The more that I started writing it, I found those intersections with other parts of my life, like being a queer person. There were a lot of queer people early on in my life who showed me kindness that made me feel comfortable being queer and coming out and embracing my full self.
One aspect Cooper stresses is that kindness is not just about being nice to others but also about being nice to yourself. It's part of cultivating a kind mindset that the author feels children aren't taught as often and which doesn't usually follow us into adulthood.
The book is written for children aged 5 and up but can also have valuable lessons for their caregivers as they read the passages together. 'What's actually been really funny is since publishing, I've had a lot of adults really respond to the book - adults with kids and also adults without kids,' he continued.
A Kids Book About Kindness uses interactive prompts that encourage conversation, colorful sticker- and emoji-like images, and a four-part 'kindness toolkit' of smiles, words, energy, and time. It poses questions like 'When was the last time someone made you smile?' and 'What are kind words to you?'.
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