Written by Christina Dankert
Illustrated by Chad Dankert
Ages 4+ | 32 Pages
Publisher: Purple Butterfly Press | ISBN-13: 9781955119085
Publisher’s Synopsis: Creative and artistic 2nd-grade teacher, Mr. Wilson, wants to teach his students about kindness. Mr. Wilson creates The Kindness Machine, a special machine that shows the students exactly what they can do to bring kindness to their classroom and into their hearts! Instead of telling his students to “be kind,” which is something children hear from a very early age, they learn exactly what they can do in their own lives by pressing the special buttons. In the end, Mr. Wilson teaches his students that they each have their own Kindness Machine within them to help make kind decisions for others and themselves.
This creative, innovative, and fun teaching method will direct kids to be kind to one another in their classroom and beyond. The book includes discussion questions to help the reader consider not only kindness towards others but also kindness towards themselves, a lesson that is not always taught.
The Kindness Machine is a practical and innovative tool for teaching emotional literacy, kindness, and acceptance of self and others.
Available in hardcover, paperback, and as an ebook on Amazon or Bookshop.org.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Christina Dankert is a second-grade teacher. She has a passion for literacy and believes that we can change the world by reading to the children in our lives. This is her debut picture book. She lives in Sylvania, Ohio, with her husband, Chad, and their two children. She has dreamed of collaborating with her husband to merge their two professions of educator and artist into one meaningful product. The Kindness Machine allowed that dream to come true.
Learn more about Christina at www.christinadankert.com.
AUTHOR INTERVIEW
Life Is What It's Called - What inspired you to write The Kindness Machine?
Christina Dankert - As a mother and a teacher, the concept of kindness is extremely important. I wrote The Kindness Machine to help spread kindness and shine a light on how simple, but necessary kindness can be. Writing this book allows me to reach more students and families beyond the four walls of my classroom. It is my goal to create a kindness ripple in homes and classrooms around the world.
Life Is What It's Called - What lessons do you want the reader to take away from reading your story?
Christina Dankert -The lesson that I want readers to take away from the story is that kindness to others and kindness to yourself are both important. I want parents, teachers and caregivers to walk away from the story knowing they are helping to lay a positive foundation for kindness. The concepts in the story are simple and are easy to implement. It is often through small acts of kindness that make a big difference. I want the reader or listener to walk away from the story knowing that kindness is their superpower.
Life Is What It's Called - How can The Kindness Machine be used in the home and the classroom?
Christina Dankert - The Kindness Machine can be read at home as a feel good story and a way to start or continue a conversation about kindness. Since this book takes place in a classroom and promotes kindness, it would be an excellent book to add in a classroom or school library. The book will help spark whole group or small group discussions that can help start a school year as you build a classroom family, or be used as a mid-year reminder to why kindness to others and to yourself is important.
Life Is What It's Called - Why is it important to teach children about kindness?
Christina Dankert - We often expect people to innately be kind. However, kindness like so many other character strengths must be explicitly taught and modeled. When you teach children the importance of kindness through discussions, modeling, role play, etc., children have the opportunity to take the lessons learned or experiences they have witnessed, and continue to spread kindness as young adults and adults. Kindness becomes more tangible when children know what they can do to be kind and also what kindness looks and feels like.
Life Is What It's Called - Do you have any supplemental information that goes along with this book?
Christina Dankert - There are discussion questions at the beginning of the book for parents, teachers, counselors and caregivers to use. The questions are for before reading, during and after reading. These questions allow for the kindness conversation to continue beyond the text. In the heart of the book, there are little questions embedded in the bottom right hand corner of the page. These are one sentence questions that allow even the youngest listener to make a connection to their own life. I also have supplemental kindness content that can be found on my website or in my Teachers Pay Teachers store.
Life Is What It's Called - What is your background in education?
Christina Dankert - I have a bachelor's degree in Early Childhood K-5 and a master’s degree in Special Education. I have been teaching for 11 years with 10 of those years being in second grade. The Kindness Machine takes place in a second grade classroom.
Life Is What It's Called - Why is it important to expose children to literature?
Christina Dankert - I could talk about this for days! Literature, especially picture books, allow children to experience situations from the comfort of their own home or classrooms. To quote Neil Gaiman, "...a book is a little empathy machine." One of my favorite phrases I continue to hear in the publishing world is that a book should be a window and a mirror: A window into the lives of others and a mirror to reflect your own experiences. Not every book will contain both, but by reading or listening to a large variety of picture books, a child is able to experience a wide range of cultures, holidays, problems and solutions. A picture book provides a springboard for a child to safely ask questions and have a discussion on different topics. Diversity, equity and inclusion can not simply be buzz words. They must be words that carry meaning to allow children, and adults, to see that it is through our differences that make us beautiful, unique and should be celebrated.
Life Is What It's Called - What are some of your next writing projects?
Christina Dankert - I am currently working on more children's book manuscripts. They all revolve around a character strength or positive message that I feel are important for children to read and listen to.
