EmpathyLab today launches the 2025 Read for Empathy collection of 70 books for 3-16-year-olds, alongside calls for empathy and emotional skills to be prioritised.

‘The 2025 Read for Empathy collection of 70 books for 3-16-year-olds harnesses the power of books to build real-life empathy. It is part of a unique and growing UK empathy education movement,” claims Miranda McKearney, EmpathyLab’s founder.

Highlighting NHS official statistics, specifically the Mental Health of Children and Young People in England Report, Nov 2023, McKearney calls for ‘radical solutions’ and this year’s judges argue that there’s an urgent need for EmpathyLab’s unique UK book-based empathy education movement.

The press release also highlights recent the Children’s Society report which shows that our 15-year-olds have the lowest life satisfaction of all 27 European countries and Mind’s latest report which finds that 1 in 5 school-age children has a mental health difficulty.

The Read for Empathy books have been chosen by an expert judging panel of teachers, librarians and academics. They will be used in homes, schools and libraries in a targeted way to help build children’s ability to understand other people’s feelings and points of view.

The 2025 collection

This is EmpathyLab’s ninth collection, with 40 books for 3-11-year-olds and 30 for 11-16-year-olds. Each offers different ways of experiencing, understanding and building empathy. The collection features books by a diverse group of new and established authors and illustrators, including George the Poet, former Children’s Laureate, Joseph Coelho, Phil Earle and Hannah Gold.

‘This collection allows young people to get close to characters, to get close to issues and to be provoked to think. Provoked to care. And to then do something about it,’ says judge Professor Teresa Cremin, Open University.

Discover the 2025 Read For Empathy Collection.

From today, 13 February, free Guides to the Read for Empathy collection can be downloaded now.

Schools and libraries can register now for free Empathy Day Festival resources and events. Running from 2-12 June, with Empathy Day on Thursday 12 June, this major Festival is free and open to all to get involved and inspired. Register now.

This year’s Read for Empathy collection judging panel is:

Jon Biddle – Teacher, Moorlands Primary Academy & Patron of Reading coordinator

Richard Charlesworth – Reading lead and Assistant Headteacher at Avonmore Primary, London

Kevin Cobane – Teacher, University of Birmingham School

Teresa Cremin – Professor of Education (Literacy) & Co-Director of the Literacy & Social Justice Centre, The Open University

Phoebe Demeger – Librarian, Centre for Literacy in Primary Education

Scott Evans – Teacher & founder, The Reader Teacher

Graham Fairweather – Senior Librarian at the High School of Glasgow

Jake Hope – Reading development and children’s book consultant & Working Party Chair, Yoto Carnegie Medals for Writing and Illustration

Shaheen Mogradia Engagement & Programmes Assistant, Bolton Library & Museum

Sarah Smith – Libraries Development Manager, Brent Libraries

Sonia Thompson – Headteacher, St. Matthew’s C.E. Primary School, Birmingham

Dawn Woods – Member Development Librarian, School Library Association

Miranda McKearney OBE – EmpathyLab founder

Sarah Mears MBE – Programme Manager, Libraries Connected & EmpathyLab founder

The books can be bought and ordered through bookshops or via bookshop.org.