Great books on what matters most
There's nothing wrong with having a cool car, a nice house, awesome clothes or the latest electronics. But material possessions can never take the place of true friendship, love and kindness.
Unfortunately, today's cultural climate pushes us to think the most important goal to achieve happiness is accumulating material possessions. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Today's reviewed books redirect attention away from material obsessions to what really matters most in finding happiness and satisfaction in life. These books provide cause for reflection on these issues and also act as a springboard for discussion with children.
Think about it and talk about it with the children in your life. The true measure of a successful, happy person isn't weighed-in by what you have; it has everything to do with the values you hold fast to. Teach that to children. It will make the world a better place.
The following book is available at many public libraries.<B>“Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge”</B> by Mem Fox, illustrated by Julie Vivas, Kane/Miller, 32 pages; read aloud: age 3 to 4 and older; read yourself: age 7 to 8.Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge was a young boy. He lived with his parents in a house next door to an old people's home, and the boy knew every person who lived there. As much as he liked everyone at the old people's home, his favorite person was Miss Nancy Alison Delacourt Cooper. He called her Miss Nancy and told her all of his secrets.One day, Wilfrid Gordon heard his parents talking about Miss Nancy and what a pity it was that she had lost her memory. Wilfrid Gordon didn't understand what a memory was, so he asked his parents and all the people at the old people's home (except for Miss Nancy), and each time he got a different answer. Suddenly, Wilfrid Gordon had an idea, and he rushed home to look for memories for Miss Nancy because she had lost her own.Tender, heartwarming and perfectly wrought in every way, it's no wonder librarians have been recommending this wonderful book for more than two decades.
<B>Library:</B> Mars Area Public Library, 107 Grand Ave., Mars<B>Library Director: </B>Mary Jo Simons<B>Choices this week: “A Mother's Wish” </B>by Kathy-Jo Wargin; <B>“The First Day of School” </B>by Tony Johnston; <B>“Three Names of Me”</B> by Mary Cummings
The following books are available at favorite bookstores.<B>“Noah Barleywater Runs Away” </B>by John Boyne, illustrated by Oliver Jeffers, David Fickling Books, 2011, 222 pages, $16.99 hardcover; read aloud: age 7 to 8 and older; read yourself: age 9 to 10 and older.Eight-year-old Noah Barleywater has some difficult issues he'd rather not face and chooses, instead, to run away. As he makes his way through the forest, he eventually comes to a fantastic toy shop where he meets the shop's owner — an old man who is full of magic and gentle wisdom. As the two spend an enchanting afternoon together, the old man shares some stories of his life that ultimately nudge Noah toward a fuller understanding of the meaning of life, love and family — lessons that will change Noah's life forever.Readers will find strong undercurrents of the old fairy tale Pinocchio and snippets of themes found in The Wizard of Oz. Far more than a blended retelling of other tales, though, “Noah Barleywater Runs Away” is a wholly new, magical, thought-provoking tale that will capture the minds and hearts of readers both young and old alike.<B>“Friends: True Stories of Extraordinary Animal Friendships” </B>by Catherine Thimmesh, photos various credits, Houghton Mifflin, 2011, 32 pages, $16.99 hardcover; read aloud: age 4 and older; read yourself: age 7 to 9.Extraordinary stories of animal friendships with equally moving photographs, this heartfelt selection is bound to elicit a deep emotional connection between the animal and human world and what we seek in common — friendship and the need to care about one another.Featuring striking photographs of unusual animal friends, brief poems that relate to friendship and a fascinating description of each pair of animal friends, this book will not intrigue readers but also makes clear the importance of friendship and that friendship can sometimes be found where we least expect it.Nationally syndicated, Kendal Rautzhan writes and lectures on children's literature. She can be reached at her website: www.greatestbooksforkids.com.
