Maya Angelou once said, “Forgiveness is the greatest gift you can give yourself. It’s not for the other person.” But, as we all know, it’s easier said than done for kids and even adults. Kids are not born knowing how to say sorry or understanding how to mean it, they need patience, modeling, and direct teaching to learn how to apologize and to accept another person’s apology.
To offer a helping hand on the first steps of your child’s life-long journey of forgiving, I’ve compiled a list of picture books that provide heartfelt examples of bears, bunnies, beavers, and humans apologizing and offering forgiveness and kindness for a variety of misunderstandings and misdeeds.
While these books are good for little ones, they also offer strategies for the entire family to experience the power of forgiving — and forgetting!
How to apologize
David LaRochelle
jE LaRochelle
Kids, Picture Books
From the team behind See the Cat: Three Stories About a Dog comes a funny and handy guide that explains just how (and how not!) to say I'm sorry. Wouldn't the world be a better place if everyone knew how to apologize? Luckily, this humorous guidebook is full of practical tips about when, why, and how to say you're sorry. From a porcupine who accidentally popped his friend's balloon to a snail who was running so fast he stepped on a sloth's toes, hilarious examples and sweet illustrations abound. For both listeners who are just learning and older readers who need a refresher, this book will come as a welcome reminder that even though apologizing can be hard, it doesn't have to be complicated.
Rita and Ralph's rotten day
Carmen Agra Deedy
jE Deedy
Kids, Picture Books
Rita and Ralph live on neighboring hills and they are best friends, until a silly accident while goofing around ends up with both of them angry and unhappy--and they both need to find a way to heal the break in their relationship.
This well-crafted story is an excellent choice for those seeking books featuring conflict-resolution. Kids can glean a lot from Rita and Ralph: miscommunication is an easy, inevitable occurrence between friends, and though making up is much more difficult, it's always worth a shot, and accountability goes a long way when making amends.
- Angie
Sorry (really sorry)
Joanna Cotler
jE Cotler
Kids, Picture Books
After Cow's bad mood spreads to the whole farm, Dog starts a new chain reaction by showing kindness.
A sweet and thoughtful picture book about how one act of kindness can change the world.
- Angie
Horrible bear!
Ame Dyckman
jE Dyckman
Kids, Picture Books
When Bear breaks a little girl's kite, she thinks he is a "HORRIBLE BEAR!"--until she makes a mistake of her own and learns the power of saying "I'm sorry."
Bear didn't mean to break a little girl's kite, but she's upset anyway--upset enough to shout "HORRIBLE BEAR!" Bear can't believe it. He's not horrible! But now he's upset, too--upset enough to come up with a truly Horrible Bear idea. In this charming but goofy picture book, readers will learn all about tempers, forgiveness, and friendship as Bear prepares to live up to his formerly undeserved reputation while the little girl realizes that maybe--just maybe--Bear isn't as horrible as she thought.
- Angie
Turtle in a Tree.
Neesha Hudson
jE Hudson
Picture Books, Kids
A greyhound swears there's a turtle in the tree. A bulldog says it's a squirrel. After all, a turtle in a tree? Who's ever heard of such a thing? But their argument leads to a most surprising discovery . . . that maybe neither one of them is all the way wrong, or all the way right, and friendship is all about listening to someone else's perspective.
A greyhound swears there's a turtle in the tree. A bulldog says it's a squirrel. After all, a turtle in a tree? Who's ever heard of such a thing? But their argument leads to a most surprising discovery . . . that maybe neither one of them is all the way wrong, or all the way right, and friendship is all about listening to someone else's perspective.
- Angie
That's my carrot!
Il Sung Na
jE Na
Kids, Picture Books
From the acclaimed author-illustrator of A Book of Sleep comes a silly tale about a garden rivalry, a giant carrot and bunnies in construction vehicles! When two rabbits find a giant carrot growing between their yards, they do the only thing that makes sense: they argue over whose carrot it is! One rabbit brings a shovel to dig it out, and the other rabbit brings a spade. Next comes the bulldozers and backhoes and cranes ... and when the dust settles, the carrot is gone! Now, it will be up to the rabbits to join forces and find the giant carrot, and build a friendship along the way. From beloved creator Il Sung Na comes a story of mischief and one very giant carrot.
