Self-Paced Course Teaches Children Empathy and Compassion Towards Animals
Sacramento, California (February 9, 2026) – RedRover®, a national animal welfare nonprofit, is now offering its RedRover Readers on-demand training free of charge (previously priced at $35).
The RedRover Readers program is dedicated to fostering empathy and compassion in children ages 7-11 through the power of storytelling, using animal-themed children’s books. Through critical thinking and perspective-taking, children learn to understand both animal and human characters’ emotions and behaviors to reflect on their own responses in similar situations. The program is designed to teach essential values of kindness and empathy towards animals, to help prevent animal cruelty and neglect.
This self-paced course helps:
- Children foster empathy and compassion for animals and people
- Support children’s social-emotional learning
- Lead thoughtful conversations through children’s animal-themed stories and discussion
RedRover President and CEO, Katie Campbell said, “We’re thrilled to offer the RedRover Readers online training for free so that more educators can learn to implement this unique and innovative curriculum in their communities. Through this program, they’ll learn about the impact of language and how to harness the power of questions to not only just teach kids about animals, but how to build compassion and empathy for animals and people.”
After completing the course, educators receive:
- Access to the full RedRover Readers curriculum
- One FREE RedRover Readers program book
- One FREE classroom set of Kind News™ magazine for one year
- Completion certificate for five credit hours of professional development where applicable
- Ongoing support from the RedRover Readers team, including curriculum updates
- New strategies to engage students and build compassion for animals and people
The RedRover Readers program can also be used by librarians, humane educators like shelter staff, counselors, or those with a passion for volunteering. The curriculum features more than 20 books, including bilingual, Native-centered, and nature-focused titles.
A RedRover Readers-trained educator shared, “This is an amazing course for all who are interested in a read-aloud program that addresses animal welfare. Even as a seasoned teacher, I felt the program gave [me] insight on how to ask questions to evoke an “aha” moment in the lives of youth.”
A fourth-grade student in a class taught by a RedRover Readers-trained educator at O.W. Erlewine Elementary School shared, “If I saw kids throwing rocks at a dog, I would yell, ‘Stop.’ How would you like that?!’”
This on-demand course takes approximately five hours at your own pace. Sign up today at RedRover.org/On-Demand.
About RedRover:
RedRover is a 501(c)(3) animal welfare nonprofit. Founded in 1987, RedRover focuses on bringing animals out of crisis and strengthening the human-animal bond through emergency sheltering, disaster relief services, financial assistance, and education. RedRover has earned a coveted 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, America’s largest independent charity evaluator. To learn how RedRover is creating a more compassionate world, visit RedRover.org or RedRoverstore.org to wear your support on your sleeve!
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