Stories of Kindness from Around the World

Below are some adult and children's fiction/non-fiction books and video. If you have any additions, please do leave a comment on this story.

Adult Nonfiction

• Above All, Be Kind: Raising a Humane Child in Challenging Times
  --By Zoe Weil
  Instructions for raising children to be compassionate, to respect people and the environment, and to make wise choices during the early, middle, teenage, and young adult years.
  
  
• How to Change the World: Social Entrepreneurs and the Power of New Ideas
  --By David Bornstein
  By sharing the stories of innovators, activists, and social entrepreneurs, Bornstein presents the four basic practices of successful innovative organizations and six qualities necessary for social entrepreneurship.
  
  
• An Open Heart: Practicing Compassion in Everyday Life
  --By the Dalai Lama
  A treasury of teachings founded upon two ancient Buddhist texts, this work builds a bridge between everyday life and the spiritual pursuits of compassion, happiness, and wisdom.
  
  
• Raising Kids Who Will Make a Difference: Helping Your Family Live With Integrity, Value Simplicity, and Care for Others
  --By Susan V. Vogt
  Tips for parents on raising socially-responsible children who will make positive contributions to the world. Topics include materialism, racism, and global awareness.
  
  
• Random Acts of Kindness
  --By Daphne Rose Kingma and Dawna Markova
  A collection of quotes, stories, anecdotes, and suggestions that will inspire kindness and compassion through small gestures of grace.
  
  
• A Short Course in Kindness: A Little Book on the Importance of Love and the Relative Unimportance of Just About Everything Else
  --By Margot Silk Forrest
  A charming exploration of kindness, love, and self-esteem, and how to both embrace and express them every day. Foreword by Catherine Ryan Hyde.

Adult Fiction

• Joanna and Ulysses
  --By May Sarton
  Joanna has taken a vacation to the Greek island of Santorini in hopes of rest and healing. When the vacation and painting aren.t enough, it is caring for a mistreated donkey that finally helps Joanna to feel whole again.
  
  
• Schindler's List
  --By Thomas Keneally
  Based on a true story of a German war profiteer who is so moved by the plight of the Jews during the Holocaust that he risks his own life to save thousands of others.
  
  
• The Traveler.s Gift: Seven Decisions that Determine Personal Success
  --By Andy Andrews
  In this allegorical tragedy, David Ponder suffers a midlife crisis and is transported to seven key points in history where he learns lessons about life and personal success.

Children's Nonfiction

• The Kid's Guide to Social Action: How to Solve the Social Problems You Choose -- and Turn Creative Thinking into Positive Action
  --By Barbara A. Lewis
  A children's resource guide for solving social problems at local, regional, and national levels, and developing political action skills.
  
  
• Profiles in Courage
  --By John F. Kennedy, illustrated by Emil Weiss
  Profiles of eight historical senators who stood up for what they believed was right against social and political pressure.
  
  
• True Stories: Girls. Inspiring Stories of Courage and Heart
  --By American Girl
  Stories of young girls who have survived disasters, rescued others, given back to their communities, and been great friends.

Children's Fiction

• Journey to an 800 Number
  --By E.L. Konigsburg
  After his mother.s remarriage, Bo must spend a month with his father. There he meets many different types of people who teach him about loyalty, love, and the difference between class and first-class.
  
  
• One Hundred Shining Candles
  --By Janet Lunn
  Two frontier children are determined to create a wonderful Christmas for their family despite illness and setbacks.
  
  
• One Smile
  --By Cindy McKinley and Mary Gregg Byrne
  The touching story of how one simple smile given from a small girl to a young man becomes a chain of good deeds that affects a community of people.
  
  
• The Three Questions
  --By Jon J. Muth
  Young Nikolai wants to become a good person by answering three questions: .When is the best time to do things?. .Who is most important?. and .What is the right thing to do?. Follow Nikolai as he asks animals for answers and learns about doing good deeds.

Videos

• Hotel Rwanda
  The true story of Paul Rusesabagina who used his hotel to house Tutsi refugees during Rwanda.s brutal civil war. Starring Don Cheadle.
  
  
• It.s a Wonderful Life
  The story of a man who comes to understand the difference he has made in the world, and the fact that his life really does matter. Starring James Stewart and Donna Reed.
  
  
• Pay It Forward
  A film adaptation of the book, starring Kevin Spacey, Helen Hunt, and Haley Joel Osment.

Any Suggestions?