Member Reviews

A fun story sharing the importance of kindness. Also includes an interview with the 11-year-old author.

Was this review helpful?

This was such a beautiful book. I love how it was all told in verse and I really enjoyed how the narrator enunciated everything. I listened to the audiobook, so I'm not sure what the illustrations look like, but the cover is beautiful, so I assume the inside illustrations are as well. I'd recommend this for children 5 to 9. I hope to one day add a physical copy of this book to my children's book collection.

Was this review helpful?

My 4 year old loved this story. It's such a great way to give little ones and example of kind acts, plus it rhymes!

Was this review helpful?

"Race to Kindness" is a very cute, short book narrated by the author. After the book is read there is an interview with the well spoken author who is a young pre-teen. He answers questions about his goal of spreading kindness to others.

My daughter who is 4 loved the book part but it was hard for her to follow the audio after the book was finished. Older children would be more interested in this. This is a good book for younger children 4+ and can easily be used in public and parochial schools to promote kindness in children. The author gives ideas that are easy for children to understand on how to be kind.

The parts of the audiobook after the actual book would be good discussion topics for kids 8+ to formulate spreading kindness in their communities which is a goal of the author. It's easy to tailor this concept in many areas and a "Race to Kindness" is something we can all use in this crazy world we live in.

Was this review helpful?

My kids loved this audiobook. It had such a great message about kindness that empowers kids to make a difference through actions. The narrator had great rhythm and was easy to understand!

Was this review helpful?

What a great message in this new book about kindness! It details various ways you can be helpful to others (even if they are small). The illustrations are fun and colorful. You will surely love to read and reread this book with your children.

Was this review helpful?

There isn’t much to say about this book except that it was beautiful and lovely. I listened to this with my 8-year-old twins and they loved it also!!

Was this review helpful?

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC of this book in exchange for this honest review.

As an educator I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the message it portrayed. It is a great way for social emotional learning, for all kinds of children. The vast array of ways mentioned to encourage young children to think about others and show kindness is heartwarming. It reminds not only children, but adults too, that showing kindness is not only free, but doesn't require a lot of effort - it can be done through simple and small gestures.

Turning the book into an acrostic poem (each phrase being for each letter of the word 'kind') was a great way to throw in more detail, make it relatable, and a great way to keep kids engaged through the rhyming no matter their age!

The backstory and interview at the end of the audiobook was a really nice touch and so interesting!

I would love to own this book and use it with the kids I work with ❤️

Was this review helpful?

I received a copy of this audiobook from NetGalley for a honest review.

This audiobook is so kind. It gives ideas on how to show kindness in your day to day life and how to spread kindness around. All while using the spelling of kindness. There is also an interview with the kid who wrote the book about his Race to Kindness collections he has done. It was interesting to both adults and kids. I normally have to stop the audiobook at that point to keep the kids attention but this time they all sat and listened to the whole interview.

Was this review helpful?

Wonderful, sweet inspiring book. I loved the narrator, the message and the push. I definitely think this should be gifted to all kids and schools.

Was this review helpful?

Race to Kindness is a beautiful and inspiring book. It breaks kindness in steps and how children can show kindness in many different ways.

As a teacher to young children, I know the students will enjoy the rhymes, and the lyrical journey you’ll take as you listen.

This book is inspiring as we follow alongside Orion and his journey of spreading kindness. Children always ask what they can do to make this world a better place—it starts with kindness, and this shows how simple it can be.

I would love to be able to share this with the school I teach at and to have our own race to kindness. Thanks for the inspiration!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to listen (audiobook) and review. I’ll be adding this to my collection.

Was this review helpful?

5 stars!

This was such a cute book and such a great message. Focusing on what you can do with what you have in your community is a great thing. Being kind is free and takes little effort. We may not be able to change the big things, but being kind is a great start and something we can all achieve. The Race to Kindness project seems amazing with all the books/meals it's donated. It's inspired me to look more into it and see what I can do to help. This is one amazing kid.

Was this review helpful?

This book is about how to be a kind human. Read on audio.

This book was absolutely amazing and I loved everything about it. The message was genuine and heartfelt, and I particularly love the discussion behind helping neighbors with things you may already have at home. Shout out to all those who participate in their local Buy Nothing groups. Actionable items on being kind that is easy for kids to understand.

Definitely adding this to my personal library.

Thank you NetGalley and Zonderkids for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

This was a very good book! I really like the character and the way the author writes! I plan to read more by this author!
The story was beautiful!

Was this review helpful?

This book was great for social emotional learning. As a teacher and a mother, I am always looking for books that teach about relationships and kindness. This book is easy to follow and helps kids understand how ones kindness can help others. This book is written is a way that kids can relate and understand how they can continue to show kindness and make a difference in their worlds. Great book for the classroom and also for home libraries.

Was this review helpful?

Orion this book is absolutely amazing! I want to thank you for encouraging my little ones to be kind and reminding them what it can feel like when others are not kind to us. The interview at the end of this audiobook was my six year olds favorite part! She loved hearing you talk about kindness and how a kid could make a difference. Thank you for helping me motivate her to be kind and sparking her true passion for it. She woke up ready to be as kind as you are.

This is a book that I will read over and over again to my kids and when I get my hands on a physical copy I already know it will be very well loved! Thank you so much again it is an amazing book!

Was this review helpful?

My daughter loved listening to this audiobook- she often asked to listen as she went to sleep. The special conversation with the author at the end of the book was a great addition. I found the book inspiring, and loved the message. Having a book written by a child to children made it relatable and exciting for my 7 year old. Loved!

Was this review helpful?

This is a very short book. The audiobook with the story is 3-4 minutes, with the remaining time being spent about the author. I think an audiobook is just not the right method to consume this book.

Was this review helpful?

Such a bad narration it is. Content was good and realistic being facts but still the way it was narrated it gave me no attention to keep my mind to it fully. Only if that would have been done with the help of some adult it could be better as the life works of a pre-teen child is really inspiring.
There were repetitive words/phrases which could have been avoided by publishers by helping this child groom in this field.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you NetGalley and Zonderkidz for an advanced audio copy in exchange for my honest review. 5 ⭐️ what an amazing young man! I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the extraordinary journey Orion is on, which is just such a remarkable influence for fellow peer readers. What is most striking, though, is that this book is written to inspire children to spread small acts of kindness and truly make a difference, rather than through large, unattainable tasks. I loved reading this via audio and hearing his voice and the accompanying interview. I will also be sure to pick up a physical copy to enjoy the illustrations as well. The rhyming was natural and fluid. This would make a great read-aloud for lessons on random acts of kindness. Highly recommend!

Was this review helpful?