Books That Heal Kids: honesty

Showing posts with label honesty. Show all posts
Showing posts with label honesty. Show all posts

Book Review: Lying Up a Storm

 Author: Julia Cook
Illustrator: Michelle Hazelwood Hyde

From the Book Jacket: Whenever Levi doesn't like the truth, he kinda, sorta makes up other stuff to say. One day his mother explains to him that telling lies will damage the trust of his friends and make him very sad. 

This book is a great resource to help children understand not only the consequences of telling a lie, by also how one lie can often lead to telling several more. It will help parents and teachers understand that lying can be a normal and sometimes healthy response for a child and offers tools to guide children toward truthfulness. 

Why It's On My Bookshelf: Such a great teaching book on honesty and making good choices. I also loved the line of "whenever you tell a lie, your inside sun goes away." Because you not only hurt others with dishonesty but you hurt yourself! Levi also tries to minimize his lies and make excuses as to why it's okay to not be truthful sometimes. The other message kids pick up in this book is it's okay to make mistakes - we all do. Just be honest about it and you will feel better about yourself and the mistake. 

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Book Review: A Bike Like Sergio's

Author: Maribeth Boelts
Illustrator: Noah Z. Jones
Interest Level: Ages 5 and Up

From the Book Jacket: Ruben feels like he's the only kid without a bike. He wishes he could get a bike like his friend Sergio's, but wishes won't make money appear. One day, when Ruben sees a bill fall out of someone's purse, he picks it up and puts it in his pocket - it's only a dollar. But when he gets home, Ruben discovers that it's actually a hundred-dollar bill, more than enough for the bike he's been hoping for. This is a relatable story that will resonate with anyone who's tried to figure out the right thing to do. 

Why It's On My Bookshelf: I love the end of this story because it shows how difficult it can be to do the right thing. But when we use our integrity the inner reward is so much better than anything material. Ruben returns the hundred dollar bill and the words and kindness he receives are so filling. Although when he walks away, he also realizes he will not be getting a bike. He has gained something even better though - a stronger character.  He returns home to tell his parents his story and they share how proud they are of him. This is a great one to add to your shelf around integrity, honesty, and stealing. 

A Link to This Book and Others You Might Find Useful: 


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Book Review: Penny and Her Marble


















Author/Illustrator: Kevin Henkes
Interest Level: Ages 4 and Up
Other Books in This Series: Penny and Her Doll,Penny and Her Song 
 

From the Book Jacket: When Penny spots a marble in Mrs. Goodwin's front yard, she picks it up, puts it in her pocket, and takes it home. It's a beautiful marble - it's big, shiny, blue, smooth, and fast, and Penny loves it. But does the marble really belong to Penny?

Why It's On My Bookshelf: I'm always thinking about how I can help the students in my school build character. Enter Penny. Guilt. Remorse. These are the feelings you have when you do not practice integrity and honesty. This is what happens to Penny. She takes something that does not belong to her and at first she is excited by her new item. But eventually it starts to eat at her because it does not belong to her. She pretty much can't function until she does the right thing - put it back where she found it. I just absolutely love this story. It represents the important morals and values we want to teach our children. Love Love! More please!

A Link to This Book and Others You Might Find Helpful: 
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Stealing and Honesty

Yoon and the Jade Bracelet
Author: Helen Recorvits
Illustrated by Gabi Swiatkoska
Interest Level: Ages 4 and Up

From the Book Jacket: It is Yoon's birthday and all she wants is a jump rope so she can jump and sing with the other girls in the school yard. Instead, Yoon's mother gives her a Korean storybook about a silly girl who is tricked by a tiger. Yoon also receives a jade bracelet that once belonged to her grandmother. The next day at school, an older girl invites Yoon to join in jump rope, but she wants to borrow Yoon's bracelte for the afternoon. When Yoon tries to get her bracelet back, the girl swears it belongs to her. Yoon must use the lessons learned in her storybook and Her "Shining Wisdom" to retrieve the precious keepsake.

Why It's On My Bookshelf: This was thoroughly enjoyed by all of the classes I read to at the end of last year. It's got a lot of good stuff in it regarding friendship, telling the truth, being proud of who you are, and stealing. Even though it was easy to focus on the older girl and how she had wronged Yoon. It become apparent to the kids that Yoon actually played a part in getting herself in this circumstance. Some great discussion questions we pondered: Why are some kids willing to sacrifice who they are and their values for a friendship? When faced with a tough decision, how can we motivate ourselves to do the right thing? How can we stay true ourselves?  I also loved the cultural angle - there is definitely a struggle for some kids to fit in for fear of being rejected. Can't wait to read it again this year.


Little Croc's Purse
Author/Illustrator: Lizzie Finlay
Interest Level: Ages 4 and Up

From the Book Jacket: One hot day, Little Croc finds a lost purse. "Finders keepers!" shout his friends, imagining a treat of lemonade and a lovely cool swim. But Little Croc is determined to find the purse's owner...Will his honesty be rewarded? Or will he be tempted to spend the money inside?

Why It's On My Bookshelf: This story reminded me of the word temptation. Kids (and adults) can be put in positions where they are tempted to make the wrong decision - because they might benefit. Long story short here.....Little Croc does the right thing but not without his friends pressuring him to keep the purse. In the end, he gets to keep the purse as his reward for being honest. The only thing I would change in this story is putting more focus on the internal rewards he received for doing the right thing. Sure, it's great he gets the purse - but that's not the TRUE reward. Make sure to go into this with your kids/students. Definitely glad this is on my bookshelf. 

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Book Review: Willoughby and The Lion

Author/Illustrator: Greg Foley
Interest Level: Ages 6-8

From the Book Jacket: This is the story of Willoughby, whose new house feels too small and very lonely. It's also the story of an enchanted lion and spectacular wishes come true: of roller coasters, and fast, fast shoes, and enormous crowds of people. But most of all, it's the story of one important question: What is the most wonderful thing of all?

