You're listening to a reading of,
Be Kind by Pat Zietlow Miller illustrated by Jen Hill and read by Miss Jill.
Tanisha spilled grape juice yesterday
all over her new dress.
Everyone laughed.
I almost did too but mom always tells me to be kind.
So I tried and I didn't laugh.
I don't think it worked though. I said, "Purple is my favorite color."
I thought Tanisha would smile but she ran into the hall instead.
When she came back, snack time was over.
She put on her art smock and she didn't look at anyone.
I almost told Tanisha that art was my favorite class but I didn't want her to leave again.
So I painted purple splotches and added some green until I had a bunch of beautiful violets.
While I painted I thought about Tanisha.
Should I have handed her my napkin?
Or let her borrow my sweatshirt?
Or should I have spilled juice so that everyone would stare at me instead?
What does it mean to be kind anyway?
Maybe it's giving.
Making cookies for Mr. Rinaldi who lives alone.
Or letting someone with smaller feet have my too-tight shoes.
He might win races in them too.
Maybe it's helping?
Putting dirty dishes in the sink.
Cleaning up after Otis, our class guinea pig. He's a messy eater.
Maybe it's paying attention,
Telling Desmond I like his blue boots
Asking the new girl to be my partner
Listening to Aunt Franny's stories.
Even the ones I've heard before.
Being kind should be easy. Like throwing away a wrapper or recycling a bottle
or saying, "thank you."
or "bless you".
My mom says the quickest way to be kind is to use people's names:
"Hey, Cayla!"
"What's new, Mr. Omar?"
"Good afternoon, Rabbi Mandelbaum."
Being kind can be hard too. Even when you know what to do.
Teaching someone something I'm good at is tricky.
Even when I'm patient.
And sticking up for someone when other kids aren't kind
is really hard and scary.
Maybe I can't solve Tanisha's grape-juice problem.
Maybe all I can do is sit by her in art class
and paint this picture for her because I know she likes purple too.
Maybe I can only do small things
but my small things might join small things other people do.
And together they could grow
into something BIG.
Something really big!
So big that all our kindness spills out of our school.
Spreads throughout the town.
Travels across the country
and goes all the way
around the world!
And right back to Tanisha and me
so we can be kind
again
and again
and again.
the end
Did you know that World Kindness day is November 13th of each year? Check out inspirekindness.com for all kinds of fun ways to participate!