How Kind!

by Mary Murphy

What goes around comes around in this farmyard tale about the contagiousness of kindness.

Hen gives Pig an unexpected present. "How kind!" says Pig. Pig is so touched, in fact, that he decides to do something kind too. So Pig gives Rabbit a gift. "How kind!" says Rabbit, who does something kind for Cow, who is kind to Cat, who wants to be kind in turn. Where will all of this kindness lead?

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Childrens, Storytime, Friendship, Juvenile, Fiction

24 pages, Board Book

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Children's author and illustrator Mary Murphy enchants even the youngest of readers with her bold style, combining eye-catching graphics and a bouncy text that seemingly jump off the pages.

Mary Murphy has an advanced diploma in Visual Communications and has written and illustrated a number of children's books, including her lift-the-flap, pull-the-tab book about friendship, ROXIE AND BO TOGETHER. In addition to creating children's books, she teaches illustration. The author-illustrator lives in Galway, Ireland.

Reviews

[Kathryn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well.... I'm having trouble deciding how I feel about How Kind!. On the one hand, it's a very sweet, simple story suitable for the toddler set on up on the "pay it forward" theme. When an animal receives a gift from another, they think, how kind that animal was to me! I'd like to be kind, too. So, that's nice. But... the ending was kinda weird and slightly disturbing to me! (I looked up reviews and I'm not the only one who felt that way...!) The egg hatches and the pig brings the chick back to the hen and she says, "How kind!" Umm... Why did the hen give the egg to the pig in the first place? Wasn't there a better animal/gift combo? Was the pig supposed to eat it? That seems weird? Was it just for decoration? And did the mother hen know it was going to hatch? Was she trying to get rid of her baby? Just needed a babysitter for awhile? (But, then, how is that "kind" to the pig?) Weird. Confusing. I'm not sure what to think here...???

[JD Waggy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was all on board with this book; it's clever, the illustrations are messy in a delightfully engaging kind of way (I mean that in terms of the lines and such; very big-block-crayon feel), and there's a lovely variety of ways to be kind. The basic message is pay it forward, which is great.

But the ending was super weird. I know it's kind of ridiculous to put in a spoiler alert for a kids' book, but I'm doing it anyway: The original kindness was Hen giving Pig an egg that hatches at the end and Pig and Dog bring it back to Hen. So what the hell was Hen up to? Was she trying to get rid of a kid? Is she surprised when it comes back? Why on earth is it "kind" to give you something to raise? What if Pig had accidentally squashed the egg? Was Hen expecting it to come back? Is it kind if you just loan something rather than give it? And how kind of Pig is it to just give the original gift back? I do not understand this book.

[Elizabeth]

Very sweet, but I don't understand why Hen gave Pig an egg in the first place. Was it to eat? That seems cruel. Was it to hatch? Who was to raise the hatched chick? I have questions here.

[Cate Tedford]

Picked this up from the Friends of the Library store at Pack Memorial Library in Downtown Asheville for Griffin's nephew, but once again, I had to read it first. A "delightful tale of barnyard benevolence." The illustrations are almost too cute to be true! I also love the color palette--bright and sweet and fun! I mean, who doesn't love a children's book about the contagious nature of kindness?!

[Shiloah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a quality story for littles on kindness and how it generates reciprocal experiences. Beautifully done.

[Lisa Gemert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most board books do not require high-level thinking. This one is different.

It's kind of a "if you give a pig a pancake" idea - one animal starts something, and that begins a chain of kindness.

I love Mary Murphy's books (although I do wish they'd use an easier font for emerging readers). This one is no different.

The challenging thinking comes with the first give - hen gives pig one of her eggs. Buy why? Even the end of the book doesn't explain it. I love that you could have big discussions with little kids about this.

If you like this one, try her other board book, "Good Night Like This"

The theme of kindness as acts of service is lovely, and this is a fun read-aloud.

I was provided with a complimentary copy of the book for the purpose of review. I have not been compensated in any other manner.

[Erin · Rating 1 out of 5]

What the heck? This book does not make sense to me at all! I get that it's supposed to be about how one good deed can spark another, but the original deed and the last deed just kinda ruin the story for me and don't make sense.

What were Hen's intentions? Why would Hen give Pig that egg? Did she just not want to have to sit there and do the work of caring for the egg and waiting for it to hatch? Did she not understand that baby chickens come from eggs? The ending just makes her seem like a terrible parent. I don't get what the author was thinking with this.

On the positive side, the illustrations were big, simple, and colorful so even if the story doesn't make sense kids can still clearly see the pictures if you use it as a read-aloud.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

First sentence: Hen gave Pig an egg. "How kind!" said Pig.

Premise/plot: This board book celebrates acts of kindness. One kind act leads to another and another and another and another. These barn animals are going to have a great day.

My thoughts: This was a cutesy, sweet, adorable board book starring farm/barn animals. I enjoyed it. I think it pairs nicely with just about any other farm board book out there. (There are so many great ones.) This would be a good book to share one on one with a little one on your lap.

[Andrés · Rating 2 out of 5]

Like others, I had a hard time moving beyond the first page because why would hen give pig her baby egg, and why would pig think that was kind? It's more like a serious responsibility? Two stars instead of one because I'm not (yet) aware of a book that illustrates the pay-it-forward concept this well.

[Christine Grant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summer Learning Program 2017. Theme Build a Better World. Focus on Kindness.

"How Kind!" is a simple story that illustrates how one act of kindness leads to other such acts. The large colorful drawings were perfect for toddlers.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This sturdy board book is the cyclical tale of kindness in the barnyard as each animal does something kind for one and then passes the gift of kindness on to the next. If we could just practice this in real life! Bright vivid colors/simple illustrations.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I liked this one a little more than MK but I'll try it with her again sometime.

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a sweet, cute book. I read it to toddlers and they enjoyed it.

[Brittany · Rating 2 out of 5]

Then wasn't kind. The hen just made pig do her job. I don't get this book.

[Taylor Kundel-Gower · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple, but effective way to show young children that kindness is contagious.

[Vivian · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good deed is passed from friend to friend til it goes full circle.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars as a flannel story. very sweet for valentines day!

[Lexi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Why do I have the feeling this chicken just pulled a fast one on the pig? o.O

[Amy Sutton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very simple book for younger kids about how to pay it forward and do random acts of kindness.

[Awjtf · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet book about doing kind things for others. Loved it!

[Sarah4socialism · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how it also includes an act of service instead of just gift-giving. Beautiful illustrations1

[Suzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute little board book about passing on kindness to others.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

One good deed leads to another.

[Elizabeth]

I was hoping that this reissued 2022 edition would explain why hen gave pig an egg to take care of until it hatched and why this action was considered kind, but alas, I am still confused.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet board book about paying it forward!

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Animals find ways to be kind to each other in a circular title (where the first animal to be kind is the last one to receive kindness.) Cute and simple.

[Ansel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this with dad :)

[Bec]

TT felt board

[Arlo Panzera · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute, simple book about giving and receiving kindness and the cycle of doing nice things for each other. Silly and unique illustrations.

[PJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!