February and March are Read Across Lawrence months at the Lawrence Public Library. The goal is to get everyone in the community on the same page by reading the same book at the same time. This year, we tried a grand experiment: one book for all ages.

“Wonder” by RJ Palacio was the perfect choice. Its central lesson resonates with all ages: “If you have a choice between being right and being kind, choose kind.”

In the spirit of “Wonder,” we’ve put together this short list of inspirational reads that focus on the universal themes of kindness and the power of friendship. All are available at the library.

“Dare to Be Kind” by Lizzie Velasquez

In “Dare to Be Kind,” Velasquez shares her remarkable personal story. Born with a rare genetic condition, Velasquez came across a viral video when she was 17 years old labeling her as “The World’s Ugliest Woman.” Instead of retreating, she decided to stand up and become an advocate for victims of bullying the world over.

“Dare to Be Kind” chronicles Velasquez’s personal experiences of being bullied and reveals her own battles with anxiety and disappointment. She shares uplifting advice on how we all have the power to overcome obstacles and move forward with greater positivity.

Velasquez will deliver the 2018 Read Across Lawrence keynote address at 3:30 p.m. today at the Lied Center, 1600 Stewart Drive. The event is open to the public, and no tickets are required.

“Born to Be Good” by Dacher Keltner

For readers interested in the science of kindness, Keltner’s “Born to Be Good” delves into the science of psychology to explain the evolutionary origins of human emotions. Keltner is a professor of psychology at the University of California, Berkeley, where he directs the Berkeley Social Interaction Lab. His book is based on his postgraduate research examining the science of facial expressions.

Keltner proposes that perhaps survival is not a matter of who is the fittest, but rather of who is the kindest. “Born to Be Good” is a thought-provoking book about how positive emotions like love, compassion and awe lie at the core of human nature and shape our everyday behavior.

“Kindness Boomerang” by Orly Wahba

Wahba’s “Kindness Boomerang” will help you put kindness into action. Her premise: “When kindness is shared, it grows. And every bit of kindness we put into the world comes back in some way. That is the kindness boomerang.”

Wahba began her career in as a middle school educator, where she taught her students to build their self-esteem and to use the power they have to influence the world for good. In 2011, she founded Life Vest Inside, an organization that encourages people to embrace the incredible power of giving and recognize that in times of hardship, kindness, like a life vest, keeps the world afloat.

The book challenges readers to practice kindness in relationships, kindness with themselves, kindness with nature and kindness in many other forms. It recommends specific daily acts of kindness and also provides inspirational quotes and things to reflect on. Wahba’s book is a call to action for anyone who wants to live a more connected and fulfilling life.

-Kathleen Morgan is Lawrence Public Library’s Director of Development and Community Partnerships.

Choose kind at your library

February and March are Read Across Lawrence months at the Lawrence Public Library. The goal is to get everyone in the community on the same page by reading the same book at the same time. This year, we tried a grand experiment: one book for all ages.

“Wonder” by RJ Palacio was the perfect choice. Its central lesson resonates with all ages: “If you have a choice between being right and being kind, choose kind.”

In the spirit of “Wonder,” we’ve put together this short list of inspirational reads that focus on the universal themes of kindness and the power of friendship. All are available at the library.

“Dare to Be Kind” by Lizzie Velasquez

In “Dare to Be Kind,” Velasquez shares her remarkable personal story. Born with a rare genetic condition, Velasquez came across a viral video when she was 17 years old labeling her as “The World’s Ugliest Woman.” Instead of retreating, she decided to stand up and become an advocate for victims of bullying the world over.

“Dare to Be Kind” chronicles Velasquez’s personal experiences of being bullied and reveals her own battles with anxiety and disappointment. She shares uplifting advice on how we all have the power to overcome obstacles and move forward with greater positivity.

Velasquez will deliver the 2018 Read Across Lawrence keynote address at 3:30 p.m. today at the Lied Center, 1600 Stewart Drive. The event is open to the public, and no tickets are required.

“Born to Be Good” by Dacher Keltner

For readers interested in the science of kindness, Keltner’s “Born to Be Good” delves into the science of psychology to explain the evolutionary origins of human emotions. Keltner is a professor of psychology at the University of California, Berkeley, where he directs the Berkeley Social Interaction Lab. His book is based on his postgraduate research examining the science of facial expressions.

Keltner proposes that perhaps survival is not a matter of who is the fittest, but rather of who is the kindest. “Born to Be Good” is a thought-provoking book about how positive emotions like love, compassion and awe lie at the core of human nature and shape our everyday behavior.

“Kindness Boomerang” by Orly Wahba

Wahba’s “Kindness Boomerang” will help you put kindness into action. Her premise: “When kindness is shared, it grows. And every bit of kindness we put into the world comes back in some way. That is the kindness boomerang.”

Wahba began her career in as a middle school educator, where she taught her students to build their self-esteem and to use the power they have to influence the world for good. In 2011, she founded Life Vest Inside, an organization that encourages people to embrace the incredible power of giving and recognize that in times of hardship, kindness, like a life vest, keeps the world afloat.

The book challenges readers to practice kindness in relationships, kindness with themselves, kindness with nature and kindness in many other forms. It recommends specific daily acts of kindness and also provides inspirational quotes and things to reflect on. Wahba’s book is a call to action for anyone who wants to live a more connected and fulfilling life.

-Kathleen Morgan is Lawrence Public Library’s Director of Development and Community Partnerships.

Shelf Life