Why It's On My Bookshelf: A teacher at my school shared this really special story with me. Willoughby is a lonely boy who meets a lion who is able to grant him wishes....so he starts wishing for material things which are all granted. I know....you are already loving this book since we are surrounded by material mania. And how many times have you gone out shopping to fill a void? Guilty. Sharing this message with kids is a must...the internal vs external needs. In the end the boy is faced with a decision where he must choose between the two. If we choose the external stuff then we miss out on the really important things in life. I really enjoyed explaining this and giving real life examples to kids. What's really more important? A toy? Or how we make each other feel and what we can do to help one another? You'll love this book. I'd love to see more with this message.

PS. Make sure to ask the kids to guess what they think the gold coin says in the end of the story.

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Book Review: Two New Howard B Wigglebottom Books

Howard B. Wigglebottom Learns It's OK to Back Away
Author: Howard Binkow
illustrated by Susan F. Cornelison
Interest Level: Ages 4-8

From the Book Jacket: This fun and entertaining illustrated picture book shows children how to handle anger issues and back away from conflicts. The story teaches important skills through humor and real life situations with which young children can immediately identify. There are several suggestions for lessons and reflections at the end of the book. This is the fifth in the award winning, teacher endorsed Howard B. Wigglebottom series.  

Why It's On My Bookshelf: As the school year progresses and new friendships are formed between students something else starts to form....conflicts. And they don't always end nicely. Anger can really mess the whole thing up. So this is the time of year I start teaching A LOT of lessons on how to deal with your anger without hurting other kids. Howard B Wigglebottom Learns It's OK to Back Away is new to my shelf and fits in beautifully with my lessons on learning to get calm and walk away from situations. It's also a good way to demonstrate self-talk. Howard uses the phrase, "Stop, it's OK to back away." Really like that....calming statements work wonders!

Howard B. Wigglebottom and the Monkey
on His Back: A Tale About Telling the Truth 
Author: Howard Binkow
illustrated by Susan F. Cornelison
Interest Level: Ages 4-8

About This Book: Even though Howard's conscience tells him lying is wrong - he chooses to lie anyway - why not? It's so easy and he can get away with it most of the time. Soon he realizes he feels sad and uncomfortable with himself. How can he make this bad feeling go away?

Why It's On My Bookshelf: Oh happy day!! A new book about honesty and the MAJOR problem with lying!! I only have a handful of books addressing this issue. Newsflash: 99.9% of kids know lying is a big NO NO. But all of a sudden they find themselves in a chronic pattern of dishonesty. That's why I dig the metaphor of the monkey (so get your monkey props ready) on the back. Because lying can feel like a horrible burden being carried around. After many incidents of lying Howard starts to feel plain awful about himself. To the point where he can't sleep because of the stress of his bad choices. It's not until he makes a brave decision to tell the truth that the monkey (bad feelings, guilt) leaves. I really love the message at the end....lying makes a person feel completely unhappy. You may be fooling the people around you but deep down you know the truth - and have to live with that knowledge. Whoo! Good stuff.

Check out more Howard goodness at The We Do Listen Foundation

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Book Review: Sam Tells Stories


Author: Thierry Robberecht

Illustrated by Philippe Goossens
Interest Level: Ages 4-8


About This Book: This adorable character from SAM IS NEVER SCARED is back in another story preschoolers will identify with. Sam is so eager to make friends at his new school that he tells them a story that isn’t true. After all, he makes up bedtime stories for his little brother, who thinks Sam is the best storyteller ever! But when the truth catches up with him, Sam realizes the difference between telling a story and telling a lie—and he has to face his friends and tell them the truth.

Why It's On My Bookshelf:  This book isn't just about one lie, it's about many lies (stories) being told. Sam makes up stories to impress kids at school, but it also 'bleeds' over into his home life. He tells his mom a lie so that he won't get into trouble. I encounter many kiddos who are purposely not honest so they can avoid a consequence. Sam Tells Stories is a cute book with a GREAT message. Park this one on your shelf. It will come in handy when you have a child that is making up stories or telling lies to avoid getting in trouble. Or better yet, use it as preventive medicine to help your kids avoid that big behavior mistake.

A Link to This Book and Others You Might Find Helpful:

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Book Review: Ruthie and the (Not So) Teeny Tiny Lie

Author: Laura Rankin
Interest Level: Ages 4-9

About This Book: Ruthie, a fox girl, loves teeny-tiny things, so when she finds a miniature camera in the schoolyard, she claims it as her own. And lies about it when fellow student Martin tells their teacher, Mrs. Olsen, that the camera belongs to Ruthie. The rest of the afternoon is long for Ruthie, and at home that night, she ruminates over her crime until she finally comes clean with her parents. Having been counseled that honesty is the best policy, Ruthie, with much trepidation, tells her teacher and Martin what she has done. Mrs. Olsen praises her for telling the truth, and Martin forgives her, too. A real-life situation might not have such a happy ending, but this gets right to the heart of what children feel when they know they've done something wrong but don't know how to set things right. The sprightly artwork is cheery in all respects, except when it comes to Ruthie. With subtle brushstrokes, Rankin captures all the varied emotions Ruthie goes through: glee, defiance, worry, fear, and eventually relief.

Why It's On My Bookshelf: This age group (4-9) needs more books like this. I use this story as an opportunity to tell children that no matter what they have done - lying is always the Bigger problem. Kids can get into a habit of automatically wanting to improve their situation by lying. I love how the author shows how impacted Ruthie is both emotionally and even physically. Honesty is the best policy - that saying just never gets old. You are going to want this one on your shelf.


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