I Walk with Vanessa: A Story about a Simple Act of Kindness

When a new girl is bullied and left in tears, another child feels helpless and upset — until a small act of kindness sparks a whole community to stand together against it.

For the kid who notices when someone's left out at recess but isn't sure what to do about it, this book shows that noticing is where courage starts.

• Big idea: You don't need words to be brave — one small kindness can ripple out into a whole community standing up together.
• Vibes: Quiet, tender, and hopeful, with an emotional wordless storytelling style that lets the pictures carry every feeling.

• are working on noticing when someone else is hurting
• like to read the story through the pictures alone
• are learning what it means to stand up for a classmate
• respond well to gentle, feelings-forward stories

• Story & problem-solving: What do you think made the other child decide to walk with Vanessa?
• Feelings & empathy: How do you think Vanessa felt when she was being treated badly by her classmates?
• Real-life connection: Have you ever seen someone left out or treated unkindly at school? What did you do?
• Imagination: If you saw a new kid sitting alone, what small thing could you do to help them feel welcome?
• Noticing the art: This story is told only in pictures — what clues did you spot that showed how Vanessa was feeling?