Hallie's Big Heart

Hallie loves going to school. She treasures her teacher, her classmates, and the small, meaningful moments that fill each day. But when she notices friends feeling sad, left out, or hurt, Hallie starts to wonder how she can help.

When her teacher, Miss Rhonda, introduces a brand-new word—empathy—Hallie discovers that it means understanding and caring about how other people feel. Through everyday experiences in the classroom and on the playground, Hallie learns that empathy can be as simple as asking a friend if they are okay, sharing a snack, cheering someone on, or offering comfort after a fall.

Written by New York City psychotherapist Beth Phillips and illustrated by Noah Pasternak, Hallie’s Big Heart is a warm and thoughtfully told picture book that introduces empathy in a way young children can easily understand. With gentle storytelling and relatable school-day moments, this illustrated children’s book helps early readers recognize feelings—their own and others’—and see how small acts of kindness can make a big difference.

Ideal for families, classrooms, counselors, and educators, Hallie’s Big Heart serves as both a heartfelt story and a practical conversation starter about emotional awareness, kindness, and social development. It encourages children to listen, share, and care—reminding them that having a “big heart” is something they can practice every day.