Perfectly Me Reading List: Raising Kind & Good Kids
- Perfectly Me Team
- Sep 10
- 3 min read
At Perfectly Me, we believe raising kind, resilient, and confident kids starts with the everyday choices we make as parents and caregivers. Books can be powerful guides on that journey—helping us nurture empathy, model compassion, and build the character strengths children need to thrive in today’s world. This reading list brings together research-backed insights, practical strategies, and inspiring perspectives to support you in raising kids who are not only strong and capable, but also kind and good at heart.
Core Parenting & Kindness
UnSelfie: Why Empathetic Kids Succeed in Our All-About-Me World
by Michele Borba Focuses on developing empathy in children and why it matters for long-term success. Offers practical strategies for fostering compassion and resilience.
🛒 Amazon | Barnes & Noble
The Opposite of Spoiled: Raising Kids Who Are Grounded, Generous, and Smart About Money
by Ron Lieber Talks about raising kids with gratitude, generosity, and grounded values—especially in a materialistic culture.
🛒 Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Target
The Kindness Advantage: Cultivating Compassionate and Connected Children
by Dale Atkins & Amanda Salzhauer Practical guide with real-life strategies for helping kids grow up kind, resilient, and confident.
🛒 Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Raising Good Humans: A Mindful Guide to Breaking the Cycle of Reactive Parenting
by Hunter Clarke-Fields Mindful parenting approach, teaching parents how to respond instead of react, and model kindness through presence.
🛒 Amazon | Target
Character & Standing Up for What’s Right
How to Raise Kids Who Aren’t Assholes
by Melinda Wenner Moyer Evidence-based tips for teaching kindness, fairness, and justice. Balances humor and science to address tricky topics like bullying, racism, and honesty.
🛒 Amazon | Barnes & Noble
NurtureShock: New Thinking About Children
by Po Bronson & Ashley Merryman Challenges common parenting myths and highlights how kids learn morality, fairness, and truth-telling.
🛒 Amazon | Barnes & Noble
The Parents We Mean to Be
by Richard Weissbourd Research-backed look at how to raise children who value caring, responsibility, and courage.
🛒 Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Raising Human Beings: Creating a Collaborative Partnership with Your Child
by Ross W. Greene About collaborating with kids to teach empathy, problem-solving, and ethical behavior.
🛒 Amazon | Target
Broader Inspiration on Kindness & Character
Raising an Emotionally Intelligent Child
by John Gottman A guide to helping children manage emotions, develop empathy, and build meaningful connections.
🛒 Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Teach Your Children Well
by Madeline Levine Argues that true success comes from raising kind, resilient kids rather than chasing achievements.
🛒 Amazon | Barnes & Noble
The Wonder of Kindness
by Robert J. Wicks A broader reflection on the transformative power of kindness—good for parents as role models.
🛒 Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Psychology-Based - Global
Mind in the Making: The Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs
by Ellen Galinsky (U.S.) Grounded in child development science, this book identifies key skills like focus, empathy, and problem-solving that help children thrive.
Parenting for a Peaceful World
by Robin Grille (Australia) Blends history, psychology, and neuroscience to explore how parenting styles across cultures shape societies. Advocates for raising empathetic and kind kids as a force for social good.
The Science of Parenting
by Margot Sunderland (U.K.) Based on neuroscience and attachment theory, it offers science-backed advice for raising emotionally secure and resilient children.
Self-Reg: How to Help Your Child (and You) Break the Stress Cycle and Successfully Engage with Life
by Stuart Shanker (Canada) Research-based book on stress regulation and resilience. Helps parents understand kids’ meltdowns and guide them to self-control with compassion.
We hope this list sparks ideas and inspires you to keep kindness at the heart of your parenting journey. Have a favorite book you’d add? Share it with us—we love hearing what’s been meaningful for your family. And remember: every small act of kindness you nurture today helps your child grow into the confident, compassionate person they’re meant to be.
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