Cara's Kindness: An Inspiring Pay It Forward Book For Kids From An Olympic Gold Medalist

by Kristi Yamaguchi, John Lee (Illustrator)

From the New York Times bestelling author Kristi Yamaguchi!

When you pass on some kindness, it might make its way back to you...

Cara the Cat is struggling with picking the perfect song for her new ice-skating routine. But when a friend in need turns up at the rink, Cara drops everything to
lend a helping hand. All she asks is that he pay it forward! Before long, Cara's kindness is passed all around...and might even make its way back home!

Kristi Yamaguchi is an ice-skating Olympic gold medalist and world champion who knows how to lend a helping hand! As founder of the Always Dream Foundation, Kristi helps promote early childhood literacy. Through her newest picture book, Kristi inspires children of all ages to pay it forward!

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Friendship, Sports

32 pages, Hardcover

First published October 4, 2016

About the author

Athlete, artist, wife, mother, philanthropist; in each of these things Kristi Yamaguchi embodies the word champion. Her motto is Always Dream, and Kristi's accomplishments prove that dreams can come true with hard work and dedication. Her new book, Dream Big, Little Pig, is an extension of her philosophy, and of Kristi herself."

Reviews

[Prabhjot Kaur]

Cara ice skates but she hasn't found the right music for her upcoming performance. When she sees someone sitting on the side and looking sad, she goes over and asks them if everything's okay. She helps him and then she says to pass on the kindness. From there on, kids help each other and tell others to pass on the kindness.

This was a cute story about teaching kids to be kind to others. I loved the art and I loved the story until the end when the kindness comes back to Cara and it says that kindness has come back to her so always pass on the kindness and it might come back to you. I am sorry but I don't believe that's the right thing to teach anyone let alone young kids. One should be kind always regardless and that's what the message should have been otherwise kids might expect kindness in return and it doesn't always happen like that in real life. Be kind always but don't expect anything in return should have been the lesson here.

3 stars

[Cara Noyes]

This is a lovely tale. Of course, the main character is a figure skater.
I elected to read it for I was intrigued by a children's book with my first name in the title.
Lee's illustrations are lovely, too. I found Cara the cat to have very expressive eyes. Cara's message is to pass kindness on to others. It may even come back to you.

[Mehsi]

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.

This sounded like a cute picture book, and I was looking forward to it. There aren’t many ice-skating books, especially ones with animals in the lead, so I was curious on how this one would do it. Well, sadly, it is about ice-skating but you barely see any happening. Instead it is a repetitive show of kindness with constantly the same phrase over and over again. I don’t mind kindness, and I don’t mind it if a kid’s book tries to inspire kids to be kinder, but this was just no. Repetitive, bland, and come on, can’t you use another catchphrase instead of rehashing the same one over and over again, it just felt sugarcoated fake.

And yes, it does end up back to Cara, but by then I was just hoping the book would end already.

The art was the best part of the book, I loved how the illustrations looked, how the characters were drawn, and I also loved the colours used in this book. Rich and colourful.

However, had I known this book was barely about ice-skating and instead about repetition and forced kindness? I wouldn’t have picked up the book at Netgalley.

Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/

[Laura]

This is cute enough, and a good message, of doing kindness and passing it forward. The pictures are cute, and all that, but I found I was bored with it. I mean I liked that everyone was passing kindness forward, but I didn't care about anyone. Granted, it is just a picture book, but picture books should engage you just as much as full blown novels, at one level.

So, good message, of passing kindness forward, but not sure if a kid would read it more than once.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

[Bluebelle-the-Inquisitive (Catherine)]

Author: Kristi Yamaguchi
Illustrator: John Lee
Age Recommendation:Early Primary
Art Style: Computer generated animals
Topic/ Theme: Kindness, Karma
Setting: Suburban Northern America

This is a book about karma about good things happening if do good things. I love that as a theme for a children's book. Cara's design is really cute and Milo the Milo adorable. It is a wonderful menagerie of American characters with quote different personalities and designs.

