![\"Sheryl](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Sheryl-taking-Kindness-Rocks-into-school.jpg\")
<\/p>\nWhen Liverpool author Sheryl Webster first created her \u2018rock star\u2019 lion character Jonny Heart she hoped he would help children to understand the importance of being kind.<\/p>\n
Now, almost two years since her book Kindness Rocks was published, it\u2019s not only captured the imaginations of young children in schools across the city, it\u2019s inspired thousands of acts of kindness.<\/p>\n
They have included thousands of pairs of socks collected and given out through Paper Cup Coffee to people who are homeless, Kindness Comfort Bears\u00a0donated to\u00a0CashForKids Mission Christmas, 500 scarves knitted for homeless people and the creation of a kindness garden by young adults with autism at EPIC in Speke.<\/p>\n
As National Year of Reading 2026 launches this week, Sheryl says her book \u2013 and its ongoing impact on young readers especially \u2013 proves the power of fiction goes further just escapism.<\/p>\n
She says:<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen National Year of Reading launched, they were saying how reading unlocks kids\u2019 imaginations, but I think it can also unlock empathy and confidence. If a child sees themselves reflected or sees a character that they care about, it\u2019s not just helping them to understand their own feelings, it\u2019s helping them to understand the world.<\/p>\n
\u201cI created my rock star lion to show kids that it\u2019s cool to be kind, not in a preachy way but in a way that\u2019s fun.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cBut it\u2019s grown beyond that because children have really connected with this character so it\u2019s taken on a life of its own, one which even I didn\u2019t imagine.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is my 40th children\u2019s book and it\u2019s been like nothing else I\u2019ve ever done.\u201d<\/p>\n
Former teacher Sheryl, who lives in south Liverpool, says launching it in her home city has certainly helped generate such a positive reaction.<\/p>\n
\u201cLiverpool\u2019s got a big heart as we all know, it\u2019s a city built on community and looking out for one another, and whenever I\u2019ve done anything and invited schools to take part, the children, the schools and the parents haven\u2019t hesitated.<\/p>\n
\u201cLiverpool doesn\u2019t just talk about kindness, it shows it \u2013 it\u2019s brought the book and the characters off the pages and into action, and made kids feel they don\u2019t just have to enjoy the story, they can be inspired by it and actually do something good.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Although most of the acts of kindness have been by children and parents who\u2019ve read the book, Sheryl says it\u2019s touched older readers too.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen we encouraged people to knit scarves for the homeless, most of the knitters were from local groups and in their 70s and 80s,\u201d she adds. \u201cI went in and read the book to them too and they all loved it.\u201d<\/p>\n
After the success of Kindness Rocks, this year Sheryl is developing it from a picture book to an illustrated early reader series aimed at children aged 5-9.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe books will have six characters so it\u2019s a bit like Friends for kids, and each character has their own story, with Johnny as the anchor.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe reason I\u2019ve decided to do this is when I\u2019ve gone into schools to read with younger children and the other classes have come in, the older ones have been really switched on in picking up the underlying messages.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought why not develop it into something children of all ages can benefit from?<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat I\u2019ve found with Kindness Rocks is that you can create a ripple effect, right across the community \u2013 one group hears and another gets in touch and it just keeps going.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThis year I\u2019ll be going back out into schools, and my focus will be to continue to grow the kindness, with more schools and more community projects, really helping children to turn this story into positive action.\u201d<\/p>\n
Find out more about Kindness Rocks here<\/a>. Find out what\u2019s good up North on our new platform, The Northern Guide.\u00a0
\nFind out what\u2019s on at the Reader as they unveil their winter season events here<\/a>. <\/p>\n
\nFrom the best hotels, beauty spots, days out, food and more up North \u2013 visit\u00a0thenorthernguide.com<\/a>\u00a0and follow The Northern Guide on Instagram\u00a0HERE.<\/a><\/p>\n