Kindness is delicious.Dexter and twin sister Leah are often at odds, with Leah frequently trying to one-up him. Their parents are preparing a dinner party, and Papa asks them to get eggs from Ms. Marvis, their neighbor. When she invites them in, Dexter observes her house is quiet, empty. Returning home, Dexter mentions this, and the siblings agree Ms. Marvis should come to the party. She regales guests with tales of her long-ago life in Poland and the tradition of making jelly doughnuts there. The next day, the twins help make the luscious pastries and deposit a bag at their neighbor's door. Additionally, Dexter and Leah build a "snow family" in Ms. Marvis' yard as "company." These acts of kindness also serve to disrupt the twins' squabbling habits. Ms. Marvis' thank-you letter to the kids for all their kindness follows. In a rushed ending, her missive makes them grateful for their relationship and their doughnut-making skills. This well-meaning tale imparts valuable messages about concern for others, but the writing is stiff and expository. The serviceable, flat, cartoonish illustrations feature mostly White protagonists-there are two Black party guests. Ms. Marvis is depicted as an older, gray-haired, bespectacled woman with a cane. Guided-reading ideas for adults to use with kids precede the story; the backmatter includes kindness-sharing tips.A merely so-so story about thoughtfulness; not as sweet as the titular treats. (Picture book. 4-8)

Dismondy introduces twins Dexter and Leah, who squabble with each other but extend kindness to an elderly neighbor. While picking up eggs from Ms. Marvis, who lives nearby, Dexter notices how quiet her house is and suggests that his parents invite her over for dinner. During the meal, Ms. Marvis shares stories of making paczki (jelly donuts) with her family in Poland before Lent; with help from their father, the children whip up a batch of paczki for their neighbor, who responds with a long thank-you note. British author-illustrator Brooks evokes the story-s wintertime setting through a minty palette of pale blues, pinks, and greens, contrasting cozy kitchen-centric scenes with outdoor flurries and snowdrifts. Although both children seem to recognize the rewards of their kind actions, neither grows much as a character: Dexter starts and finishes the book as an empathetic peacemaker, while Leah is antagonistic and not much else. Even so, this earnest story of being a good sibling, neighbor, and friend may inspire readers to find ways to be generous in their own lives. All that-s missing is a paczki recipe. Ages 4-8. (BookLife)