EmpathyLab has unveiled its 2024 Read for Empathy book collection of 65 books for three to 16-year-olds, featuring the likes of Neil Gaiman, Jeffrey Boakye, Children’s Laureate Joseph Coelho, Hannah Gold, Phil Earle and Nadia Shireen.
There are 40 recommended books for three to 11-year-olds, and 25 for 12 to 16-year-olds. The 2024 collection includes picture books, novels, poetry, non-fiction, graphic and verse novels.
“Each book offers young people different ways of experiencing, understanding and building empathy,” organisers said. “Several explore the world’s big empathy issues, including war, climate change and the refugee crisis. Others help children understand different cultures and identities, name and share their emotions and gain insight into challenging life circumstances, such as being disabled or having a stammer.”
EmpathyLab’s founder, Miranda McKearney OBE, said: “The world is in such a sad state. We see focusing on educating for empathy as a practical, hopeful step we can all take to build a better future. We dream of a world led by a generation of children educated to understand the vital role of empathy in building connection and combatting hatred and division.”
This year’s Empathy Day is on Thursday 6th June 2024. The full list of books can be found on EmpathyLab’s website here.