Children's books that teach empathy

You Matter

Christian Robinson

For fans of Jon Klassen, this sensitive and impactful picture book from award-winning author-illustrator Christian Robinson is all about seeing the world from different points of view, and the perfect…

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Hardback

One Day, So Many Ways

Laura Hall,Loris Lora

A day in the life of over 40 children around the world.

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Paperback

When Friendship Followed Me Home

Paul Griffin,Paul Griffin

A boy’s chance encounter with a scruffy dog leads to an unforgettable friendship in this deeply moving story about life, loss and the meaning of family

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Paperback

A Different Boy

Paul Jennings

Anton escapes from an orphanage and successfully stows away on a boat headed for the land of ‘sunshine and steaks’. A heartbreaking and heartwarming tale of loss, guilt, mistaken identity…

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The Promise Horse

Jackie Merchant

Harry is tired of being the tall new kid with red hair, big feet and freckles; the one with the dead sister whose voice follows her wherever she goes. Everyone…

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Paperback

Front Desk

Kelly Yang

Recent immigrants from China, desperate for money, ten-year-old Mia Tang’s parents take a job managing a rundown Southern California motel for skinflint Mr. Yao, whose son is the only other…

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Inheritance

Carole Wilkinson

Historical fiction for middle grade readers at its compelling, shocking, fascinating best.

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Paperback

A Song Only I Can Hear

Barry Jonsberg

Rob has a huge crush on the new girl at school. But Rob is painfully shy and suffers severe panic attacks. How is her heart to be won? Another wonderful…

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Paperback

My Girragundji (20th Anniversary Edition)

Boori Monty Pryor,Meme McDonald

The 20th anniversary edition of the award-winning, much loved story that tells how a little tree frog helps a boy find the courage to face his fears.

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Paperback

The Lotterys Plus One

Emma Donoghue

The one thing in life that never changes… is that sooner or later things change.

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Paperback

Help Around the House

Morris Gleitzman

Ludo helps other people. It’s how he was brought up. When Dad is elected to Federal Parliament, Ludo grabs the chance to make Australia an even better place. But he…

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Paperback

Amina’s Voice

Hena Khan

A Pakistani-American Muslim girl struggles to stay true to her family’s vibrant culture while simultaneously blending in at school after tragedy strikes her community.

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Paperback

Magrit

Lee Battersby

An award-winning, evocative book for younger readers by Lee Battersby and Amy Daoud.

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Paperback

You Must Be Layla

Yassmin Abdel-Magied,Yassmin Abdel-Magied

Layla’s mind goes a million miles a minute, so does her mouth - unfortunately her better judgement can take a while to catch up!

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Hardback

No One Likes a Fart

Zoe Foster Blake

A sweet, funny story about accepting yourself and finding a friend who loves you just the way you are. Mostly, though, it’s about a fart. And fart jokes. Loooots of…

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Hardback

Girl on Wire

Lucy Estela

A poignantly beautiful story from the CBCA Shortlisted author of Suri’s Wall, Lucy Estela, and Prime Minister’s Literary Award shortlisted illustrator of Adelaide’s Secret World, Elise Hurst.

Girl on Wire…

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Hardback

Dragon Post

Emma Yarlett

A fiery story about friendship and asking for help from award-winning author-illustrator Emma Yarlett.

One day Alex finds a dragon living in the cupboard under the stairs. Luckily he knows…

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Hardback

I’m Australian Too

Mem Fox

I’m Australian! How about you?

Many people from many places have come across the seas to make Australia their home. How Australian is that? From countries near and far, many…

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Paperback

Everything I’ve Never Said

Samantha Wheeler

A powerful novel about a subject rarely tackled - young people with disabilities and the families who love and support them.

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Hardback

You Don’t Know Everything, Jilly P!

Alex Gino

Alex Gino, the Lambda Literary Award-winning author of George, is back with another sensitive tale based on increasingly relevant social justice issues.

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Paperback

Some Boys

Nelly Thomas

Some Boys is the second in a series of kids books aimed at challenging old-fashioned stereotypes about boys and girls.

It is a story about how everyone is different and…

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Paperback

Some Girls

Nelly Thomas,Sarah Dunk

Some girls are good with cars and bikes. Some girls are good with art and kites. Some girls are good with puzzles and maths. And some girls are good with…

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Paperback

Whoever You Are

Mem Fox

Every day all over Australia, children are laughing and crying, playing and learning, eating and sleeping. They may not look the same or speak the same language but inside, they…

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Paperback

Dogger

Shirley Hughes

When Dave loses his favourite toy, Dogger, he is desolate. But then Dogger turns up at the school summer fair, and everything seems all right - until someone else buys…

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Paperback

The Peacock Detectives

Carly Nugent

Shortlisted for the 2017 Text Prize, The Peacock Detectives is a delightfully Australian story about self-discovery and dealing with change for upper middle-graders.

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Paperback

Black Cockatoo

Carl Merrison,Hakea Hustler

Finalist for the Readings Children’s Book Prize 2019

Black Cockatoo is a vignette that follows Mia, a young Aboriginal girl as she explores the fragile connections of family and culture.

…

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Hardback

Wren

Katrina Lehman

Wren just wants a bit of peace and quiet. What he gets is the noisiest baby sister you could ever imagine! But when Wren runs away to the country, he…

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Hardback

Wisp

Zana Fraillon

A refugee story of extraordinary power and beauty from the Amnesty CILIP Honour-winning author of The Bone Sparrow, Zana Fraillon, and Kate Greenaway Medal-winning illustrator Grahame Baker Smith.

