EmpathyLab announces 2022 Read for Empathy collection, including Coral Rumble’s verse novel ‘Little Light’
Today EmpathyLab launches its 2022 Read for Empathy book collection, and we're thrilled that Coral Rumble’s verse novel ‘Little Light’ is among the collection. An expert judging panel has selected 60 books for 4-16 year-olds, each chosen to empower an empathy-educated generation.
“Science shows that empathy is learnable and that reading is an important empathy-building tool,” said Miranda McKearney OBE, EmpathyLab’s founder. “This collection will help parents and educators to surround children with empathy experiences, inspiring them to understand others better, and tackle societal problems like racism”.
The judges said: “The collection features books with outstandingly crafted characters who will expand young people’s world view, helping them become more understanding of others and inspiring them to become socially active.”
Little Light’s Ava is one such character. “Ava is enchanting, collecting friends wherever she goes. But her life is challenging as her family escapes an abusive situation,” said the judges. “This heart-warming verse novel gives us a sense of how love and empathy can make a difference to traumatised children.”
“I’ve wanted to tell Ava’s story for a long time,” said author Coral Rumble. “Although Ava is obviously not me, I’ve borrowed a lot from my own childhood experiences and adapted them. When I was a child my family lost everything (financially) and we became homeless.”
“I’m very aware that some children today have a difficult start in life. I want them to know that there’s always hope.”
Discover more about Coral’s inspiration for the book in an earlier blog article: “The story is told by a series of ‘moments’”: Coral Rumble introduces her new verse novel 'Little Light'
Guides to the Read for Empathy collection are available as free downloads for use in the home or learning settings. See www.empathylab.uk/2022-book-collections-and-guides
Empathy Day 2022 will take place on 9 June. This annual event focuses on using books – and talking about them – to build understanding of the importance and practice of empathy. This year’s theme is Empathy, Our Human Superpower. Everyone is invited to join in the Empathy Superpower Challenge, choosing from a menu of nine empathy-boosting challenge activities. More information at www.empathylab.uk/empathy-day-2022
