"Some books seem good. Others give you useful information. But then, every once in a while, you find a book that changes you. Not just by teaching you something important, but by reshaping how you think about your students-your kids-and the work you do with them every day. From Empathy to Action is one of those books. It doesn't just offer ideas-it makes you rethink how you teach. It helps you see how kids become better readers, writers, and, more importantly, how they begin to understand their place in the world.
Across five chapters, Hass, Kelly, and Laminack guide us through a process that starts with building empathy and moves through awareness, discussion, research, and, finally, action. At first glance, this might seem like just another professional book-but it's more than that. It makes you reflect not just on your teaching, but on yourself. It challenges you to think differently, engage more deeply, and bring these ideas into your classroom in a way that truly matters. Read this. You'll use it with your students but honestly, you'll also read it for you."
Kylene Beers, Author of When Kids Can't Read and NCTE 2024 James R. Squire Award Winner