Teaching themes of empathy through children's literature

As Christians we are called to treat all individuals with understanding and compassion, extending to them the same unmerited favor that God has extended to those who follow Him. But how do we extend a sense of understanding to those whose personalities and experiences are quite different from our own? The answer lies in developing a sense of empathy for those around us.The field of psychology provides many definitions for empathy. In an article discussing empathy as presented through children's literature, psychologist Feshback defines it "[sharing] an emotional response with another as well as the ability to discriminate the other's perspective and role" (qtd. in Cress 594). The same article cites another definition provided by Einsberg and Strayer: "an emotional response that stems from another's emotional state or condition and is congruent with the other's emotional state or situation" (qtd. in Cress 594).