What is Empathy Day?
Empathy Day celebrates and grows empathy's power to create a better world.
It shines a light on books’ role in raising an
empathy-educated generation.
Empathy Day inspires children to learn more about empathy, have transformational experiences
through stories, and to
put empathy into action!
Charge up your empathy superpower by taking part in the Mission Empathy Challenge! There are three simple steps: Read. Connect. Act. Complete one activity in each category.
Remember to download the FREE Read for Empathy 2024 collection - you can use the books in your activities!
Complete one activity from each column below:
The Family and Caregiver Activity Pack is a short, paperless guide which gives you everything you need to take part in the 2024 Mission Empathy challenge at home.
Our 2024 toolkits are
ready to download, they are packed with ideas and resources to help young people of all ages celebrate and develop their empathy superpower.
The first 300 organisations to register will win a free book for their setting!
From 7.30am on Thursday 6 June, watch our mix of FREE live and pre-recorded events in your class, library or home. Top authors and illustrators will model the Mission Empathy Challenge!
Making the most of our interactive events
For the first time this year, we'll be holding live and interactive events, in which schools will have the chance participate. If you can prepare certain activities in advance, it will help you make the most of them.
Register for our free toolkits to get started on the Empathy Day activities!
What you need to bring to the Empathy Day LIVE! sessions:
Read your way to Empathy Day with these fantastic books by our guest authors and illustrators.
WATCH THE EMPATHY DAY LIVE TRAILER NOW
Our free Read for Empathy guides feature 65 contemporary books for 3-16s. They are selected by expert judges for their empathy building power. Made to be used in homes, libraries and schools and perfect for Empathy Day!
Find the collection books in local indie bookshops and other retailers – in store or via
bookshop.org. Find your local bookshop
here.
Read for Empathy Checklist
Ages 3-11
Read for Empathy Checklist
Ages 12-16
If you haven’t discovered our exclusive library of Empathy Shorts you’re missing out! These FREE, 500-word stories by leading writers give everyone access to empathy-boosting reads. Look out for five NEW Empathy Shorts for 2024!
Below is a brief selection of our amazing Empathy Shorts writers.
A 2024 Mission Empathy Activity!
Empathy Emotions Maps are designed to help young people name and share their emotions. Check out these wonderful contributions by leading illustrators, which you can use for inspiration. Look out for six NEW maps for 2024!
Download Empathy Day Resources
Note: this is a select list. For the full range of free resources, register here
Poster - Empathy Definition
Empathy Resolution Bunting
Empathy Superpower Glasses
Empathy Bookshelf Header
Empathy Exchange Prompts
Empathy Emotions Map
Our Supporters
Empathy Day is supported by Meaden & Moore and the Postcode Society Trust (a grant-giving charity funded entirely by players of People’s Postcode Lottery).
Our mission is to reach over 1 million children a year by 2026
More ways to get involved
hold on to your resolutions Empathy Action Month is coming in november
Every November, Empathy Action Month provides a month-long opportunity for schools, libraries and families to focus on putting empathy into action. We use the Empathy Resolutions we set during Empathy Day, as a powerful way of prompting change and social action.
