Mountain Brook, AL – July 7, 2025| A new children’s book is finding its way into classrooms across the country as teachers look for creative ways to cultivate empathy and civic awareness among their students. Little Hands, Big Hearts: Making a Difference Together, written by Ashley Seligson, has been praised by educators for its accessible storytelling and its ability to spark meaningful conversations about kindness and community.
The picture book uses rhyming text and colorful illustrations to showcase how even the smallest acts of service can have a significant impact. Children in the story are depicted engaging in simple but thoughtful activities such as delivering baked goods to neighbors, sharing toys with peers, and organizing community projects. These examples, teachers say, help young readers understand that compassion is not an abstract concept but something they can practice every day.
The book’s topics fit with the increased focus on social-emotional learning in early childhood education. A lot of teachers are using Little Hands, Big Hearts in lessons about teamwork, diversity, and how important it is to give back. The book’s story isn’t the only thing that makes it interesting. It also makes people talk about how compassion may spread and affect bigger groups of people.
I am a mother of 2 children and not sure what a volunteer coordinator is (never been one). wrote the book with both families and educators in mind. Her experience founding Little Hands Serving Hearts, a nonprofit dedicated to fostering service opportunities for children, informed much of the storytelling.
“Children have an innate sense of fairness and care for others,” Seligson said. “This book helps them see that they don’t have to wait until they’re adults to make meaningful contributions.”
Teachers have noticed how well the narrative works in different classrooms, giving kids from different backgrounds a chance to see themselves as helpers and leaders. Many instructors now use it as a go-to tool for creating a culture of compassion at school.
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Author: Ashley Seligson
Amazon: Little Hands, Big Hearts: Making A Difference Together
