"Thirty-something Ruth Ryans is a well-known agony aunt who can solve everyone else's problems apart from her own. On the night of her father's death, she gives £20 to a homeless man which one year later she realises saved his life. Deciding that actions perhaps speak louder than words, she decides to host a Christmas dinner for some of the lonely people who have written over the years. And she's going to host the dinner in the tall empty town house...

When mean and angry Judd, who has never known kindness, takes to drinking and mistreats his dogs, Marty discovers how deep a hurt can go and how long it takes to heal.

"Leonard and Hungry Paul are two friends who see the world differently. They use humour, board games and silence to steer their way through the maelstrom that is the 21st century.'The figure in Munch's painting isn't actually screaming!' Hungry Paul said. 'Really, are you sure?' Replied Leonard. 'Absolutely. That's the whole thing. The figure is actually closing his ears to block outa scream. Isn't that amazing? A painting can be so misunderstood...

Minna does a lot of thinking about her project to do something kind, make a picture about what she did, and share it with her classmates, but finally comes up with an idea that spreads to the whole school.

When a little girl compliments her teacher about the buttons on her outfit, it starts a chain reaction of goodwill, good deeds, and thoughtfulness throughout the day.

To her grown children's dismay, an old woman shares her new blankets with her donkey, goat, and dog.

When a wintry wind blows away Little Hedgehog's nest, he sets out for his friend Badger's house, and the generosity he shows to others during his journey is returned to him when the snowstorm is over.

A cheerful repairman fixes squeaky doors, leaky roofs, and crumbling fences for his neighbors, who return the kindness when he catches a terrible cold.

"Zahra loves spending time with Kyle at school, but when her other classmates start teasing her for helping him she starts making choices she regrets"--

When Mai feeds the caged birds at a Buddhist temple in Vietnam, her simple act of kindness starts a chain of thoughtful acts that ultimately comes back to her. Includes author's note explaining the Buddhist concepts of karma and samsara, or the wheel of life.