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When We Are Kind / Nihá'ádaahwiinít'íı̨̨̨̨̨̨̨̨̨́go
When We Are Kind celebrates simple acts of everyday kindness and encourages children to explore how they feel when they initiate and receive acts of kindness in their lives. Celebrated author Monique Gray Smith has written many books on the topics of resilience and reconciliation and communicates an important message through carefully chosen words for readers of all ages. Beautifully illustrated by artist Nicole Neidhardt, this book encourages children to be kind to others and to themselves.
35 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 13, 2020
6 people are currently reading
429 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 170 reviews
July 2, 2020
This is a lovely, heart warming book for young children that I would highly recommend!
This is a story about being kind, and it features Indigenous children in it. It's great to see more diversity in children's books, especially with a book that displays it in such a great way. Showing that kindness is important and can be shown in many ways is a lovely message and theme for the book.
Five out of five stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and Orca Books for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.
This is a story about being kind, and it features Indigenous children in it. It's great to see more diversity in children's books, especially with a book that displays it in such a great way. Showing that kindness is important and can be shown in many ways is a lovely message and theme for the book.
Five out of five stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and Orca Books for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.
June 19, 2020
This is a lovely little book for young readers that could help foster discussions around what it means to be kind (and also how we feel when we are kind and others are kind to us). In today's world, these are important messages suitable for all ages.
The illustrations depict mostly Indigenous children, which is nice to see. But that doesn't mean that this book can't be enjoyed, appreciated, and learned from by children of all backgrounds.
While the text and messaging are simple, they're also nice and clear. That makes perfect sense. Kindness shouldn't be difficult.
Overall, this is a nice book, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to other readers. It would also make a great classroom read with some follow-up discussion about kindness.
Thank you to NetGalley and Orca Book Publishers for providing a digital ARC.
The illustrations depict mostly Indigenous children, which is nice to see. But that doesn't mean that this book can't be enjoyed, appreciated, and learned from by children of all backgrounds.
While the text and messaging are simple, they're also nice and clear. That makes perfect sense. Kindness shouldn't be difficult.
Overall, this is a nice book, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to other readers. It would also make a great classroom read with some follow-up discussion about kindness.
Thank you to NetGalley and Orca Book Publishers for providing a digital ARC.
June 23, 2020
I loved this book so much. It tackles the wide definition of kindness and the many ways it can be shown in a way that even the smallest kids can understand. A lot of us adults could use the reminders, as well! The diversity featured in the book is wonderful. Highly recommended!
This unbiased review is based on a complimentary copy provided by the publisher.
This unbiased review is based on a complimentary copy provided by the publisher.
February 17, 2021
3.5 STARS
I love the message of this book! Being kind and respectful brings joy and fulfillment. I love that the emphasis here goes beyond just kindness and respect to other humans, but also encompasses kindness all creatures, the earth--and our own self. I think it's effective that the first half of the book shows the child's kindness to others... and the second half shows the child receiving kindness from others.
Unfortunately, for me, the book just doesn't have the emotional resonance I was hoping for. There's not so much a story as just a series of acts. I wasn't a huge fan of the illustration style, either--it felt a bit too computer-cartoony for me. Just personal taste here, others may love it. So, while on the one hand, I do highly recommend this book to all young readers, I just can't give it a super high star rating personally.
Note that this is #OwnVoices and is also published in French and in Diné-English editions.
Some examples from the book:
I am kind when I help my neighbor
I am kind when I only take from the earth what I need
I feel happy when my friend is kind to me
I feel grateful when the earth is kind to me
I feel respectful when I am kind to myself
I love the message of this book! Being kind and respectful brings joy and fulfillment. I love that the emphasis here goes beyond just kindness and respect to other humans, but also encompasses kindness all creatures, the earth--and our own self. I think it's effective that the first half of the book shows the child's kindness to others... and the second half shows the child receiving kindness from others.
Unfortunately, for me, the book just doesn't have the emotional resonance I was hoping for. There's not so much a story as just a series of acts. I wasn't a huge fan of the illustration style, either--it felt a bit too computer-cartoony for me. Just personal taste here, others may love it. So, while on the one hand, I do highly recommend this book to all young readers, I just can't give it a super high star rating personally.
Note that this is #OwnVoices and is also published in French and in Diné-English editions.
Some examples from the book:
I am kind when I help my neighbor
I am kind when I only take from the earth what I need
I feel happy when my friend is kind to me
I feel grateful when the earth is kind to me
I feel respectful when I am kind to myself
June 8, 2020
This rating/review is based on an advanced copy from Netgalley and Orca Books.
