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2023 Read for Empathy book collection announced
EmpathyLab unveils its 2023 Read for Empathy book collection by some of the world’s best-loved children’s authors and illustrators. Selected by expert judges, the 65 books for 3-16-year-olds, chosen for their empathy-building insights, will be used in homes, schools and libraries in a focused drive, to help young people learn more about empathy - and put it into action.
The Read for Empathy collection and the annual Empathy Day (taking place on Thursday 8 June 2023) focus on using books – and talking about them - to build an understanding of the importance, and practice, of empathy. The non-profit EmpathyLab launched in 2015, and these are now key planks in its mission to raise an empathy-educated generation, empowered to build a less divided world.
The 2023 Read for Empathy collection is based on scientific research* showing that empathy is learnable, and that books and stories are an important empathy-building tool: identifying with fictional characters’ feelings helps build real-life empathy.
The primary collection features 40 books for 3-11-year-olds; the secondary collection has 25 books for 12-16-year-olds. They include picture books, novels, poetry, non-fiction, graphic and verse novels. Each offers young people different ways of experiencing, understanding and building empathy – ranging from inspiring social activism to exploring the power of empathy to heal difficult relationships. Many help young readers gain insight into different life experiences, from homelessness to hearing loss, economic hardship to war. Guides to the 2023 Read for Empathy collection (in partnership with book suppliers Peters) are available as free downloads from: www.empathylab.uk/RFE-2023
EmpathyLab’s founder, Miranda McKearney OBE, said: “Each of the collection’s wonderful books has been chosen to do a specific empathy-building job, giving educators practical tools to raise an empathy-educated generation. Imagine the power of every child being inspired to learn about the importance of empathy, and develop this critical life skill – the future would be in safe hands.”
Worldwide, there are different approaches to empathy education, but the UK is unique in trialling EmpathyLab‘s strategies which systematically exploit the power of literature to build empathy. Teachers using EmpathyLab’s approach report that using empathy-rich texts and focusing on characters and feelings changes the classroom dynamic, and builds mutual understanding. Impacts include improved behaviour, including a playground culture in which children themselves are helping resolve disputes.
“Pupils are seeking out injustices and using empathy to resolve differences in the classroom and playground. There have been fewer incidences of racism since we began our empathy journey” says Michele Thomas, Headteacher, Pembroke Dock Community School.
The twelve judges** responsible for choosing the 2023 Read for Empathy collection are national experts and grassroots practitioners from schools, public libraries and organisations such as the Open University and the School Library Association.
The judges said: “We’ve been reading for nine months, carefully choosing a 2023 Read for Empathy collection with maximum relevance, against the background of everything our young people face, from societal divisions to the pandemic’s aftermath. The books help young readers learn about empathy’s power to connect us and develop understanding of other people’s experiences and ways of life. They do not shy away from life’s difficulties, but bring hope and healing in the face of these.”
The judges highlighted the collection’s wider age range than before, and its diversity. For instance of the 134 authors and illustrators, 61 are people of colour; neurodiverse and LGBT+ authors and topics are included. Judges also drew attention to the collection’s powerful themes:
- Changing society for the better: empathy builds kinder communities, and several of the books focus on social change: Fight Back challenges racism; Sorya and the Sun Bear features empathy for animals and environmental activism.
- Handling and sharing emotions: a new section for 2023, featuring seven picture books to help young readers understand their own and other people’s emotions: Sometimes I am Furious focuses on anger, and What If, Pig? on worry.
- Understanding other cultures: some books were chosen for their ability to help young people understand and relish different cultures: I am the Subway imagines the lives of people travelling on the Seoul subway; The Can Caravan celebrates the culture of Travellers.
- Power of empathy in healing relationships: powerful characters help young readers learn how empathy can transform difficult lives: When I See Blue features an empathic friend helping Ben overcome his OCD; in The Dream House, a godfather helps bereaved Rex express his feelings.
The 2023 Read for Empathy collection of books will be used by parents, carers, teachers and librarians, using books to develop empathy, in the run-up to and beyond Empathy Day.
Empathy Day is on Thursday 8 June 2023 and is open to all to get involved and enjoy. Sign up for the free resources and a free online Festival, where many of the amazing authors and illustrators included in the book collection will feature. Full details to be announced 20 March 2023.
EmpathyLab is delighted to reveal their brand new branding and logos which have been lovingly created by the award-winning picture book author and illustrator Sophy Henn.
EmpathyLab aims to reach 1 million children and young people a year by 2026.