When two rabbits find a giant carrot growing between their yards, they do the only thing that makes sense: they argue over whose carrot it is! One rabbit brings a shovel to dig it out, and the other rabbit brings a spade. Next comes the bulldozers and backhoes and cranes . . . and when the dust settles, the carrot is gone! Now, it will be up to the rabbits to join forces and find the giant carrot, and build a friendship along the way.
- Angie
Big red lollipop
Rukhsana Khan
jE Khan
Kids, Picture Books
Having to take her younger sister along the first time she is invited to a birthday party spoils Rubina's fun, and later when that sister is asked to a party and baby sister wants to come, Rubina must decide whether to help.
Rukhsana Khan's clever story and Sophie Blackall's irresistible illustrations make for a powerful combination in this fresh and surprising picture book.
- Angie
The invisible boy
Trudy Ludwig
jE Ludwig
Kids, Picture Books
Brian has always felt invisible at school, but when a new student, Justin, arrives, everything changes.
A gentle story that teaches how small acts of kindness can help children feel included and allow them to flourish.
- Angie
I did it, I'm sorry
Caralyn Buehner
jE Buehner
Kids, Picture Books
Ollie Octopus, Bucky Beaver, Howie Hogg, and other animal characters encounter moral dilemmas involving such virtues as honesty, thoughtfulness, and trustworthiness. The reader is invited to select the appropriate behavior from a series of choices.
Do your words and actions help or hurt? In this humorous guide to good behavior, Ollie Octopus, Bucky Beaver, and their friends help point the way to good behavior.
- Angie
Sorry!
Norbert Landa
jE Landa
Kids, Picture Books
Rabbit and Bear enjoy the wonderful feeling of being best friends, until they find a strange object in the woods and argue over whose picture appears within.
Rabbit and Bear enjoy the wonderful feeling of being best friends, until they find a strange object in the woods and argue over whose picture appears within.
- Angie
Mouse says "sorry"
Michael Dahl
jBOARD BOOK Dahl
Kids, Board Books
As mouse rushes home to dinner, he apologizes for tracking mud everywhere he goes.
This sturdy board book helps toddlers understand when and why to say sorry.
- Angie
Otter and Owl say I'm sorry
Crystal Bowman
jREADER Bowman, Crystal
Kids, Early Readers
"Otter has a brand new scooter! And Owl has a fun idea. But when that idea ends in disaster, Owl feels like a bad friends. Will Otter ever forgive him?"--P. [4].
Owl has a big idea that ends in disaster, and he's worried that his friendship with Otter is ruined---just like he ruined Otter's scooter. But the friends learn about friendship and forgiveness in this story.
- Angie
Llama Llama and the bully goat
Anna Dewdney
jE Llama
Picture Books, Kids
Following their teacher's lead, Llama Llama speaks to Gilroy Goat and tells him he should not act like a bully on the playground.
Llama Llama is learning lots of new things at school and making many friends. But when Gilroy Goat starts teasing him and some of their classmates, Llama Llama isn't sure what to do. And then he remembers what his teacher told him—walk away and tell someone. It works! But then Llama Llama feels badly. Can he and Gilroy try to be friends again?
Taking on a difficult but important part of children's lives, Anna Dewdney gives readers a way to experience and discuss bullying in a safe and comforting way.
- Angie
Peace
Baptiste Paul
jE Paul
Kids, Picture Books
"From saying hello and pronouncing your friend's name correctly to giving more than you take and saying I'm sorry, this simple concept book explores definitions of peace and actions small and big that foster it"--
"From saying hello and pronouncing your friend's name correctly to giving more than you take and saying I'm sorry, this simple concept book explores definitions of peace and actions small and big that foster it"-- Provided by publisher.
- Angie
David gets in trouble
David Shannon
jE Shannon
Kids, Picture Books
When David gets in trouble, he has excuses right up until bedtime, when he realizes he really is sorry.
When David gets in trouble, he has excuses right up until bedtime, when he realizes he really is sorry.
- Angie
Wouldn't the world be a better place if everyone knew how to apologize? Luckily, this humorous guidebook is full of practical tips about when, why, and how to say you're sorry. This is a great picture book full of humor to help kids understand the process.
- Angie