What Is Empathy?

Reach for this book when your child is struggling with playground politics, feeling misunderstood, or having difficulty seeing why a friend acted out. It is a vital tool for those moments when a child feels like a 'victim' or a 'villain' in a social conflict and needs help navigating the messy middle ground of human emotions. The story follows best friends Ava and Sofia through a realistic bullying incident, but with a unique twist: the story is told twice, once from each girl's perspective. By exploring both sides of the same conflict, the book teaches children ages 5 to 7 that everyone has internal feelings and external pressures that drive their behavior. It moves beyond simple labels of good and bad to foster genuine compassion and perspective-taking. It is an ideal choice for parents who want to move past 'don't be a bully' and toward 'how do we understand one another?' through practical social-emotional skills.