Fruit of the Spirit: Kindness

Picture Book: The Kindness Quilt

Author & Illustrator: Nancy Elizabeth Wallace

Summary: This story's primary setting is a classroom. Mrs. Bloom reads an Aesop fable to her class. 

In The Lion and the Mouse, the children see how a small animal's kindness 

can reap benefits and feel really good. 

The children decide that kindness should be practiced everyday. To celebrate kindness and learn the many ways it can be shown, a Do-and-Draw-and-Share project about kindness is assigned. Minna discusses this with her family. What should she do, then draw, then share with her class? Her family offers to help.  

Minna reads to her little brother and knows it's a kindness, but she's still considering her project. 

With her mother, Minna picks up litter in the park, and she takes soup to a neighbor, 2 more kindnesses. When she sits to plan her project, she realizes there are many kindnesses. 

Her brother shares his markers; that's a kindness. Her mother brings more supplies, another kindness! 

On Sunday night, Minna has many kindnesses to consider for her project. Then the project takes shape in her mind, and she gets to work. 

Other children in the class present their drawings, each of one kindness, but when Minna goes upfront,... 

she shares a quilt of kindness. Later, Mrs. Bloom invites other students to make kindness quilts.  

 The art supplies are brought out. 

The children get busy making their own kindness quilts. 

These are hung on the wall. 

More quilts are added, 

and a few more until...

the display has to be moved to a larger bulletin board. 

Eventually, a quilt comprised of students' kindness quilts gets so large that it is placed in the hallway so that all in the school can read and experience it.  

That's when other classes start adding to the quilt, 

and the kindness keeps growing and growing and growing.   

Hanna’s Comments: You have so many acts of kindness illustrated in this book that you may want to read it over 2 lessons. The advantage of such a tale is that the story and the kindnesses are so relatable to children. Additionally, this book gives you an obvious art project that will have your children considering how to practice this Fruit of the Spirit in meaningful ways. 

Original Publisher & Date: Two Lions, 2006

Age & Grade Appropriateness: 5 and up, K and up

Formats other than Book: Tablet

Scripture Connections: In addition to The Fruit of the Spirit verses in Galatians 5:22-23… One who is kind benefits self (Proverbs 11:17); She opens her heart with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue (Proverbs 31:26); Love is patient and kind (1 Corinthians 13:4); Be kind to one another (Ephesians 4:32); Put on compassionate hearts, kindness… (Colossians 3:12) 

Idea(s) for Application: Read this book to a group of elementary-aged children who are learning about kindness or The Fruits of the Spirit.