The Kindness Booth: A Greater Mankato Area United Way Picture Book

A cloudy background featuring the title of the United Way Book, "The Kindness Booth"

Spreading Kindness through Reading

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.


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

 

 

Logo for Greater Mankato Area United Way                       Logo for Capstone Publishing

Cover image for The Kindness Booth children's book

 

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. 

Books are also available for purchase wherever books are sold. Please contact us if your business is interested in selling the book.

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

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