EmpathyLab launches 9th annual Read for Empathy collection
Today EmpathyLab launches the 2025 Read for Empathy collection of 70 books for 3-16-year-olds, alongside calling for empathy and emotional skills to be prioritised, as recently highlighted by the Princess of Wales.
She writes that this will “let us build a more loving, empathetic and more compassionate society together”.
The 2025 Read for Empathy collection of 70 books for 3-16-year-olds harnesses the power of books to build real-life empathy. It is part of a unique and growing UK empathy education movement” says Miranda McKearney OBE, EmpathyLab’s founder.
“Today we are calling for the proven benefits of reading for empathy to be harnessed in strategies like those supported by the Princess of Wales – strategies which prioritise empathy and other social and emotional skills. Our children and young people are not OK – one in five has a mental health challenge – and we need radical solutions to address this generational wellbeing crisis. We urge all those living or working with children to use this collection prolifically.”
The Read for Empathy books have been chosen by an expert judging panel of teachers, librarians and academics. They will be used in homes, schools and libraries in a targeted way to help build children’s ability to understand other people’s feelings and points of view. “Empathy is a skill, not a trait. It is learnable” said the judging panel “without it, children can’t develop the relationships they need to thrive. Society needs to pay much greater attention to the way books develop empathy understanding and skills. Let’s urgently scale our unique UK book-based empathy education movement”.
Collection themes
This is EmpathyLab’s ninth collection, with 40 books for 3-11-year-olds and 30 for 11-16- year-olds. Each offers different ways of experiencing, understanding and building empathy. The collection features books by a diverse group of new and established authors and illustrators, including George the Poet, former Children’s Laureate, Joseph Coelho, Phil Earle and Hannah Gold.
Contemporary themes highlight the big social issues our children face, including characters affected by poverty, prejudice and racism. Many books underline the importance of understanding other people’s points of view, and respecting differences.
Others address the urgent need for empathy for the environment, the conflicting expectations placed on young people, and empathy’s power to build stronger communities. There is a special section devoted to books which help young readers understand and share emotions.
Judges’ insights
The fourteen judges responsible for choosing the 2025 Read for Empathy collection are national experts and grassroots practitioners from schools, public libraries and national organisations.
"The collection brings to the fore unique books to help everyone in particular circumstances, without being overtly 'preachy', equiping young people with tools to navigate this strange world in which we live" Dawn Woods, Member Development Librarian, SLA
“This collection allows young people to get close to characters, to get close to issues and to be provoked to think. Provoked to care. And to then do something about it” Professor Teresa Cremin, Open University
‘The empathy collection is a really powerful way in to help our children develop empathy skills with each other, but also with those in other situations across the world. I think we have both a professional and a moral duty to do that” Jon Biddle, Moorlands Primary Academy
“These books are active tools that are used in empathy-related education in order to build a better functioning society” Shaheen Mogradia, Bolton Central Library & Museum Service
Free resources and empathy calendar highlights
From 13 February, free Guides to the Read for Empathy collection can be downloaded from www.empathylab.uk/RFE.
Schools and libraries can register now for free Empathy Day Festival resources and events. Running from 2-12 June, with Empathy Day on Thursday 12 June, this major Festival is free and open to all to get involved and inspired.
SLA Webinar
EmpathyLab Book Collection 2025 (FREE for members)
When 26/03/2025 15:30 - 16:30
Sarah Mears MBE, EmpathyLab Founder and Libraries Connected Programme Manager, will be talking us through her selected highlights from the collection, explaining the ‘empathy angles’ that guided their choices and outlining the skills they hope that using the books will build.
Join us to:
Explore ways to use the collection within an empathy context
Demonstrate the connection between empathy and reading
Discover the exciting plans for Empathy Day (12th June 2025) and grab some tips for getting involved using the free toolkits that will be available.
Register here