What Is Empathy?

Empathy is a trait you learn by example. In, What Is Empathy, best friends Ava and Sofia learn what empathy is when Sofia has to move away from Ava. With that life change Ava makes a new friend, but this new friend wants to hog their friendship, so Sophia is left out. Will Ava and Sofia make amends? This story is told from both their perspectives.

This middle grade book brought up my own memories of being bullied in elementary school. If bullying is a trigger for you, as an adult, then you may want to tread gently. Even though it is a simple book for kids on what empathy is and how they can reflect it in their lives, the examples of bullying in the story are realistic.

It’s strange how you can recall incidents as if it happened yesterday. I recall as a kindergartener/1st grader the older kids would pick me up and not put me down when I nicely asked. I was small for my age. One time I visited my old school the other kids thought I was there to visit the Kindergarten class. Another time in second grade an older boy almost beat me up at school, but the kid whose grandmother’s house I stayed at after school rescued me. Even in junior high I got asked why I didn’t shave yet. I was 12. Calm down. Needless to say kids and teens can bullies.

I received my complimentary copy of What Is Empathy by Amanda Morin and John Joseph from Rockridge Press, care of Callisto Publisher’s Club. The views are mine and of my own choice. This picture book is a great book to add to your child’s school classroom or personal home library. It makes a great conversation starter and I’d say it affective for any age group, young or old.