TREMENDOUS! I absolutely love Monique Gray Smith's picture books. She distills such complicated ideas into wonderful text perfect for even the youngest readers. The text is beautifully assisted by the fantastic illustrations by Nicole Neidhardt. The pictures depict specifically Native people, but also broadly focus on how we're all part of a larger community. I genuinely cannot wait to read this to children during story time. I think I might even request we buy it for our desk reference collection so I can have it on hand all the time! I like this book SO MUCH!!
TREMENDOUS! I absolutely love Monique Gray Smith's picture books. She distills such complicated ideas into wonderful text perfect for even the youngest readers. The text is beautifully assisted by the fantastic illustrations by Nicole Neidhardt. The pictures depict specifically Native people, but also broadly focus on how we're all part of a larger community. I genuinely cannot wait to read this to children during story time. I think I might even request we buy it for our desk reference collection so I can have it on hand all the time! I like this book SO MUCH!!
December 2, 2020
A lovely book showing ways to be kind to our families, our communities, our elders, the earth and ourselves. Appreciated the emphasis that kindness is reciprocal, both given and received, and the importance of being kind even to oneself! The text is short, perfect for infants to preschoolers who are just starting to learn how to be kind.
Written by Monique Gray Smith, of Cree and Lakota descent, and illustrated by a Navajo woman, Nicole Neidhardt , this book is bilingual in English and Diné. A French version and exclusively Diné version are also available. #ownvoices
Written by Monique Gray Smith, of Cree and Lakota descent, and illustrated by a Navajo woman, Nicole Neidhardt , this book is bilingual in English and Diné. A French version and exclusively Diné version are also available. #ownvoices
June 14, 2020
The world is a better place When We Are Kind.
Monique Gray Smith teamed up with Nicole Neidhardt to create this appealing book for young children. It is a primer, information on a necessary skill for their lifekit - the power and breadth of kindness. Together through art and words they touch on the many facets of this universal power in life, ably ensuring their message is accessible and fully understood by the youngest (and oldest) of us.
This book was chosen for my "grandma reads" session today, and there was great interest in differences and similarities in the subject matter. The characters show a variety of types of people, while the main group reflects the Navajo heritage of the illustrator, a point of great interest in my crew of listeners. (Look at the cool mom drumming!) Their comments and engagement as I read showed they grasped the message: kindness paves a path of inclusivity in a way and with an immediacy that no other behavior accomplishes as completely. When asked what other points they had picked up in the read, the older kiddos brought up the foundational theme that practicing kindness best starts at home.
The vote for our review: 5 stars!
Monique Gray Smith teamed up with Nicole Neidhardt to create this appealing book for young children. It is a primer, information on a necessary skill for their lifekit - the power and breadth of kindness. Together through art and words they touch on the many facets of this universal power in life, ably ensuring their message is accessible and fully understood by the youngest (and oldest) of us.
This book was chosen for my "grandma reads" session today, and there was great interest in differences and similarities in the subject matter. The characters show a variety of types of people, while the main group reflects the Navajo heritage of the illustrator, a point of great interest in my crew of listeners. (Look at the cool mom drumming!) Their comments and engagement as I read showed they grasped the message: kindness paves a path of inclusivity in a way and with an immediacy that no other behavior accomplishes as completely. When asked what other points they had picked up in the read, the older kiddos brought up the foundational theme that practicing kindness best starts at home.
The vote for our review: 5 stars!
June 20, 2020
Kindness is such a wonderful subject. What I liked about this book, besides the pictures, was that included in kindness to others, there was kindness to yourself, and kindness that the earth provides. That particular page sparked conversation with my seven year old when he wondered about "How the earth is kind to us?" It was a great point to make to him that the earth does indeed do us a great kindness in providing for us.
The pictures were great to look at as well. It is such an oddly specific thing, but I really loved the flowers... The illustrations of the family showed kindness in action.
The pictures were great to look at as well. It is such an oddly specific thing, but I really loved the flowers... The illustrations of the family showed kindness in action.
June 16, 2020
A very sweet book to teach children that it feels good to be kind to others, just as it feels good when others are kind to you. Lovely illustrations that include diverse people, written by an indigenous Canadian author.
June 10, 2020
What is kindness?
This book goes over all the qualities of kindness that children can partake in, such as helping ones family, sharing with others, and taking only as much from nature as one needs.
And it isn't only the child doing kind things, but others doing kind things for them. Feeling grateful when the earth is kind, feeling loved when their elders are kind, and how good you feel when you are kind to yourself.
Good picture book to read with a child, as you discuss the different acts of kindess found in the book.
