November 13 – World Kindness Day

About the Holiday

World Kindness Day began with a conference in 1997 in which organizations from across the globe met in Japan for the purpose of uplifting and recognizing kindness on a global scale. From this meeting they created a “Declaration of Kindness” and, later, a nonprofit called the World Kindness Movement was formed to support and honor community-scale kindness initiatives. Kindness on any scale, on any day, is important to celebrate. Today’s story shows the impact that one kind gesture can have.

Thank you to Eerdmans Books for Young Readers for sending me a copy of this book for review! All opinions are my own.

Late Today

Written by Jungyoon Huh | Illustrated by Myungae Lee | Translated by Aerin Park

It’s 8:15 A.M.—rush hour in Seoul—and traffic is backed up bumper-to-bumper. No one wants to be late. Amidst the gridlock “a kitten, barely two weeks old, was crossing the bridge.” She darted back and forth, in front of wheels, over wheels, underneath cars and trucks.

Everyone saw her. Some worried about her, some wondered how she’d gotten there, some just looked away. “It was the kind of thing where no one can point a finger and call ‘coward,’ even when someone ignores what’s happening and just passes by.”

But one woman in one car lost sight of the kitten and pulled over, screeching to a halt. Through the earsplitting honks and the sudden downpour, the woman and her child tried to hear the kitten’s cry. Then—there!—they heard it. The woman hurried from her car, cradled the shaking kitten in her hands, and brought it into the car with her. On the bridge everyone sighed with relief. They would all be late, but that was okay. “Today was a good day to be late.”

In Jungyoon Huh’s simply stated, yet powerfully thought-provoking story—translated from Korean by Aerin Park—she places readers in the middle of a traffic jam and invites each of us to reflect on what we would do in the circumstances. We all want to be the person who would decide to rescue the kitten, but are we? Taking time to stop during our day or putting ourselves in an uncomfortable or dangerous spot to lend a hand to an animal, another person, or a group can seem daunting or even ineffective. But Lee reminds us that even the smallest kindness or action is noticed by those around us, does make an impact on breaking paralyzing gridlock of action or thought, and can uplift us all and clear the way forward.

Myungae Lee’s colored pencil and oil pastel illustrations grip readers from the first page, where not even an inch separates the cars hemmed in on the bridge. You can feel the urgency of the commuters as your eye flits from Lee’s soft neutral hues to the neon yellows of headlights, concrete barriers, and a bus. Turning the page, a smudge of a kitten, alone amidst the gray of exhaust and cloud, rivets your eye. With every page turn, your perspective alters as you dart among the wheels with the kitten and are introduced to various onlookers. When the kitten disappears from sight (although eagle-eyed kids may spy him) and the woman pulls over to listen, Lee imbues two full-page spreads with maximum emotion and suspense until the cat is seen and rescued and the commuters exhale a communal sigh of relief.

Late Today is an absorbing story and conversation starter that’s sure to stir your heart. It will become a much-loved addition to home bookshelves and is a must for library collections.

Ages 4 – 8

Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2025 | ISBN 978-0802856494

About the Author

Jungyoon Huh studied child development and education in college and graduate school, and she now works as a picture book author, animation director, and university professor in South Korea. Her books have been selected for the White Ravens catalog and for the BRAW Amazing Bookshelf. Late Today is her English-language debut.

About the Illustrator

Myungae Lee is a South Korean picture book author and illustrator who has twice been selected as illustrator of the year at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair. Her work has received honors including the Nami Concours Green Island Award, the BIB Golden Plaque Award, and the BIB Golden Apple Award. In 2020, Lee was shortlisted for the AOI World Illustration Awards. Late Today is her English-language debut. Lee lives near the Seogang Bridge in Seoul, South Korea, and she often meets stray cats while walking to her studio. Follow Lee on Instagram @myungaelee.

About the Translator

Aerin Park is a Korean and English translator whose projects include the Korean-to-English translations of Okchundang Candy and The Legend of Tiger and Tail-Flower (both Levine Querido). She has also translated Korean source materials for Paula Yoo’s Rising from the Ashes (Norton) and served as an interpreter and cultural consultant for theatrical productions. Park lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where she enjoys reading Korean history with her children. Visit her website at aerinpark.com.

World Kindness Day Activity

Wandering Kitty Maze

Can you help this kitten find his way back home in this Wandering Kitty Maze?

