Teach lessons kids can draw upon now, later
We've all seen it: The one shoe on the side of the road. Bizarrely, that sighting has taken place more times than we could count. I can't fathom the reason for this, so I'll chalk it up to one of life's (probably unsolvable) mysteries.
So there's the rub — the mysteries of life. Some we'll never have answers for. Others we can unravel through various means. One of those is what my friend's father used to call “living lessons.”
As a kid, those lessons didn't mean much to him, but like a mysterious miracle later in life, the words would come back to him like a shot, enabling an answer to a problem.
His father called these lessons “living” because they can be changed according to the situation.
That's what I'm always looking for in children's books — something that will provide “living lessons” youngsters can draw upon now and later in life.
That's what you'll always find in this column, and for additional suggestions visit the companion website: www.greatestbooksforkids.com.
Don't bother trying to figure out the mystery of the “one shoe on the side of the road” because it probably won't alter the course of anyone's life. But teaching “living lessons” will. Make that teacher you.
The following book is available at many public libraries.“Hunter's Best Friend at School” by Laura Malone Elliot, illustrated by Lynn Munsinger, HarperCollins, 32 pages; read aloud: age 4 and older; read yourself: age 7 and older.Two young raccoons, Hunter and Stripe, are best friends at school. They do everything together. They like to wear stripe sweaters, their favorite story is “Goldilocks and the Three Raccoons,” they eat the same lunch, and they always play on the swing set together.One day Stripe comes to school in a mischief-making mood, and he urges Hunter to follow, which Hunter does at first.Things start to get out of hand, though, and Hunter isn't so sure he is doing the right thing. Hunter doesn't know what to do except to talk with his mom who listens carefully, gives him a big hug, and offers him some very good advice.A delightful story about friendship, peer pressure, and choosing right over wrong, this book is first rate.
Library: Mars Public Library, 107 Grand Ave., MarsLibrary Director: Mary Jo SimonsChoices this week: “The Subway Mouse” by Barbara Reid; “My Little Grandmother Often Forgets” by Reeve Lindbergh; “Molly's Magic Carpet” by Emma Fischel
The following books are available at favorite bookstores.“Nasreddine” by Odile Weulersse, illustrated by Rebecca Dautremer, Eerdmans, 2013, 32 pages, $17 hardcover; read aloud: age 4 and older; read yourself: age 7 and 8.Young Nasreddine always accompanies his father and their donkey to the market to sell their wares. Nasreddine works hard to be helpful, and his kind and gentle father is very aware of that.But despite Nasreddine's efforts, someone along the way always criticizes Nasreddine and his father. At first, Nasreddine doesn't know if those who cast their hurtful words might be right, so Nasreddine quietly tries to make changes in the hope of not facing more criticism.Fortunately, Nasreddine's wise father patiently observes his son's actions and provides some very good advice.Wonderfully written and illustrated, this powerful story cleverly conveys important life lessons on several accounts.“White Fur Flying” by Patricia MacLachlan, McElderry Books, 2013, 114 pages, $16 hardcover; read aloud: age 7 and older; read yourself: age 8 and older.Zoe's family rescues dogs, and their house is always full of new dogs that need to be loved. That also means their house is full of activity and dog hair galore.When a new family moves in next door, young Zoe notices that things are really quiet over there.But nothing is as quiet as the boy who lives there — Phillip — who has stopped talking altogether.Zoe is good with the gentle care she gives to the dogs in her life, and she is determined to be as gentle and patient with Phillip. After all, Zoe knows that what dogs and people really need is pretty much the same.Once again author Patricia MacLachlan has delivered a heartfelt story that brims with gentle lessons on this business of life.Nationally syndicated, Kendal Rautzhan writes and lectures on children's literature. She can be reached at: www.greatestbooksforkids.com.
