K is for kindness

Toddler-PreS--Animals demonstrate everyday acts of compassion in this endearing alphabet book. The straightforward approach to the ABCs invites young readers and their caregivers to observe and engage as each page features a letter of the alphabet in upper and lower case, a sentence making extensive use of that letter ("Weasel knits Walrus a warm woolen sweater"), and an accompanying illustration. The rhyming couplets on each spread give the text an enjoyable read-aloud rhythm, and the soft pastel colors and delicate lines of the illustrations are a delight. Some vignettes feature animals engaging in activities that will be comfortably familiar to toddlers, like napping and playing, while others introduce potentially new ideas and vocabulary, such as juggling and origami. Though the concept of an alphabet book itself is not new, the Horiuchi siblings bring a fresh appeal to the genre with this book's emphasis on incorporating kindness into daily life. The theme feels especially timely for today's audience, as parents and caregivers increasingly seek to instill empathy as a core value. Adults and children are likely to revisit this book on multiple occasions, examining different facets each time. VERDICT This cheerful volume successfully conveys a positive message of caring for others while simultaneously encouraging letter knowledge. A welcome addition to any picture book collection.--Allison Tran

An abecedarian collection of animals performing good deeds. Sister duo Rina and Risa Horiuchi stroll through the alphabet in their picture-book debut, which shows various animal friends helping each other out. Both the uppercase and lowercase versions of the letters are spotlighted in the vignettes, and the first letter of each sentence is colored blue. The quirky animals find themselves in everyday situations. For instance, "Ape picks an apple for Aardvark below," while "Bat puts a bandage on Brown Bear's big toe." On another double-page spread, "Elephant finds Eagle's eyeglasses--phew! and "Fox fixes Frog's broken fire truck with glue." And for those trickier letters at the end of the alphabet: "Weasel knits Walrus a warm, woolen sweater" as "X-ray Fish signs 'XOX' in his letter." There is no shortage of animal alphabet books, but these spare rhymes, paired with delicate digital ink-and-watercolor illustrations, are a delight. Uncluttered pastel backgrounds keep everything feeling airy and bright. Explaining an abstract concept like kindness to children can be challenging; thankfully, this book provides young readers will many concrete object lessons. The ending turns reflective, asking readers how they might be kind today. (This book was reviewed digitally.) A primer for young minds learning both letters and empathy. (Picture book. 3-6) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.