Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson (author); E. B. Lewis (illustrator); published by Nancy Paulsen Books, a division of Penguin Young Readers Group
Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson (author); E. B. Lewis (illustrator); published by Nancy Paulsen Books, a division of Penguin Young Readers Group
The principal at Chloe’s school introduces a new girl, Maya, to Chloe’s class. She is wearing somewhat ragged clothes and ripped shoes. Maya reaches out to Chloe by smiling at her and trying to play with her on the playground, but Chloe refuses to smile back and ignores her. Chloe and her friends whisper about Maya’s clothes and her food, and they decline her invitation to play with her. They give her the name “Never New” because her clothing looks used. The day that Maya misses class, Ms. Albert (the teacher) brings a lesson to the class about how kindness “makes the whole world a little bit better.” Chloe reflects on her own behavior toward Maya and yearns for Maya to return to class so she can show her some kindness. Maya never returns, and Chloe feels saddened by the fact that she will never be able to reach out to Maya again.
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The principal introduces Maya to the classroom, exhibiting a guardian position by being by her side and holding Maya’s hand. There is no authority figure during the time that Maya is rejected by Chloe and her friends. However, once Maya leaves the school, Ms. Albert, the teacher, brings a needed lesson to her class about the importance of kindness. She teaches them that just one act of kindness affects others. Because of that lesson, Chloe changes her view on how she has treated Maya.
