Simple ways to practice kindness in order to stop bullying, on Spirit Day or any time. in this sixth book in the partnership between GLAAD and Little Bee Books. “Put on a purple shirt. It’s Spirit Day! Today’s a day to be SUPER-kind and stand up to bullying!” it begins, before offering simple ideas for how children can practice kindness with family and friends so they feel loved and safe—helping those who are upset or hurt, listening to someone who is sad, and keeping an open mind so that people are free to be themselves.
While saying, “You can stop bullying in many ways. One way is to spread joy,” may come across as naïve to our adult ears, the overall message feels like it fits the target age group of zero- to three-year-olds. Even if the real causes of bullying (including deep-rooted systemic issues like racism, homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia) are too complex to be solved simply by telling children to be kind, kindness is a good place to start for the youngest tots, especially when coupled with images of inclusion and diversity. Yang, a trans illustrator and designer, adds bold, colorful illustrations with multiracial characters that include a two-mom family, as well as several children who could be read as gender creative.
I do question whether the book really needed to be associated with Spirit Day, though. The line telling us it’s the third Thursday in October seems geared purely towards informing adult readers; toddlers won’t care. More importantly, the book’s message of kindness and support for others shouldn’t be confined to one day a year. I doubt Yang or GLAAD intended that—I just fear that some adults will only pull this bright little book off the shelves for a few days in October. Its encouraging words deserve to be heard year round. At the same time, if holidays like Halloween and Thanksgiving can have children’s books devoted to them, there’s no reason Spirit Day can’t, too—making this little book’s existence a sign of progress.
