This is a lovely book on ways to be kind. I really like that it also explores how we feel when people are kind to us and gives examples on both sides. Illustrations are simple but engaging.

When We Are Kind
By: Monique Gray Smith and Nicole Neidhardt
4.5 / 5.0


This picture book is one that should be read to every child before bed. It shows emotions and how we are all connected. The pictures are beautiful and the colors pop off the page. The characters look more realistic than cartoons which is a nice change. The story does involve Native Americans since Neidhardt is part Navajo, but the book isn’t overwhelmed with Native American references. It shows that we are one with the Earth and we have to be kind to it so it can be kind to us.

This book can be used for many things. It can be used as a way to show how we are part of the Earth's ecosystem or it can be used to show emotions/being kind. This is a very teachable book. I will make sure to keep this book in mind when customers are asking for a book about emotions.



Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/When-Kind-Niháádaahwiin%C3%ADtı̨̨̨̨̨̨̨̨̨́įgo-English-Navaho/dp/1459827538/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=When+we+are+kind&qid=1591468932&sr=8-1

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/when-we-are-kind-monique-gray-smith/1136451249?ean=9781459827530


This review will appear on my blog on October 13, 2020.

This book is a must have for classrooms. There are many beautiful illustrations depicting simple acts of kindness. This will be a wonderful teaching tool for educators to use to promote kindness and peace education.

"When We Are Kind" by Monique Gray Smith is a book we need in this world today. A diverse group of children and adults show the need for kindness in the world around them. The book teaches students various feelings as students see how kindness can make a person feel. The book provides multiple examples of how to show kindness and can be a conversation starter at home or in the classroom. A good pick for social emotional learning with readers from preschool to 2nd grade.

A simple children's story to setting an important foundation illustrating the importance of being kind to both yourself and others.

As always, Monique Gray Smith has written a book that children need in this time of unrest and turmoil.

"When We Are Kind" is a good reminder of what it means to be gentle - with ourselves, other people (children and adults), and with the earth. Simple but beautiful illustrations complement the words on each page and remind us of the ways we can respect and care for one another.

This is a book I will be reading with small children to help reinforce what respectful, caring relationships look like. (It's a quick refresher on respect for adults too!)

I don’t usually read children’s picture books but I’m trying to read literature outside my norm. I enjoyed the premise and that the pictures seem to include a diverse set of families. The format though viewing it electronically wasn’t good though - it would split pages and picture in half and didn’t keep the book in order (for example the author/illustrator page was in the middle of the book). I think I would have enjoyed it more if I had been able to read it as the author and illustrator probably intended it to be.

When We Are Kind is a beautifully illustrated children's book that is profound in its seeming simplicity. Each page provides lessons and moments of reflection for young children, as well as the adults reading with them. I loved the calming nature of this book, and the illustrations reflect what people in the world actually look like. I really appreciated the parts of the book that make the reader reflect on being kind to themselves, and how acts of kindness can have other positive effects, such as feeling comforted and happy.

Would definitely recommend adding this beautiful book to any young child's book collection or any library collection!

The kids and I absolutely loved this book! The pages were slightly off reading via kindle, but was an easy fix and the girls didn't get distracted. Perfect length for little ones. I read this to my daughters who are eight and four and both eagerly approved of this one. I can't wait to add it to our bookshelf! Thank you so much for this opportunity and sharing a bit of kindness with us so we can pass it to others.

Kindness is something you show yourself, others, and your world because the world is a better place when we practice kindness. Featuring Native children and families this beautiful picture book is a must-have for classrooms and libraries and can spark discussions on ways we can show kindness in our world.
#WhenWeAreKind #NetGalley

Quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. The simplicity, but deep leaning is so lovely. I love the illustrations and that every child can relate. Also opens up the door to some vocabulary some may not be familiar with.

I received an electronic ARC from Orca Book Publishers through NetGalley.
Simple text for younger readers to follow and plenty of meaning for older ones to reflect on. Gray Smith takes readers through various scenarios where people should be kind to others. The author also pulls in other emotions that can be triggered by being kind. Love how the emphasis switches in the middle to ways to be kind to yourself too. Each page offers a simple statement that families can discuss and build on. The illustrations are representative of what our world actually looks like.
Looking forward to sharing this one with young families.