Life Is What It's Called - What writers would you say influence your writing?
Christina Dankert - As a mother and a teacher, the concept of kindness is extremely important. I wrote The Kindness Machine to help spread kindness and shine a light on how simple, but necessary kindness can be. Writing this book allows me to reach more students and families beyond the four walls of my classroom. It is my goal to create a kindness ripple in homes and classrooms around the world.
Life Is What It's Called - What lessons do you want the reader to take away from reading your story?
Christina Dankert -The lesson that I want readers to take away from the story is that kindness to others and kindness to yourself are both important. I want parents, teachers and caregivers to walk away from the story knowing they are helping to lay a positive foundation for kindness. The concepts in the story are simple and are easy to implement. It is often through small acts of kindness that make a big difference. I want the reader or listener to walk away from the story knowing that kindness is their superpower.
Life Is What It's Called - How can The Kindness Machine be used in the home and the classroom?
Christina Dankert - The Kindness Machine can be read at home as a feel good story and a way to start or continue a conversation about kindness. Since this book takes place in a classroom and promotes kindness, it would be an excellent book to add in a classroom or school library. The book will help spark whole group or small group discussions that can help start a school year as you build a classroom family, or be used as a mid-year reminder to why kindness to others and to yourself is important.
Life Is What It's Called - Why is it important to teach children about kindness?
Christina Dankert - We often expect people to innately be kind. However, kindness like so many other character strengths must be explicitly taught and modeled. When you teach children the importance of kindness through discussions, modeling, role play, etc., children have the opportunity to take the lessons learned or experiences they have witnessed, and continue to spread kindness as young adults and adults. Kindness becomes more tangible when children know what they can do to be kind and also what kindness looks and feels like.
Life Is What It's Called - Do you have any supplemental information that goes along with this book?
Christina Dankert - There are discussion questions at the beginning of the book for parents, teachers, counselors and caregivers to use. The questions are for before reading, during and after reading. These questions allow for the kindness conversation to continue beyond the text. In the heart of the book, there are little questions embedded in the bottom right hand corner of the page. These are one sentence questions that allow even the youngest listener to make a connection to their own life. I also have supplemental kindness content that can be found on my website or in my Teachers Pay Teachers store.
Life Is What It's Called - What is your background in education?
Christina Dankert - I have a bachelor's degree in Early Childhood K-5 and a master’s degree in Special Education. I have been teaching for 11 years with 10 of those years being in second grade. The Kindness Machine takes place in a second grade classroom.
Life Is What It's Called - Why is it important to expose children to literature?
Christina Dankert - I could talk about this for days! Literature, especially picture books, allow children to experience situations from the comfort of their own home or classrooms. To quote Neil Gaiman, "...a book is a little empathy machine." One of my favorite phrases I continue to hear in the publishing world is that a book should be a window and a mirror: A window into the lives of others and a mirror to reflect your own experiences. Not every book will contain both, but by reading or listening to a large variety of picture books, a child is able to experience a wide range of cultures, holidays, problems and solutions. A picture book provides a springboard for a child to safely ask questions and have a discussion on different topics. Diversity, equity and inclusion can not simply be buzz words. They must be words that carry meaning to allow children, and adults, to see that it is through our differences that make us beautiful, unique and should be celebrated.
Life Is What It's Called - What are some of your next writing projects?
Christina Dankert - I am currently working on more children's book manuscripts. They all revolve around a character strength or positive message that I feel are important for children to read and listen to.
Life Is What It's Called - What writers would you say influence your writing?
Christina Dankert -There are so many inspiring children's book authors. As a mother and a teacher, I read a lot of picture books and continue to learn about new books daily! Diane Alber, author and illustrator of The Little Spot series, creates adorable books on social emotional learning that provide tangible steps for children. It was important for me to include kindness actions that would be implemented immediately without prep.
Life Is What It's Called - What sets The Kindness Machine apart from others on the market?
Christina Dankert - I was encouraged by a local librarian to read as many children's books on kindness before writing my manuscript. During my research, I was able to find plenty of other books about kindness. However, I was unable to find a book that not only focused on kindness to others but on kindness to ourselves. As adults, we often struggle with being kind to ourselves due to social media or constant comparisons. If we can teach children to really love themselves and who they are, I truly believe we can help raise the next generation with a more positive self image and a healthy focus on mental health. Including the concept of "love yourself" in my book, is the part I am most proud of. I hope each and every person reading this loves themself or is working on loving themself.
GIVEAWAY
Enter for a chance to win a classroom set of The Kindness Machine or one of five individual copies!
One (1) winner receives:
- A classroom set (30 copies) of The Kindness Machine will be sent directly to the winners' school of choice, along with autographed bookplates personalized for each student and the teacher.
Five (5) winners receive:
- A copy of The Kindness Machine, with bookplates autographed by author Christina Dankert
The Kindness Machine: Book Giveaway
This post is in partnership with The Children’s Book Review and Purple Butterfly Press.
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