ABC of Kindness

Patricia Hegarty and Summer Macon have made a board book that earns its place on the shelf without being preachy about it — which, for a kindness theme, is harder than it sounds. Each letter pairs a kindness idea with a rhyming couplet, and the cheerful stuffed-animal illustrations (bear, bunny, giraffe, and friends) give toddlers familiar, cuddly faces to connect with. The rhymes make read-aloud easy and fun, and Kirkus Reviews was right to call the whole thing 'light, friendly, and not at all preachy.' The caveat is mild: a few letters stretch to fit the theme, and the book is brief enough that older preschoolers may move through it quickly. For ages two to five, though, it is a gentle, well-crafted introduction to caring for others.