Tag Archives: Generosity

Elem. – Give

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Arena, Jen. Give. Illustrated by Rahele Jomepour Bell. Alfred A. Knopf, 2023. 978-1-524-71499-4 . Unpaged. $18.99. Grades Pre K-2.

In a colorful neighborhood setting, a young boy receives a gift tied with a ribbon from his mother. A young girl loses her hair tie in a blast of blustery wind, and the boy takes the ribbon from his gift and offers it to the girl. The two travel to school and throughout the school day, the diverse classmates practice the concept of paying it forward. Their actions of being there for those in need are described with terse phrases. In full-spread pages splashed with bright colors, the reader enters the classroom and meets the teacher and students as they share, help, and make friends. The simple text will appeal to very young children with its circular story and repetitive words that reinforce the concept of giving–even the illustrations repeat the kindness theme with their heart-shaped leaves.

THOUGHTS: Hopefully, this relatable book featuring school children will impress readers with the fragile concept of being generous, a value so appreciated but often not addressed in our contemporary society. This book takes a light touch and is not preachy.

Picture Book

Elem. – Lali’s Flip-Flops

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Zia, Farhana. Lali’s Flip-Flops. Peachtree. 2023. 978-1-682-63493-6. $18.99. Grades K-2.

Lali has been working very hard to earn some money. She works and she works until she has a little jingle in her pocket, then off to the market she goes! As she travels, she sees her animal friends and they ask her if she is going to buy them treats. The road on her journey to the market is very tough on Lali’s feet. Will Lali buy new flip-flops for herself or treats for her animal friends?

THOUGHTS: This is a fun story about working hard and being generous!

Picture Book

Elem. – Learning Core Values (Series NF)

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Amoroso, Cynthia. Learning Core Values. The Child’s World, 2023. $21.95 each, $263.40 for set of 12. Grades PreK-2.

Courage. 978-1-503-85845-9.
Forgiveness. 978-1-503-85846-6.
Friendliness. 978-1-503-85847-3.
Generosity. 978-1-503-85848-0.
Honestly. 978-1-503-85849-7.
Loyalty. 978-1-503-85850-3.
Patience. 978-1-503-85851-0.
Patriotism. 978-1-503-85852-7.
Respect. 978-1-503-85853-4.
Responsibility. 978-1-503-85854-1.
Thankfulness. 978-1-503-85855-8.
Tolerance. 978-1-503-85856-5.

The world we live in today is not the same it was years ago. Our current world can be tough for anyone to live in, especially for children. Unfortunately, children see many negative things in the world, including rudeness, anger, and prejudice through a variety of sources. The series Learning Core Values is important for all, especially children, to help offset the negative behaviors seen. The reviewer read the titles Forgiveness and Honesty. Forgiveness is when a person who has been hurt makes the choice to stop being angry at another person and accept the mistakes that have been made. Using real life examples, Forgiveness uses examples at home and school where a person may feel hurt or upset and how we can use forgiveness to move forward. This book also describes how forgiveness may be difficult for all. Honesty simply means telling the truth. Being honest may not be easy, but it is the right thing to do. As with Forgiveness, Honesty uses real life examples at home and school about how we can be honest with others and yourself.

THOUGHTS: I found this series to be one that young readers may be able to relate to. Utilizing a variety of real world examples showcases the character trait in a way that many can connect to. Real photographs, easy-to-read text, and additional information in the back matter makes this series a must have!

158.2-323.6 Interpersonal Relationships, Citizenship