This is such a sweet book! I really enjoyed the audiobook and it was fun to listen to in the car with my kids. This audiobook would be a great way to start the day and listen on our drive to school. I would definitely get this book for my family. I recommend it! I received a free copy of this book from netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

I lovved this book!!! It was very quick and easy to listen to!!! With great meaning as well!!! I will be recommending this book to others!

I haven't read the book but having Time Kid of the Year already sold me. I like the narration of Orion Jean and the story itself. So engaging and encouraging to the listener specially kids who will want to be like Orion.

I loved this book so much! It is such a great lesson in things we can ALL do to be more kind. It’s definitely one I want for my library!

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC. This is a very sweet book, well written and the rhyming was perfect! The whole idea is to use the word KIND to remember to be kind and all the things that going into being kind. It’s very positive and I loved it. The interview with the author was very cool, too! Great for families!

Race To Kindness is a wonderful listen! It has a beautiful message of the importance of kindness for children and adults! The audiobook was engaging and easy to listen to. By looking at the cover illustration, it’s clear that the physical book will be a beautiful addition to every bookshelf!! Thank you to Orion Jean, Zonderkidz and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book prior to publishing.

This audiobook of the picture book is read by the author. In Jean’s voice you can hear the passion they have for the message of kindness this book gives. The message of kindness is presented in an acrostic poem and you can feel the rhythm of the words through Jean’s voice. The cover that we are shown seems to have a diverse cast of characters and I hope to read the physical version of this book to see the illustration that accompany the beautiful and important words Jean has written.

"Race to Kindness" by Orion Jean is a children's picture book about the many things you can do to be kind to others. I listened to the audiobook narrated by the author in his calm, clear voice. The book is written in rhyme with ABAB quatrains, and it reads very smoothly. It is inspiring to me, and I bet it would inspire children and adults alike!

Each letter of the word KIND is explained with examples of being kind.

K for "Keep your eyes open for deeds to be done or kind words to be spoken." Brighten the day of someone feeling down.

I for Including others, such as inviting others who might need a meal if you're able.

N for "Nothing is too small to make a big mark." Donate some things you don't use anymore.

D is for "Do something about it." Be kind. Take action. You can make a difference.

In the audio version, there is an About the Author section followed by an interview with the Author.

At 9 years old, Orion Jean won the Think Kindness National Kindness Speech Contest in 2020. After that, he collected 500 toys, then 100,000 meals in one month, and after that, he collected 500,000 books for donation. He has been sharing the "Be kind" message all around the country. In 2021, at age 11, he won the Times Magazine Kid of the Year for his accomplishments!

I highly recommend this book to everyone!! School libraries, classrooms, and family homes will benefit from this book!

Thank you to Netgalley, Zonderkidz, and author Orion Jean for providing this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Zonderkidz for advanced access to Race to Kindness.
A beautiful message about spreading kindness and how it makes people feel loved and cared for.
I had access to the audio version, but what drew me to the book were the cover illustrations. So cute and colorful!
Publication date is May 7th!

This story was so cute and intentional! The race where all are considered, seen, included and wins. Beautifully written! I love how each letter was broken down to help children and their parents gain tips on how to give kindness to those in their world. “Every big wave starts with a small splash.” What a beautiful way to remind us all that our efforts have a ripple effect that is beyond us! Loved the interview with the author afterwards. Bravo!!!

A great book explaining what it ia to be kind to those around us. Also, why we should be kind. The race is on to kindness!

This is a really lovely book. This kid is definitely a role model for the world in kindness and I love that it’s him reading the story and the interview afterwards. Will definitely have my kids listen. Go Orion!

Thank you Zonderkidz for allowing me to read and review Race to Kindness on NetGalley.

Narrators: Orion Jean, McDonald Jean

Stars: 4

Great message. The book itself is just a few minutes. The remainder of the time is an interview with the young man who was Time 2021 Kid of the Year.

This gives examples on how simple acts of kindness mean so much. The moral if the story is to do your part and not fret on what you cannot do.

This needs to be read with a caregiver in a relaxed environment.

I enjoyed the poem about kindness and found it rather cute. I only listened to the audiobook and can'r comment on the illustrations of the picture book.
There is not really a story in this book, per say. It is rather a simple poem which is entertaining enough and a good reminder to all of us that through small acts of kindness, we can make the world a better place.
After the little poem there is an interview, which I am unsure of whether is only in the auiobook or the printed version as well. Either way I found it deeply unnecessary and it did not contribute to the book whatsoever. If the book is to be used as promotional material like that - as it clearly seemed to be - then a simple paragraph about this individual being interviewed would have sufficed.

This was a great book to share with my niece. She really enjoyed listening to it. We will listen to it again.

Audio book 14 minutes, including bonus info/interview with author

What does it mean to be kind? How does one be kind? This absolutely delightful book has some very simple, direct answers to both. It's both inspiring and packed full of thoughtful, useful ideas, largely based on the idea that while we can't all save the world, we can make a difference. I was absolutely blown away to read about author Orion Jean, who won the 2021 TIME Kid of the Year award. That's all the more impressive since he entered only after being prodded by a teacher when only one day remained until the deadline. I had the audio version of this, read by the author, so make sure you listen all the way through to the short recap of Orion Jean's life till now as well as a very well done interview with him at the end. This young man is very well spoken and deserves to be widely heard. His narration was excellent and his kind voice was perfect.

I won't detail the book, it's one you simply need on your bookshelf whether child or adult, but was impressed with the reminder that one small, positive action is better than none at all. For example, that encouraging 4th grade teacher surely changed Orion Jean's life by believing in and nudging him to excel. The term ripple is used frequently in the interview, I will note, as in one small ripple is how bigger waves begin, a handy reminder that even ones smallest efforts can have an impact far beyond your individual reach. Kindness isn't measured and I loved the idea that some of the suggestions, done in lyrical, rhyming fashion, I should note, are very simple, from calling a friend to see how they are to a simple smile, things we can all do. Bottom line, I highly recommend this book. My thanks to Orion Jean, such a wise young man, and #NetGalley and #ZonderKidz for putting it out there for the world. I will be checking for other work from this author, that's for sure.

I read this with my 5 year old and 8 year old. We loved how calming yet upbeat the reader was. What a beautiful story to spread kindness. I think it something all children need to hear. I also liked the interview with the Author. So humbling and sweet!

This was a beautiful book for elementary aged children with poetic rhyming, perfect for a school’s kindness week.

My kindergartener loved listening to this audiobook which reminded her of acts of kindness she has both done and received. It encourages children to be creative in loving and serving others and provides examples of kind deeds young children are capable of doing.

I loved the bonus audio content sharing about Orion’s story and the author’s interview with him. He is an incredible example for other children and of how one small act of kindness can quickly morph into world changing projects. I will definitely be including this book as part of my school’s kindness week activities.

My son and I both really enjoyed listening to this. We listened to it in the car, so it provided us a great opportunity to talk about kindness. It’s such a great message for young children. I enjoyed the addition of the author interview too. The cover is adorable too!

I love this book and it’s message about kindness, and teaches children that no act of kindness is too small.. it’s done with rhyming phrases so that also helps when remembering the messages in this book, It shows children the importance of kindness and how it makes someone feel when they are treated with such care and love.