Books, 978-0-7112-1991-5, £6.99 pbk


Bewildered, homesick and afraid, Hassan is a refugee in a strange land, trying to fit in. In school he at last finds someone who understands and helps him to cope with his feelings, make new friends and integrate his memories of Somalia with his new life. A great picture book to help children understand how someone coming to a new school might feel, especially when they don’t speak the same language and when they have experienced deep trauma and violence. Lovely illustrations complement a very sensitive text.


Poetry Emotion Stewart Henderson, Barnabas in Schools, 978-1-8410-1893-5, £6.99 pbk


We’ve recently discovered this emotion- themed poetry collection from Stewart Henderson.


Stand out poems include


Squirmy Birthday, about a shy child who hates being the centre of attention and dreads birthdays (how wonderful for any child to grasp that for some children, birthdays are not longed-for events), and Child Benefits, about a child who becomes acutely aware of the poverty separating her from her rich friend. There is a poem to touch every reader in this collection; they are funny, they are sad and get to the very heart of the emotional challenges we all face every day.


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