I'm a bit conflicted about Cara's Kindness one hand it is adorable with a sweet message on the other there is a serious disregard for the work behind sport, the effort of choreo. The tip one way or the other came from Kristi Yamaguchi being an Olympic figure skater. She knows the struggles and pain so I guess I'm okay with it. I just need to acknowledge that I am over thinking a youngling fiction.

[Yolanda]

Imagine my surprise when I took my daughter to the Hawaii Book & Music Festival in May and saw that Olympic Ice Skating Gold Medalist Kristi Yamaguchi was there for a reading and book signing! I didn't even know she wrote children's books. I was delighted and my daughter, who is 2 years old, thought the cat on the cover of the book was cute. Kristi Yamaguchi was very personable and sweet and signed the book for my daughter. I was a bit start struck since I grew up in the 80's/90's and she was my favorite ice skater.

This book Cara's Kindness has the sweetest illustrations, I love it. My daughter is in a furry animals phase, so she loves the big eyed cat Cara as she helps others in need and sees them help someone else in return. The book has an awesome message about being kind, helping others and paying it forward. We enjoyed it very much. This would make a wonderful gift as well.

[Donna Wetzel]

Thanks Goodreads for my copy of Cara's Kindness by Kristi Yamaguchi. The story was cute, nothing special. What I loved though, was the art work. The pictures were very well done. The characters with their big eyes looked adorable. The story did send a positive message about helping others.

[Laura Filtness]

This sweet book is a good way to introduce the concept of bucket filling to younger students. The simple story illustrates the ripple effect of kindness, inclusion, growth mindset, friendship, and good deeds. It would be so fun to learn about the author as you read this book.

[Cara Byrne]

When one helps another, spreading kindness through small actions, it creates a positive cycle. It's a sweet story with some unique animals with a storyline that brings in ice skating at the beginning and end of the book.

[Laura Arnold]

This is a great book for kids! I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway. I like the message it sends. It is something I hope to teach my kids. I was happy to see a children's book that has diverse vocabulary. Aside from the main message it wasn't too repetitive.

[Sara Weather]

It was okay.

[Emily]

I liked the “pay it forward” message and the wonderful illustrations will appeal to children.

[Erica DePoister]

A great family book about sharing kindness into the world. I can't wait to own this book. It will sit proudly on my shelves!

[Stacy]

This was a cute book about being kind. Pass on the kindness and it might just come back to you!

[Alex]

She's a better skater than a writer, but there aren't many ice-skating themed picture books to choose from so honestly, any contribution to the genre is appreciated.

[Wendy]

Cute animal characters and a sweet message about passing forward kindnesses, but it is a little bit of a slow read and I don't think it would hold up well to repeated re-readings.

[Donna Mork]

A cute Pay It Forward book. Cara is kind to one person who in turn is kind to another and another. It comes full circle and someone is kind to Cara just when she needs it most.

[Jenny]

It's a nice enough story about kindness...but fairly didactic. And I am not a fan of the illustrations.

[Yvonne O'Connor]

This is a “pay it forward” story with adorably cute characters. I especially loved the blind mole who played piano!

[Sheron]

“Just pass on the kindness”

I loved this book!!!

[Viviane Elbee]

Cute book with adorable illustrations and a pass on the kindness theme.

[Alison Slyman]

Adorable pictures and good message on paying forward the kindness that we receive!

[Katie Johnson]

This is super cute with disability representation too! A must read for any young kid or figure skating lover.

[Alison Strandell]

pass on the kindness... =)

[falusia]

piękne ilustracje 🥹🥹

[Cyndy]

A sweet little book about being kind and paying it forward.

[Crystal ✬ Lost in Storyland]

Cute read about showing kindness and how you never know when it'll come back to you!

[Janine]

I received this book through the goodreads giveaways for an honest review.

Cara's Kindness is a cute picture book with gorgeous illustrations. The message was great - be kind to others. My three-year-old really enjoyed the characters and story.

[Patsy]

Be kind and kindness comes back to you, is the message of this book. Very cute pictures.

[Danielle Hammelef]

I received a copy of this book from Sourcebooks' Goodreads giveaway without an oligation to review it. This book has cute illustrations and a great message. However, it's quite boring to read and never surprised me.