Along with ten year old Sam, we learn about compassion, how it differs from kindness, and how we can practice it in our own lives. Other positive character traits and values come into the story too, values such as being honest, responsible, respectful, kind or using empathy. These positive values can be matched by negative ones, which can only hurt ourselves and others. Sam is started on his interest in compassion in school, where they learn about a charity for children and see films about the children living in conditions of poverty or neglect. Some of them have special needs, and Sam has a younger brother who is blind. This starts him thinking deeply about what he can do to help the children. He admits that he sometimes finds life with his brother difficult because he gets so much attention and can be irritating, just like any other brother. Sam begins to research the charity on line, and he sees much more about their work. At school, the staff and children plan a charity football match in support of it, and Sam makes posters to publicise the match. He also finds himself feeling compassion for his friend Isla, who tells him she is being bullied. The two of them go together to a teacher so she can help, and it takes courage for both of them to do this - another 'value' that Sam is learning about. Within himself, he begins to realise that the new boy in his class, Alexis, whom he doesn't like much, is in need of compassion too. His English isn't good, and everyone tends to ignore him. When Sam makes the effort, they are soon friends and find much in common, and he learns that Alexis is a refugee from a country at war. Sam also realises that his grandmother, newly widowed, is lonely and decides to spend more time with her. He has had to admit to himself that being compassionate is not always easy and that it takes strength and courage to practice it. Black and white line drawings on almost every page will keep children happily reading and learning about the importance of using good values in one's life. There is a list of books for both children and adults, and a short list of organisations that emphasise good values. Available from Amazon, from book shops, and from the publisher: www.jkp.com.