Can teaching children kindness toward animals help them become more compassionate adults?

In this inspiring episode of Medicine, Motherhood & Missions, host Johanna Moses sits down with award-winning children's author and former elementary school teacher Christine Devane to explore how storytelling, empathy, and caring for animals can shape a child's character for life.

Christine shares the heart behind her award-winning children's books, including Elephant Beach, Lola and Sophie's ABC Adventure, and Pet Safety with Lola & Sophie. Inspired by her lifelong love of animals and years spent in the classroom, Christine writes stories that help children develop empathy, confidence, kindness, and responsibility.

Together, Johanna and Christine discuss why teaching children to care for animals is about so much more than pets. These early experiences become opportunities to teach compassion, respect, gentleness, responsibility, and emotional intelligence—qualities that help children build healthy relationships throughout their lives.

Whether you're raising young children, teaching in a classroom, working in healthcare, or simply looking for ways to cultivate kindness in the next generation, this conversation is full of practical encouragement and timeless wisdom.

• Why kindness toward animals builds empathy toward people
• How children's books can help shape character and emotional development
• Practical ways parents can teach compassion at home
• The importance of pet safety and respectful interactions with animals
• Encouraging shy children through stories that help them feel seen
• The value of adopting rescue pets
• How small moments of kindness create lifelong character

"The way children learn to care for animals often becomes the way they learn to care for people."

Christine Devane is an award-winning children's author, former second-grade teacher, and lifelong animal advocate. Her books encourage children to develop empathy, confidence, kindness, and responsibility while promoting pet adoption and animal safety. Inspired by her own childhood love of animals and years spent reading with students, Christine creates stories that help children grow into compassionate leaders.

• Elephant Beach
• Lola and Sophie's ABC Adventure
• Pet Safety with Lola & Sophie

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Share this episode with a parent, teacher, grandparent, librarian, pediatric provider, veterinarian, or animal lover who believes in raising children with compassion.

Together, we can raise a generation that leads with kindness.

Connect with Christine:

https://www.christine-devane.com/
Instagram @stined13

Connect with Johanna

Instagram: @medicine_motherhood_missions ⁠

www.johannamoses.com