You can purchase Late Today from these booksellers

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

Picture Book Review

November 12 – It’s World Kindness Week

Posted by Kath Carroll

About the Holiday

Today begins a week-long awareness of acts of kindness and how gestures of praise and encouragement of others can make life better for all. These days, when negativity seems all pervasive, take some time to look around and really see the goodness that is being done. Take a vow to join in and help make the world a better place for you and especially for your children. Just a smile, a single nice word or a helpful action can make a tremendous difference. To celebrate this week’s holiday, seek out opportunities to say something nice to your family members, friends, coworkers, and those you meet along the way.

Be Kind

Written by Pat Zietlow Miller | Illustrated by Jen Hill

At school during snack time when Tanisha spilled grape juice on her new dress, the class burst out laughing. One student remembered that their mom always taught them to be kind and tried to make Tanisha feel better by saying, “Purple is my favorite color.” The student thought Tanisha would smile, but she just ran away. All during art class, Tanisha’s classmate thought about what they should have done instead, wondering, “What does it mean to be kind anyway?”

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-be-kind-spilled-juice

Image copyright Jen Hill, 2018, text copyright Pat Zietlow Miller, 2018. Courtesy of us.macmillan.com.

They think, “Maybe it’s giving.” Like baking treats for someone who lives alone, or giving away old clothes to someone who can use them. Helping out might also show kindness. For instance, “putting dirty dishes in the sink” or taking care of a pet. Paying attention to others could be another way to show you care. Like noticing someone’s new shoes, offering to be the new girl’s partner in class, or even just listening to someone’s stories—even if you’ve heard them before. Sometimes being kind is easy, but there are other times when it can be challenging or even scary—“like sticking up for someone when other kids aren’t kind.”

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-be-kind-in-the-neighborhood

Image copyright Jen Hill, 2018, text copyright Pat Zietlow Miller, 2018. Courtesy of us.macmillan.com.

The child decides that maybe all they can do for Tanisha is to sit near her and paint her a picture of purple and green—of pretty violets. They hope that small acts like these will join with other people’s and that they will expand, fanning out from school into the community, across the country, around the world, and back. “So we can be kind. Again. And again. And again.”

celebrate-picture-books-picture-book-review-be-kind-around-town

Image copyright Jen Hill, 2018, text copyright Pat Zietlow Miller, 2018. Courtesy of us.macmillan.com.

Miller’s tender prose is perfect for planting the seeds of kindness and opening discussions about what it means to be caring and compassionate. With more and more children speaking up and creating change, Miller’s gentle and affirming story shows readers that it’s often the little things that count the most. Some of the examples she gives are acts that many children may do already, confirming their innate sensitivity, while others may spark new ideas and expand readers’ definition of kindness.

Jen Hill’s soft-hued illustrations beautifully depict the emotional tug at the heart that Tanisha’s spilled grape juice sets in motion for the protagonist and young readers. As one caring child wonders what kindness really is, Hill clearly portrays diverse children helping out at home, at school, and in their community locally and—as the kindness spreads—around the world. Hill draws the caring student with gender neutral clothing and hair, allowing all children to relate to the story’s main character.

Be Kind is a lovely perceptive and sensitive book that would be an asset to any home or classroom library.

Ages 3 – 6

Roaring Brook Press, 2018 | ISBN 978-1626723214

Discover more about Pat Zietlow Miller and her books on her website.

To learn more about Jen Hill, her books, and her art, visit her website.

World Kindness Week Activity

Say Something Nice! Cards

Do you want to give someone a nice surprise? Print out these cards and give one to a friend, to someone you’d like to know, or to anyone who looks like they need a pick-me-up! If you’d like to make your own cards, print out the blank template and write and/or draw your own message! You can also print these on adhesive paper and make your own stickers.

Say Something Nice! Cards | Say Something Nice! Cards Blank Template

**You can find Be Kind at these booksellers**

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-a-Million | IndieBound

Picture book review

About the Holiday

Late Today

Written by Jungyoon Huh | Illustrated by Myungae Lee | Translated by Aerin Park

World Kindness Day Activity

Wandering Kitty Maze

Share this:

About the Holiday

Be Kind

Written by Pat Zietlow Miller | Illustrated by Jen Hill

World Kindness Week Activity

Say Something Nice! Cards

You can find Be Kind at these booksellers

Share this:

**You can find Be Kind at these booksellers**