Books to spark empathy - from baby to teen

This special edition for BookTrust includes Nick Sharratt’s brilliant, bright, accessible and diverse illustrations and a rhyming text from Sally Symes. This is a joyful book to share with little ones, and lots of fun can be had with the ​‘finger wiggle’ element. 

This adorable story about a little girl taking care of her unwell father is one that encourages empathy in little ones. It’s a lovely little story with appealing red, black-and-white illustrations in a ten-page board book.

Can you help baby chick get home? A fantastic interactive board book with gorgeous illustrations of spring scenes and animals. Perfect for toddler hands. 

Dogger is Dave’s special toy. So when Dogger gets lost at the funfair, Dave is desolate. Will they find each other again? Exploring concepts of love, loss and kindness, this classic tale will be cherished by the entire family and will particularly appeal to any child who has a favourite toy.

Create your own story with this brilliant interactive book full of detailed, colourful illustrations.

Cajee and Schmida’s lovely picture book about bringing different communities together is a thoughtful and sensitive story that might well appeal to mixed race children in particular or those who inhabit more than one family culture. 

A child joins a new school and gets a whirlwind tour from a very confident pupil. Along the way, she realises that he doesn’t need a tour guide right now – he needs a friend. 

A boy wonders why his new classmate won’t join in and looks so sad, then discovers she has had to flee her home and everything she knows. A gorgeously illustrated book celebrating being welcoming and kind. 

This important non-fiction book explores the concept of racism for a young audience, explaining what it is and why it is always wrong. With colourful pages and engaging illustrations, this picture book carries an essential message that nobody should be disadvantaged because of their race. 

This moving picture book about a family’s visit to the food bank is a sensitive exploration of how it may feel to live below the poverty line. Perfect to share with young children to develop empathy and understanding (or to recognise their own situation).

A delicious book by Alison Green with illustrations and a foreword by Axel Scheffler, plus pictures by 38 international illustrators, to celebrate kindness and humankind. A profound book that is quite simply a treasure trove of wisdom and beauty. 

A strange animal arrives with a big suitcase, very tired after travelling a long way. But what is really in his suitcase? A powerful, succinct story about kindness and empathy.

When Isabel’s family moves to a new neighbourhood, everything is strange and different. Isabel feels like people look right through her – that is, until she starts to notice the other invisible people trying to make the world a better place.

A joyous story about Bobby, who likes thinking about lots of different things at once, and finds it hard to focus. Full of empathy and warmth.

This heartwarming story about bereavement is gentle and kind, reminding us that being sad takes time, and that we should hold space for each other when we are recovering from a loss.

This enjoyable read is a mix of a fictional story about Libby the cat and her life with Miss Lewis, intertwined with facts and information about cats from author Dr John Bradshaw, a biologist with a special interest in cats.

Lula and Lenka are the best of friends until they have an argument and neither will say sorry. Will they ever manage to make up? Polly Ho-Yen beautifully explores the complexity of friendships and learning that there are always two sides of a story. 

A perfect book for young children interested in their cultural heritage or for those with a passion for travel and geography, this would also make a gorgeous gift for anyone interested in Africa.

A little boy rescues a bee in the city and is inspired to help bees by planting flower seeds.

An unforgettable picture book about the power of nature, embracing differences and accepting ourselves.

Brothers always find something to fight about. Alex and Freddy are no different – even though they’re also the most powerful robots in the universe.

A powerful re-imagining of Frankenstein that provokes empathy and compassion. Compelling and thrilling.  

This fascinating and informative book in the What it was like to be… series introduces readers to the ancient Maya, a mysterious civilisation who dominated Central and South America for centuries, until their eventual demise in the sixteenth century.  

Al’s mum is back in prison again – and Al thinks it’s their neighbour’s fault, so he plots revenge with his beloved pet rats, Venom and Vulture. A moving insight into the world of a young boy affected by poverty, neglect and crime, who eventually learns to trust. 

Split into six chapters, We’ve Got This! explores what empathy is, how it works, using empathy, learning to recognise emotions, being a good communicator and, finally, puts it all together to help you become an empathy superhero. 

This is a relatable, engaging story about friendship, family and dealing with change. It’s also a great book for discussions around empathy – the idea of ​‘spoken words’ is difficult to explain but absolutely works in the context of the story, creating themes of communication, the power of words, and the importance of listening.

Riley and her mum can’t pay the rent and are suddenly homeless. But how long can Riley keep up the pretence to her friends? A moving contemporary story full of empathy. 

Jamie and July have both run to Bournemouth – but what are they running from? A page-turning contemporary story that will spark empathy and shines a light on different difficult circumstances. 

Ruby can’t stand her ​‘perfect’ cousin Yasmin. But there are always two sides to every story… A contemporary teen short story that’s suitable for dyslexic readers.