I thought this book was too simplistic at first....but actually its heart lies in its simplicity.

This calming, clean-cut book describes ways kids can be kind (to others and themselves) and the emotions they feel when they receive kindness.

A great intro to kindness and reminder of the ways, emotional benefits and reasons to be kind.

A good story to read with young listeners about how it feels to do kind things for others and to have kind things done to you as well. Simple, short text will be effective and impactful to the youngest readers in my school. The illustrations were very eye-catching.

What a thoughtful, gentle book! The illustrations are beautiful and comforting. I love the examples that help us to remember to be kind to the earth, our elders, our families, our pets, and ourselves, and the give-and-take that is illustrated through powerful words and imagery. I am always trying to teach kindness in my classroom, and this will help demonstrate to students how to be kind to one another, as well as the impact of kindness. Thank you for a lovely story!

When We Are Kind is a gorgeous book about what it means to be kind and to be treated kindly. I absolutely cannot wait to have this book in my collection to read regularly during storytimes. I also always love to see more indigenous authors and illustrators!

Kindness, a seemingly easy concept to grasp yet quite abstract. If you want to learn more about kindness look no further than the books of Monique Gray Smith. Her books are a celebration of kindness, generosity and love. In her newest offering, When We Are Kind illustrated by Nicole Neidhardt, she has given to the world a book that examines all the ways in which we are kind and all of the emotions the act of being kind can make us feel.

We desperately need more kindness in the world and thank goodness for Monique Gray Smith’s generosity in her stories. Her stories are perfect for sharing with early readers, they are easily accessible to new readers and easy to understand for those who are not quite at the reading stage yet. Her books offer access to conversations with all of our readers but especially our youngest readers. When We Are Kind will be the perfect gift to give to a new soul in your life and I predict a new favourite baby shower/birthday gift. When We are Kind is a meditative journey through feelings and a book to help young readers understand all of the different ways in which we are kind, generous and loving.

This is a beautiful diverse book about kindness. It shows different ways kindness makes you feel, as well as the different facets of kindness. The writing is short and simple, which makes it easy to read to young kids.

Okay, look. I know this is a kids’ book, and there are wonderful lessons for children in here, but watching the news lately, there are plenty of things adults could learn from this book, too, including yours truly. This book made me feel all fuzzy inside, but it was also a gentle reminder to be kind not only to others, but to myself and to the earth.

We are in strange times, friends, and it’s important to keep kindness at the forefront of our minds. I loved everything about this book from the message to the illustrations and the background on the author and illustrator. One of my 2020 goals is to seek out more literature by Indigenous peoples, and I came across this one completely by a happy accident.

It was my first NetGalley read on my shiny, new tablet, and I’m so happy to be able to read these works on a vibrant screen where I can fully appreciate the beautiful artwork. Representation matters, and this gem is out in September, so make sure to pick it up for your kiddos or request a purchase at your local library. More own voices stories on both our juvenile and adult shelves, please and thank you!

Publishers, give us more children's books from Native and First Nations communities!!

At first, I thought this book was a sequel to <i>We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga</i> by Traci Sorell, which just goes to show my own ignorance of children's literature from Native authors. (Although I've been meaning to read Monique Gray Smith's <i>You Hold Me Up</i> for a long time!) Not long ago, my group of Youth Services Librarians discussed new book displays and how we wished we could do a display featuring Native authors and books, but we just didn't have enough books in the collection to do so. I hope <i>When We Are Kind</i> and Smith's other great books will continue a trend of more accessible, beautiful books featuring the Native experience.

This book was great--I loved the simple, poignant writing, and how it has universal appeal and a unique cultural perspective. I liked most of the illustrations. On some pages, the size perspective seemed to be off--some of the children looked like full sized adults, just shrunk down to a child's height. Or the adults looked way too large compared to the children. Maybe the illustration style is simply not my taste, but I got the sense that this was a somewhat amateurish attempt at digital illustration.

Taken on the whole, I think this is a great book that I would recommend we purchase for my library. We need to see more diverse faces and experiences in children's literature!