Books that Teach Emotional Awareness and Empathy:
Arnie and the New Kid by Nancy Carlson is a story about a boy, Arnie, who teases a classmate, Philip, because Philip is in a wheelchair. When Arnie falls down and hurts himself, he begins to see things from a different perspective. Bullying is a common problem. Read this story to illustrate that people say mean things because they do not think about the other person's feelings.
Understand and Care, by Cheri J. Meiners, M.Ed., builds empathy by guiding children toward listening to others. An adult guide to lead discussions, and games to reinforce the meaning of empathy, are included in the book. Free Spirit Publishing.