UAE-based author Kathy Urban shares how Kind Little Hands inspires empathy, curiosity, and quiet action
For Kathy Urban, it was a quiet moment in her garden that inspired her powerful and poetic picture book Kind Little Hands.
“My youngest spotted a bee that had fallen in the pool,” she recalls.
“It was a small act, but it created empathy and a sense of connection with all living things.”
That moment became the heartbeat of Kind Little Hands—a gentle yet inspiring story in which a child rescues a struggling bee and begins to understand his own power to help.
The book ties beautifully into World Bee Day, celebrating not only these crucial pollinators but the quiet strength of children and how everyday experiences can help them grow into thoughtful, empowered changemakers.
Quiet superpowers
Born near Frankfurt and now a long-time UAE resident, Kathy is a full-time writer, a mother of three, and a passionate advocate for early literacy.
Her debut Hop Lola Hop was featured at the 2023 Emirates Airline Festival of Literature; Kind Little Hands is her fourth picture book, with a fifth on the way.
Her stories are often inspired by real life, especially the smaller moments adults may overlook.
“It’s frightening when you read up about the fast decline in wild bee populations,” she says.
“I wanted to highlight this problem in a way that connects with children and offers them a sense of agency—showing that what they do matters.”
The story centres on Noah, a boy who notices a bee in trouble and gently helps it recover.
That simple act marks the beginning of a quiet transformation—for the bee, and for Noah himself.
“Kindness often thrives in the quieter moments,” Kathy says.
“You don’t need to be the loudest in the room or make grand gestures to create change.”
She refers to these qualities as ‘quiet superpowers’—traits children often show naturally, like compassion, attentiveness, and empathy.
“What if a child isn’t the fastest, the smartest, or the most confident?” she reflects.
“There’s so much value in showing children that strength can be gentle, and that their quiet compassion is powerful.”
Creating imaginative worlds
Much of Kathy’s storytelling draws on her memories of being a child and on observing her own children today.
“I try to remember ‘little me’—how things felt when I was small, what held magic for me,” she says.
“I also listen to what my children and their friends notice, what they laugh at, what worries them.”
Her characters are children, not superheroes, and her settings mix the familiar with the imaginative.
“Bees live all around us,” she says. “Noticing one in need is such a simple but powerful moment of connection.”
“That’s why I chose a bee—it’s familiar, real, and easily within a child’s reach. I hope children can see themselves in these stories and think, this could be me.”
Her hope, she adds, is that by caring for the smallest creatures, children will grow into compassionate and responsible people who value all forms of life.
Illustrations that speak volumes
Illustrator Sally Garland’s warm, detailed visuals add a second layer of meaning to Kind Little Hands.
“The illustrations are such an essential part of the storytelling,” Kathy says.
“They invite readers to slowly and quietly decode the book’s message.”
Subtle background details show acts of everyday kindness—a plastic bag being tidied up, a ‘Wall of Kindness’, and even a little bird and squirrel that follow the main characters across the pages.
“It’s a reminder that wildlife can flourish anywhere—even in cities,” she says.
“I love the idea that children will point and say, ‘Look at that!’ and begin to think: I can do this too.”
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Books that begin bigger conversations
For parents, Kathy sees books as powerful tools to spark meaningful conversations.
“Stories can break down tricky topics into simple, accessible language,” she says.
“They create safe spaces to explore different perspectives and help parents model empathy—often just by reading and talking together.”
She treasures the quiet, reflective moments reading with her children at the end of the day.
“They’re independent readers now, but they still have questions. That shows me how busy their minds are—and how books help them process and connect.”
Her own childhood shelves were filled with Astrid Lindgren adventures, Asterix comics, and one unforgettable story about a baby seal that made her realise, for the first time, the impact humans can have on the natural world.
“It unravelled something inside me that I can still feel thirty years later,” she says. “That’s what I hope to pass on.”
She also believes in leaving space within a story for the child to explore.
“Books shouldn’t answer everything. The most powerful stories are the ones that leave room for children to bring their own thoughts, questions, and experiences.”
A message for World Bee Day
When asked what she hopes young readers take from Kind Little Hands, Kathy’s answer is simple—but resonant.
“Your action counts,” she says. “No matter how big or small you are, you can make a big difference to the world around you.”
A proportion of the book sales will support Buglife’s conservation work to restore wildflower habitats.
For further information visit Kathy Urban Tales
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