Member Reviews

Great messaging teaching all about kindness and giving great real life examples. I think this is great for a kindergarten aged kid. The story flows well, has great illustrations and was easy to consume but contains so many important things to consider everyday as we interact with one another.

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I absolutely LOVE this book. It is a perfect way to show kids ways they can be kind to others. For some kids saying to them "Be Kind" is vague. I love that this book gives kids examples of ways they can and likely already are being kind to others. I will definitely be buying this book for my store when it becomes available and I will be buying it for my friends and family with young children.

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This book is an educator’s dream. Not only does it make you feel good, it teaches kindness in a fun creative way, it rhymes, and it was written by a difference making child author. I adore the way this book is written by using a nemonic device with the letters k-I-n-d. It gives the children easy to use ideas on spreading kindness. I am very excited to use this book in my classroom. I will suggest this book to my colleagues and purchase a copy for our library. This is a must have in all elementary classrooms.

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This book isn't just for kids. This book is great for all ages. It's such an inspiring story to help others see ways to help others and love on other people. It's a great resource to help spread love and kindness to those in your community. The book is illustrated so beautifully. And written in a very poetic way
I cant wait to buy a copy of this book for my kids home library. This book would be a great resource for teachers and schools. Thank you Netgalley for sharing this book with me in exchange for my honest review.

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A beautiful book that promotes random acts of kindness for kids. The illustrations are fabulous along with the beautiful story that becomes a wonderful conversation starter for young kids. My oldest child who is almost 4 loved this book and we used it as a starter piece for some art work. A beautiful book to teach valuable life skills to kids. I really loved that this book teaches children about becoming aware of others and mindful of how their actions can impact others.

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Orion Jean the author of Race to Kindness writes about his own race. Nine years old, he writes for other children encouraging them on how to be kind using the letters "kind" on the many ways to be kind. It helps children to be aware of others around them. Is someone by themselves. Is anyone struggling. Do they need help. With good illustrations, your children will find ways to be kind too. It is a great resource for families to be kind together.

A special thank you to Zonderkidz and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

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What a delightful book! Beautiful message. Fun illustrations. This Nana absolutely recommends it! Thanks #NetGalley

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I want this book on every child's bookshelf! This is an amazing story with a powerful message that really brought tears to my eyes. I love books that really dive deep and this one did just that. Children and parents will LOVE this book.

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Orion Jean invites you to join the Race to Kindness. An inspiration from an early age, Jean, the 2021 TIME Kid of the Year, encourages young people to perform acts of kindness in their daily lives in this fun, rhyming story coming from Zonderkidz in May 2024.

Illustrated by Darishka Varma, young readers will follow a diverse group of characters in lacing up their sneakers to join Jean as they keep their eyes open, include others, understand that no act of kindness is too small, and do something. A true call to action is set against the colorful artwork provided by Varma.

Celebrate random acts of kindness on a daily basis with your youngster, letting Race to Kindness inspire all sorts of ideas.

Highly recommended!

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This was absolutely adorable, I am quite upset it won’t be published until May, because my baby and I both loved it, and I want to get him a copy that I can read over and over again ASAP. My Library will be purchasing it but I will also be purchasing a copy for myself. It has everything that I look for in a children’s book, it rhymes, the pictures are simple and colorful, it has an amazing message and a picture show diverse kinds of people. Absolutely wonderful! Such a great and important message.

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Race to Kindness by Orion Jean is a truly delightful and inspiring children's book that will warm your heart and leave you feeling inspired. As a bonus mom to a 7-year-old daughter, I am always on the lookout for engaging ways to instill important values in her, and this book provides the perfect avenue.

Orion Jean takes young readers on a beautiful journey, showing us all the different ways we can be kind and reminding us that even the smallest acts of kindness can have a big impact. The story promotes inclusivity and highlights that in the race of kindness, we are all winners. This message resonates throughout the book and reflects the genuine kindness we should all strive for in our lives.

What really struck me about this book was Orion's own journey, from getting involved in his local community to making a nationwide impact. It serves as an inspiring example to young readers, showing them that age should never hold them back from making a positive difference in the world.

This book is so much more than just a children's book—it's a call to action for young hearts to embrace kindness and showcases the incredible potential within each child to make the world a better place. Orion Jean has truly created a masterpiece that deserves a special place on every child's bookshelf, sparking conversations about empathy, generosity, and the profound impact of even the smallest acts of kindness.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishing team for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

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Looking for a sweet and beautiful book to add to your #kindnesslibrary? Race to Kindness is written by Time Magazine’s 2021 Kid of the Year, @orion_monaco_jean and illustrated by @Darshika_Varma. Our world needs more people like Orion and more books like this one.
Everyone is welcome, everyone wins.

Written in rhyming, lyrical text, it offers advice that is easy for kids to understand and apply to their daily lives.

We also love the beautifully diverse, inclusive, and multicultural illustrations.

Race to Kindness will be published on May 7, 2024
Thanks to @NetGalley for the ARC.

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This was lovely! My son who is 8 years old, loved this! The rhymes were cute but the words were meaningful! It reminds you that no act of kindness is too small! We should all be doing our part to be kind and help others. I loved the illustrations as well! My son was excited to learn that the author is a child like he is, and that he helped a local children's hospital (as we live just north of Dallas). This was a very good book and helps your kids learn things they can do to help others and be kind! My son said this book was "10 stars" but since Goodreads only allows us 5 stars, we settled for that! Lol

I received this book from NetGalley to read and review. All of the statements above are my true opinions after fully reading this book with my son.

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Bravo. I loved this book. It should be read in every elementary classroom. The illustrations are beautiful and the message is much needed. A great way to encourage kindness for children. I will be adding this to my shelf and adding it to my list of books I gift to other parents. 5 Stars.

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Thanks to NetGalley and Zonderkidz for the advanced reading copy of this book!
This book was absolutely brilliant! My 2 year old was engaged the whole time and repeated a lot of the words and phrases, she especially enjoyed the large BE KIND letters she could recognize.
The message of being kind is perfect for all ages and readers, and anyone who reads it will be able to connect with the message.
I am happy to see all of the inclusivity throughout the book and the easy, everyday ways to BE K.I.N.D.

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Thanks NetGalley for the preview!

This book had great examples on how to be kind in real life. It’s always important to teach kindness! And even more important to be kind! Even though the title says race-everyone wins!

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A beautiful and meaningful book about the importance of kindness. Throughout the book there are many examples of acts of kindness we can do everyday. I enjoyed this aspect of the book the most because it shows that even the smallest act can make a difference. I would definitely recommend this book!

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THIS IS ABSOLUTELY, PERFECTLY PRECIOUS AND SO UPLIFTING. This needs to be a mandatory staple in ALL classrooms and home libraries. It really does teacher readers how to be kind in so many different ways! And it can be a GREAT read aloud for World Kindness Day!

This was really truly special and I'm so grateful I was able to read it. Thank you so much.

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Wow! What an inspiring and lovely book this is. A gently rhyming text gives lots of examples of how to show acts of kindness to different people in different situations and will promote discussion of other examples that children could come up with. The illustrations are bright, engaging and inclusive. What is even more inspiring is the story of author who was kid of the year in 2021 . What an amazing young person Orion Jean is!
This book would make a lovely gift to share with a young family member, or a gift for a favourite teacher to share with class members at school. My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me early access to this digital copy.

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Adorable idea! I love the beginning with the place to put the child’s name and welcoming them to the race. That’s a great way to help them feel involved and more excited to do it!

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