But most of all, we need to be kind because we are all related.
Wonderful message for children, and adults as well.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
This book goes over all the qualities of kindness that children can partake in, such as helping ones family, sharing with others, and taking only as much from nature as one needs.
And it isn't only the child doing kind things, but others doing kind things for them. Feeling grateful when the earth is kind, feeling loved when their elders are kind, and how good you feel when you are kind to yourself.
Good picture book to read with a child, as you discuss the different acts of kindess found in the book.
But most of all, we need to be kind because we are all related.
Wonderful message for children, and adults as well.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
May 18, 2020
A good story to read with young listeners about how it feels to do kind things for others and to have kind things done to you as well. Simple, short text will be effective and impactful to the youngest readers in my school. The illustrations were very eye-catching.
May 22, 2020
I received an electronic ARC from Orca Book Publishers through NetGalley.
Simple text for younger readers to follow and plenty of meaning for older ones to reflect on. Gray Smith takes readers through various scenarios where people should be kind to others. The author also pulls in other emotions that can be triggered by being kind. Love how the emphasis switches in the middle to ways to be kind to yourself too. Each page offers a simple statement that families can discuss and build on. The illustrations are representative of what our world actually looks like.
Looking forward to sharing this one with young families.
Simple text for younger readers to follow and plenty of meaning for older ones to reflect on. Gray Smith takes readers through various scenarios where people should be kind to others. The author also pulls in other emotions that can be triggered by being kind. Love how the emphasis switches in the middle to ways to be kind to yourself too. Each page offers a simple statement that families can discuss and build on. The illustrations are representative of what our world actually looks like.
Looking forward to sharing this one with young families.
December 12, 2020
Children share different ways of being kind and how being kind makes them feel. The illustrations show Indigenous community members sharing with one another, helping one another, and nurturing and being nurtured by the earth. Beautiful and empowering.
Themes: Kindness, Community
Age range: Baby, Toddler, Preschool
Themes: Kindness, Community
Age range: Baby, Toddler, Preschool
June 25, 2020
When We Are Kind encourages children to be kind to themselves, their family, friends, the earth, and animals, along with giving kids ideas on how to be kind. It also discusses the emotions kids feel when they are kind or when someone is kind to them, such as happy and comforted.
The illustrations by New Mexican artist Nicole Neidhardt really pulls the book together. I especially love what I interpreted to be New Mexico landscapes- open blue skies, corn, an adobe house in one scene- and the accurate Native American influences present throughout the book, such as dreamcatchers, pottery, moccasins, and traditional drums. I loved the diversity throughout the book; most scenes revolve around a Native American or First Nation family, but one scene at school features a child using a wheelchair as well as several children of different skin tones. One of the terms used in the book is “elders,” which is an English word, of course, but is also a nod to the respect of ancestry which is so prevalent in indigenous homes.
Another thing I appreciate is When We Are Kind is written in two additional languages- French, which makes sense because Monique Gray Smith is Canadian; but also a bilingual English and Diné, or Navajo, translation. Diné, while one of the most prevalent Native American languages still spoken, is sadly becoming less common. Today, there are fewer than 170,000 speakers of Navajo in the United States, or less than .05% of the American population. Because of that, I am very enthusiastic about a book that celebrates such a special language that is not only vitally important to Navajo culture, but also served our country during wartime.
Overall, I strongly recommend When We Are Kind for any families who want to expose their children to Native American culture, whether Native American themselves, or those who have not exposure to it. This wonderful book celebrates Native culture, kindness, respect for others, which would make a great addition to any young child’s library.
Thanks to NetGalley and Orca Book Publishers for the opportunity to review this book for free in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Monique Gray Smith and Nicole Neidhart for making this important book a reality.
The illustrations by New Mexican artist Nicole Neidhardt really pulls the book together. I especially love what I interpreted to be New Mexico landscapes- open blue skies, corn, an adobe house in one scene- and the accurate Native American influences present throughout the book, such as dreamcatchers, pottery, moccasins, and traditional drums. I loved the diversity throughout the book; most scenes revolve around a Native American or First Nation family, but one scene at school features a child using a wheelchair as well as several children of different skin tones. One of the terms used in the book is “elders,” which is an English word, of course, but is also a nod to the respect of ancestry which is so prevalent in indigenous homes.
Another thing I appreciate is When We Are Kind is written in two additional languages- French, which makes sense because Monique Gray Smith is Canadian; but also a bilingual English and Diné, or Navajo, translation. Diné, while one of the most prevalent Native American languages still spoken, is sadly becoming less common. Today, there are fewer than 170,000 speakers of Navajo in the United States, or less than .05% of the American population. Because of that, I am very enthusiastic about a book that celebrates such a special language that is not only vitally important to Navajo culture, but also served our country during wartime.
