For Grown-Ups

Welcome to our For Grown-Ups page where you can get information on how to help children learn kindness to animals.
Welcome to our For Grown-Ups page where you can get information on how to help children learn kindness to animals.

For Grown-Ups

Helping children grow kind hearts starts with caring grown-ups.

This space is for parents, grandparents, caregivers, teachers,
librarians, and other adults who want to help children understand
animals better. You’ll find ideas for talking about kindness,
questions to ask while reading, safety reminders, discussion guides,
and simple ways to carry the lessons in our books into everyday life.

Resources for the Grown-Ups Who Guide Them

Children’s books can open the door to conversations that continue
long after the last page is turned.

📖

Discussion Guides

Questions and conversation starters that help children think
about an animal’s feelings, needs, choices, and boundaries.

🐾

Animal Safety Notes

Gentle reminders for helping children learn safe and respectful
behavior around pets and other animals.

Kindness at Home

Small ways families can practice patience, gentle hands,
responsible care, and respect for animals every day.

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Teacher Resources

Ideas for classrooms, libraries, child-care settings,
story time, group discussions, and kindness activities.

How to Use Our Books With Children

You don’t need a formal lesson plan. A few thoughtful questions and
everyday conversations can help a story become something a child
remembers and uses in real life.

1

Before You Read

Look at the cover together. Ask what the child notices about
the people and animals. Talk briefly about what kindness to
animals might look like.

2

Pause During the Story

Ask what the animal might be feeling. Notice body language,
space, gentle choices, and moments when a character stops
to think before acting.

3

Talk Afterward

Connect the story to the child’s own experiences. Ask what
they might do the next time a pet walks away, needs quiet,
feels nervous, or wants space.

Questions to Ask After Reading

There are no perfect answers. These questions are simply ways to
help children notice, think, and talk about the choices in a story.

What do you think the animal was feeling?
What did you notice that gave you that idea?
Did the animal seem comfortable?
What might an animal do when it wants more space?
What was the kind choice?
Was there another kind choice the character could have made?
What does “gentle hands” mean?
Can you show me what gentle hands look like?
Why is it important to let an animal walk away?
How can we show respect when an animal does not want attention?
What can we do to care for animals?
Think about food, water, rest, play, shelter, patience, and quiet time.
What would you do?
If you saw another child bothering an animal, how could you help safely?

Kindness Includes Safety

Being kind to animals also means learning how to interact with
them safely. Every animal is different, and even a familiar pet
may need space sometimes.

Adult Supervision Matters

Young children should be supervised around animals.
An adult can help both the child and the animal feel safe.

Let Animals Walk Away

Children can learn that following, cornering, grabbing,
climbing on, or blocking an animal is not kind.

Ask Before Touching

Children should ask the responsible adult before approaching
or touching an unfamiliar animal.

Respect Eating and Sleeping

Animals should be allowed to eat, sleep, rest, and enjoy
special treats without being bothered by children.

Watch the Animal’s Body Language

Turning away, hiding, becoming still, moving away, growling,
hissing, or trying to escape can all mean the animal needs space.

Never Punish a Warning

A growl, hiss, or attempt to move away is information.
Move the child away calmly and give the animal space.

Please remember: Kind Hands Books provides general
educational information for families and educators. Our resources are
not a substitute for advice from a veterinarian, qualified animal
behavior professional, medical professional, or other appropriate
professional when individual safety concerns exist.

Made for All the Grown-Ups in a Child’s World

The same story can become a different kind of teaching moment
depending on where and how it is shared.

Parents & Caregivers

Use the books during bedtime, quiet time, after a difficult
moment with a pet, or whenever a child has questions about
how animals feel and communicate.

Teachers & Child-Care Providers

Use stories as a starting point for group conversations,
kindness themes, drawing activities, role-playing, and
classroom discussions about gentle choices.

Librarians & Community Groups

Pair a story with animal-themed crafts, kindness pledges,
coloring sheets, humane-education discussions, or a
family story-time activity.

Grown-Up Guides Are Coming

As our books are released, we’ll add free companion resources to
help adults continue the conversations at home, at school, and
during story time.

Discussion Guides

Reading Questions

Animal Safety Notes

Teacher Activities

Family Kindness Challenges

Book Companion Sheets


FREE RESOURCES COMING SOON ♥

Visit Kindness Corner

Find articles for parents, caregivers, and teachers about
kindness to animals, children’s activities, book news,
and seasonal ideas.


Visit Kindness Corner

Free Printables for Kids

Pair your conversations with coloring pages, gentle-hands
activities, kindness worksheets, puzzles, and other
child-friendly resources.


Visit Free Printables


Children learn kindness one small moment at a time.

Thank you for helping them learn to listen, notice,
care, and choose gentle hands.