Empathy is a vital human force. One that creates happier children, stronger communities and a better world. It’s come into sharp focus during the pandemic and right now, we’ve never needed it more. Empathy is being able to imagine and share someone else’s feelings.

The good news is that it's a skill you can learn, and Empathy Day on 9 June aims to help everyone understand and experience its transformational power. Empathy Day focuses on how we can use books to step into someone else’s shoes. Scientists say that we can train our brain with stories – the more you empathise with characters, the more you understand other people’s feelings.

Empathy Day was established by not-for-profit EmpathyLab, who are on a mission to inspire the rising generation to drive a new empathy movement. On 9 June they will host a day of brilliant online events and home-based celebrations to help children READ, CONNECT AND ACT using empathy. Children can join in whether they're at home or at school, and authors, illustrators, schools and libraries across the country will all be taking part.

To mark the countdown to Empathy Day, the Youth Libraries Group are delighted to welcome Muhammad Khan to the blog.  Muhammad's book Kick the Moon is included in EmpathyLab’s Read for Empathy Collection, has chosen an extract from their book and tells us why they feel it’s a powerful read to develop empathy.

Extract: Kick the Moon pages 35-37, 2^nd para, line 6, ‘By the end of the lesson, I’m solving simultaneous equations like a pro…’ [See dowload link below]

On the first day of term, Ilyas can’t believe his luck when told he’s being moved up a set in maths. His old teacher, Mr Gordon, had a less than encouraging teaching style (read old school bullying); and his gang were always snatching his book and copying his answers (more bullying). In spite of all this, he’s a little wary of his new environment. He needn’t be. It turns out Ms Mughal’s classroom is a safe space for learning. Though Ilyas is chuffed to discover this, he doesn’t think it would be cool to express these positive feelings. His gang have brainwashed him into believing ‘dons’ never show emotion except to laugh at losers, aggressively flirt with girls, or demonstrate violence. These are the hallmarks of toxic masculinity. We feel empathy for Ilyas because we know he wants to be a good boy but past experience has determined it leads to bullying.

Ms Mughal’s students seem to really like her, share jokes together, but clearly understand where she draws the line. Ilyas is surprised when they all say ‘bye’ to her on the way out. Finding this new respectful dynamic awkward, he tries to slip out unnoticed. In spite of the apparent snub, Ms Mughal tells him he is welcome to see her anytime for extra help – thereby showing she understands the enormity of his burden. In this moment she is promising to have his back, she is empathising. It flies in the face of Ilyas’s gang who claim they are the only ones who will ever look out for each other thereby exerting control through fear and lies.

Outside in the corridor, Ilyas sees Jade - the beautiful girl he is obsessed with - engaged in a controversial conversation with a couple of friends. Melanie says horribly racist things. Jade is complicit and it breaks Ilyas’s heart. Until now he’s placed her on a pedestal but discovers an ugly side which throws a massive spanner in the works for future romance (no matter how unlikely it was!) The third friend, Kelly, looks deeply uncomfortable with this bigotry but doesn’t have the strength to challenge her friends over it. She is an analogue for Ilyas – both teens are caught up in groups of friends who say and do things that are ostensibly wrong. The moment foreshadows the eventual friendship that will blossom between the two.

As a secondary school maths teacher, I drew direct inspiration from the children I teach. I wrote this book to try to understand why some of the kindest teens hang out with others who lack empathy and can be cruel. High school, of course, is not an easy time. There is strength in numbers. To stand alone and fight for what you believe in can make you a target, especially in friendship groups where a pecking order exists. Many young people already feel self-conscious – the burden of taking those ‘flawless’ selfies and clocking up the most likes doesn’t exactly breed confidence – so it is difficult to challenge peers to become better people. Hierarchies are established through fear and shame which of course creates subordinates while venerating a de facto leader. And as we know: power corrupts.

Ilyas and Kelly are both relatable in their very averageness. They have hopes and dreams just like everyone else and desperately want to be friends. We empathise because we see how happy and creative they become whenever they are together and feel sympathy when berated, mocked and threatened by their respective ‘friendship’ groups who demand they keep apart.

Standing up for yourself or your friends is not easy, but hopefully the book empowers young people to believe some things are worth fighting for no matter how daunting the odds.

For the first time this year, EmpathyLab will host its Empathy Day programme online to support families at home. Schools and libraries across the country will also be offering a wide range of home learning and story-time activities.

Prior to the big day, EmpathyLab are hosting a Countdown Fortnight on their social media channels (26 May-8 June). Highlights include brand-new empathy-themed illustrations from leading artists, short stories from favourite authors and video readings of empathy-boosting books and poems from the writers themselves. Families can also download a new Family Activities Pack, featuring 14 writing, drawing, crafting, listening and reading activities to do at home. https://www.empathylab.uk/family-activities-pack

Events on 9 June will begin at 9:30am with Children’s Laureate and best-selling author Cressida Cowell, who will introduce Empathy Day. The day’s activities, designed to introduce children to the concept and importance of empathy and how to put it into action, include a draw-along with Rob Biddulph, a poetry challenge with Sarah Crossan, Empathy Charades with Joseph Coelho, exercises on listening with Jo Cotterill and Robin Stevens, before rounding up the day with an activity on putting empathy into action with Onjali Rauf and Sita Brahmachari. Finally, an evening event with Cressida Cowell, Muhammad Khan and psychologist Professor Robin Banerjee aimed at parents, teachers and librarians will address the science that drives EmpathyLab.

The full programme can be found HERE https://bit.ly/EmpathyDay2020

Join in with the #EmpathyDay social media campaign and share your #ReadforEmpathy book recommendations.