Overall, I strongly recommend When We Are Kind for any families who want to expose their children to Native American culture, whether Native American themselves, or those who have not exposure to it. This wonderful book celebrates Native culture, kindness, respect for others, which would make a great addition to any young child’s library.
Thanks to NetGalley and Orca Book Publishers for the opportunity to review this book for free in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Monique Gray Smith and Nicole Neidhart for making this important book a reality.
June 13, 2021
When We Are Kind by Monique Gray Smith is a bright and beautiful, thoroughly Native children's picture book about kindness--to everyone and everything around us. Colorful yet peaceful illustrations are filled with diverse representation (child in a wheelchair, Black and Native children, etc.) and tiny details that subtly affirm Native culture and traditions, from elders wearing turquoise jewelry, to patterned blankets hanging on a laundry line, to moccasins by a bed, and to three sisters gardens, among others. This book affirms kindness, not only to friends or immediate family, but to elders, to the earth, to animals, and even to ourselves. It affirms the interconnection of all things, or as the last page says, "When we are kind, we remember we are all related." The text on each 2 page spread is simple and brief, and uses the artwork to help convey the message, so this could be an appropriate book for a range of ages, including very young children.
Thank you to #NetGalley and Orca Publishers for sharing a temporary digital advanced copy of #WhenWeAreKind in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to #NetGalley and Orca Publishers for sharing a temporary digital advanced copy of #WhenWeAreKind in exchange for an honest review.
arc
June 29, 2020A short book focused around one of lifes most simple and yet important lessons. "When we are kind" is a book that encourages children to be kind to others and to themselves. This book has simple sentences that outline easy ways that we can be kind in our day to day activities. The illustrations are lovely and focus on native people which was beautiful and refreshing to see.
The words were relatable and easy to understand. The accompanying illustrations bring life to the words and make them memorable. Kids would easily grasp this concept and I think this book would be a great addition to any classroom bookshelf.
I recieved a digital copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The words were relatable and easy to understand. The accompanying illustrations bring life to the words and make them memorable. Kids would easily grasp this concept and I think this book would be a great addition to any classroom bookshelf.
I recieved a digital copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 12, 2021
A simple litany of ways one can be kind, followed by gentle acknowledgment of how one might feel when on the receiving end of kindnesses. There is nothing astounding or unexpected here, just an easy and soothing — almost chant-like — look at kindness and community.
November 15, 2020
I love books that have diverse characters. This was a fun book to read with my daughter and will definitely become one we give as gifts.
January 8, 2021
Beautiful. K-3.
August 15, 2021
A nice little story of how kindness impacts the individual, peers, and the environment around a small indigenous family.
April 12, 2022
I love how the author included not only kindess to others, but to yourself and the earth. It included beautiful and diverse illustrations of all ethnicities and cultures. Great book for young children to read in classroom libraries.
November 15, 2023
TALK, SEL
September 25, 2024
bought this earlier since my coworker is having a baby shower and this was really cute
December 15, 2025
Feel-good | Interpersonal relations | Detailed illustrations | Indigenous (appeal terms from NoveList) - Emma
December 9, 2020
I absolutely LOVE this book. (If it were just my review, it would get 5 stars). My little was slightly less enthusiastic about it, but it would be perfect for Preschool+ storytimes! Great definition of what kindness is and why it is important. Also, very diverse and important in terms of inclusivity and representation. Absolutely wonderful.
December 13, 2020
This is a picture book about kindness that feature indigenous characters/illustrations and includes English and Diné translations of the text.
I personally prefer picture books that contain a storyline or rhymes but I did like the bilingual component. I imagine there aren't too many Diné picture books out there...
I personally prefer picture books that contain a storyline or rhymes but I did like the bilingual component. I imagine there aren't too many Diné picture books out there...
March 3, 2022
Beautiful illustrations and dual language translation of English and Dine.
October 10, 2023
Not all books about being kind are good. Thankfully, this one is.
June 30, 2020
Dual-language English and Diné edition. Pictures are very inclusive and the very simple text would be a good jumping off point for discussion surrounding kindness and ways to help others. Pictures and some aspects of the text provide opportunities to discuss Navajo culture and values.
Thanks to the publisher for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to the publisher for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 8, 2021
Reading this tomorrow to kick off Valentine Week! Nice, understandable, and relatable. I love the representation in the illustrations. I’ll definitely reread!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 170 reviews