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Hardback

Under the Love Umbrella

Davina Bell, Allison Colpoys

From this award-winning creative duo comes a stunning celebration of the joy and comfort that love can bring - wherever we roam in the big, wild world.

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Lenny’s Book of Everything

Karen Foxlee

A big-hearted novel about loving and letting-go by an award-winning author.

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Hardback

All the Ways to be Smart

Davina Bell, Allison Colpoys (illus.)

From the award-winning creators of The Underwater Fancy-dress Parade and Under the Love Umbrella comes this joyful ode to all the unique and wonderful qualities that make children who they…

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Paperback

Pax

Sara Pennypacker

The moving story of the extraordinary friendship between a boy and his fox and their epic journey to be reunited. Beautifully illustrated by multi-award winner, Jon Klassen.

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Paperback

Catch a Falling Star

Meg McKinlay

This coming-of-age story by multiple-award-winner Meg McKinlay is about loss and grief, dealing with change and fighting to hold on to what you can, while letting go of what you…

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My Two Blankets

Irena Kobald, Freya Blackwood (illus,)

A beautiful tale about friendship and culture, paired with award-winning Freya Blackwood’s stunning illustrations

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Paperback

Room on Our Rock

Jol Temple,Kate Temple

Two seals are perched on a rock. When others need shelter, do they share it? Room on Our Rock celebrates the truth that there are two sides to every story.

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Hardback

The Wayward Witch and the Feelings Monster: Polly and Buster Book One

Sally Rippin

From Australia’s best-selling female author, Sally Rippin, comes Polly and Buster - a brand new junior fiction series about the magic of friendship.

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Board book

Love Makes a Family

Sophie Beer

Whether you have two mums, two dads, one parent, or one of each, there’s one thing that makes a family a family… and that’s love. A book for EVERY family…

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Paperback

Enid and her two mums

Jessica Skogstad

Young Enid is on her usual walk to school one day, when she notices that her family looks slightly different to the other families she sees on the street.

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Paperback

I Am Malala

Malala Yousafzai,Patricia McCormick

Written by Malala for her peers, this is the story of the girl behind the Nobel Prize-winning icon.

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Paperback

Hope in a Ballet Shoe

Michaela DePrince,Elaine DePrince

Growing up in war-torn Sierra Leone, she witnesses atrocities that no child ever should. Her father is killed by rebels and her mother dies of famine. Sent to an orphanage…

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Paperback

My Friend Is Sad

Mo Willems

One of a series of delightfully humorous award-winning tales for beginner readers from an internationally acclaimed author-illustrator

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Paperback

My Big Shouting Day

Rebecca Patterson

Bella’s biscuit is broken, she has a hurting foot and ballet is too itchy for words. All she can do is shout. But by the end of the day, when…

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Board book

Making Faces: A First Book of Emotions

Abrams Appleseed

An interactive book of faces that includes a mirror to encourage babies to recognise and mimic facial expressions, match and play

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Board book

Everywhere Babies

Susan Meyers

With an irresistible rhyme and delightfully endearing illustrations, this board book is an exuberant celebration of playing, sleeping, crawling, and doing all the wonderful things babies do best. Full color.

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Paperback

How Do You Feel?

Anthony Browne

A book about feelings, for the very young child.

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Paperback

The Day No One was Angry

Toon Tellegen,Marc Boutavant

Twelve stunningly illustrated, poetic, and funny stories about grumpy animals from an internationally acclaimed Dutch writer and a hugely popular French illustrator.

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Paperback

Grover Finds a Home (Grover McBane, Rescue Dog Book 1)

Claire Garth

Grover is a brave dog, but right now he’s cold, wet, hungry and afraid.

After escaping from his owner’s yard in a thunderstorm, Grover is taken to a local animal…

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Paperback

The One and Only Ivan

Katherine Applegate

Winner of the Newbery Medal 2013

Inspired by a true story, this is the beautifully written tale of how a mighty gorilla wins his freedom. A winning blend of humour…

In stock at 5 shops, ships in 3-4 daysIn stock at 5 shops

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Children's books that teach empathy

You Matter

One Day, So Many Ways

When Friendship Followed Me Home

A Different Boy

The Promise Horse

Front Desk

Inheritance

A Song Only I Can Hear

My Girragundji (20th Anniversary Edition)

The Lotterys Plus One

Help Around the House

Amina’s Voice

Magrit

You Must Be Layla

No One Likes a Fart

Girl on Wire

Dragon Post

I’m Australian Too

Everything I’ve Never Said

You Don’t Know Everything, Jilly P!

Some Boys

Some Girls

Whoever You Are

Dogger

The Peacock Detectives

Black Cockatoo

Wren

Wisp

Under the Love Umbrella

Lenny’s Book of Everything

All the Ways to be Smart

Pax

Catch a Falling Star

My Two Blankets

Room on Our Rock

The Wayward Witch and the Feelings Monster: Polly and Buster Book One

Love Makes a Family

Enid and her two mums

I Am Malala

Hope in a Ballet Shoe

My Friend Is Sad

My Big Shouting Day

Making Faces: A First Book of Emotions

Everywhere Babies

How Do You Feel?

The Day No One was Angry

Grover Finds a Home (Grover McBane, Rescue Dog Book 1)

The One and Only Ivan