I won this book Not Pop-Pop by Angela DeGroot and MacKenzie Haley for Waterbrook books on World Kindness Day—how fun is that? It checks all the boxes I look for in a great book. Is it true? Yes—homelessness is a reality in our city, state, country, and world. Is it good? Absolutely. The story follows a young boy, Brian, who shows kindness to a man experiencing homelessness during several visits to the library. Brian and his mom treat George with kindness, respect, and dignity, even offering donations at the library that George can use. And is it beautiful? Without a doubt—both in its message and illustrations.
In the story, Brian learns big words like spectacular and compassion along with not so nice words like vagrant and bum. The book approaches this important topic in a thoughtful and gentle way, making it a meaningful way to introduce young readers to the subject. I truly enjoyed reading it.
The back of the book also includes helpful resources—tips on understanding homelessness, ways to help, and a note to parents on how to discuss this topic with kids. In my own family, we often encounter people experiencing homelessness or hard times, so we keep “blessing bags” in our car to share with those in need. This was also one of the suggestions in the book.
I’m always amazed by how quickly my kids notice someone who might need a bag and how eager they are to offer one. Children often see the world more clearly than adults, and their compassion continues to teach me something new every day!
The link to purchase the book is an Amazon Affiliate link, which means I may receive a small compensation for promoting the book, while the price is the same for you! Win, win!
Ages: 4-6
Themes: Homelessness, Empathy, Compassion, Kindness
