Spreading Kindness through Reading
When Mya wakes up to a gloomy day, her grandpa asks her how she could make the day brighter. His simple question puts Mya into motion, and together with her little brother, Oliver, and neighbor Addie, she opens the Kindness Booth. Their plan is to spread some sunshine to the neighbors in her apartment complex by helping them throughout the day. But what happens when the booth gets rained out?
Released in 2024 through Capstone, The Kindness Booth children's book is part of Greater Mankato Area United Way's early learning and literacy initiative. The book follows a group of friends who set out to make the day brighter for their neighborhood through acts of kindness.
Geared toward grades PreK-2, The Kindness Booth was written by Greater Mankato Area United Way Director of Operations & Communications Laura Murray and was illustrated by Italy-based Andrea Boatta.
As part of the initiative, Capstone is donating paperback copies of the book for Greater Mankato Area United Way to distribute to all first-graders within Greater Mankato Area United Way's service area of Blue Earth, Le Sueur, Nicollet and Waseca counties. Thank you to Capstone for their continued partnership and commitment to literacy in our region!
Additional support provided by Lime Valley Advertising, Navitor Specialty Products, and the Olseth Family Foundation.
How to Purchase
Book sales benefit Greater Mankato Area United Way.
Purchase a signed hardcover book at Greater Mankato Area United Way for $20. Cash, check, credit card, or Venmo (Greater Mankato Area United Way) accepted. A 3% fee will be added to credit card payments. If you would like to pay ahead of your visit, you can purchase via credit card here. You can add your personalization request in the Comments. We will contact you when your order is ready for pickup.
The author Laura would be happy to visit with children to share about the book. Contact us ahead of time and Laura will be sure to be in office when you come.
Books are also available for purchase wherever books are sold. Please contact us if your business is interested in selling the book.
- Barnes & Noble store in Mankato
- Amazon online
- Barnes & Noble online
Upcoming Events
As part of the book's release, United Way will be hosting children's story times, author signings and other community events throughout the year! We hope you can join us. Please contact us to schedule a presentation or book signing.
Thank you to:
- Eagle Lake Elementary
- The Free Press Mankato
- Kato Living
- KEYC News Now
- Lake Crystal Lions Club
- Mankato Kiwanis
- Mankato Sertoma
- Mankato Rotary
- North Mankato Taylor Library
- Radio Mankato
- River Valley Woman
- United Ways of Minnesota
- Waseca Pioneer
- Zonta Club of Mankato
The Kindness Booth Partnership
“With United Way’s focus on childhood literacy and development, I have had the long-time goal of releasing our own picture book. This book has a beautiful message centered on kindness, which is foundational at every age. We are thrilled to partner with Capstone on this initiative and can’t wait to see this book in the hands of children throughout our region and beyond.”
- Barb Kaus, Greater Mankato Area United Way CEO
“We’re delighted to partner with the Greater Mankato Area United Way on this very special book project near and dear to our hearts. As a publisher of books for kids for more than 30 years, and as long-time partners on the United Way’s Books For Kids program, we know firsthand the impact books have on children’s lives. The Kindness Booth has themes of kindness and relationship building, and we can’t think of a more fitting partner to create this book with than the Greater Mankato Area United Way. We are honored to help fund community initiatives in Capstone’s hometown with a portion of the book’s proceeds.
- Beth Brezenoff, Capstone VP of Publishing
More About The Kindness Booth Book
When Mya wakes up to a gloomy day, her grandpa asks her how she could make the day brighter. His simple question puts Mya into motion, and together with her little brother, Oliver, and neighbor Addie, she opens the Kindness Booth. Their plan is to spread some sunshine to the neighbors in her apartment complex by helping them throughout the day. But what happens when the booth gets rained out?
Dewey: 813.6
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Reading Level: Grades PreK-2
Interest Level: Grades PreK-2
GRL: K
Text Type: Literature: Narrative
Copyright: 2024
Page count: 32
