Teaching Stewardship through Literature

Well, blog readers, we have come to the last installment of our Teaching Character through Literature series for this school year. Let’s take a look at what Dr. Bleisch, one of our wonderful librarians, has chosen for us this month.

Happy reading!

HOUSEHOLD

Part of good stewardship is doing our chores to take care of our homes and our school.

POOF! by John O’Brien

A sleepy wizard and his wife argue—politely—over the household chores. Their crying baby wakes them from their naps. Since it is the wizard’s turn to change the baby, he quickly waves his magic wand and POOF! the baby turns into a cat. It is the wife’s turn to feed the cat, but with one wave of her wand, POOF! she transforms it into a dog. It is the wizard’s turn to walk the dog, but POOF!…. The wizards continue their contest, transforming the weather, their house and finally themselves. A great read aloud. For ages 3 and up.

In a Minute, by Virginia Miller

Ba (little Bartholomew bear) wants his father George to play with him. But George has housework to do, and keeps saying: “in a minute!” When the older bear finally has time to play, he discovers what little Ba wants to do: carry firewood, bring in laundry, and sweep. Miller’s Bartholomew Bear books are lovely, if you don’t mind George shouting once in a while. For ages 3 and up.

Good Work, Amelia Bedelia, by Peggy Parrish  (Beginning Reader basket)

Our favorite literal-minded housekeeper turns the household upside-down when she tries to make sense of Mr. and Mrs. Rogers’ list of chores. For ages 6 and up.

TIME

“Time management is one of the most important aspects of our stewardship,” one busy mother chided, on her way out the door…

Over-scheduled Andrew, by Ashley Spires

Andrew loves acting so much that he joins the drama club. To improve his work on the stage, he joins the debate club, with karate and ballet classes to help improve his work on the stage. He has so many talents and interests… soon Andrew is debating his way through karate, dancing through debate, playing bagpipes on the tennis court, sleeping through his 15 minutes of best-friend time. Can he find a way to focus? For ages 4 and up.

See You Later, Procrastinator!, by Pamela Espeland and Elizabeth Verdick (J NF 155.232)

Provides ideas and tips to help kids kick the procrastination habit and feel more in charge of their lives. An entertaining book in the Laugh & Learn series. For ages 10 and up.

Just a Second, by Steve Jenkins

This nonfiction picture book explores time and how we think about it in a different way – as a series of events in the natural world that take place in a given unit of time. A linear series of striking photocollages illustrates fascinating facts, starting with a second, a minute, an hour, a month, and a year. What happens in a just a second? A vulture in fight flaps its wings once. A shrew’s heart beats 14 times. A hummingbird beats its wings 50 times. A gnat beats its wings 1000 times. A dropped stone falls 16 feet. Earth travels 18 miles in its trip around the sun. For all ages.

NATURAL RESOURCES

We are called to be good stewards of the Earth and all our natural resources.

The Lonely Giant, by Sophie Ambrose

In the middle of a vast forest lives a giant who spends his days hurling and heaving, smashing and bashing. Over time, the animals flee as their homes vanish, the birdsong dwindles away to silence, and, finally, the forest itself disappears. Now the lonely giant misses the crackling warmth of a fire and the sweet songs of the yellow bird — but will he realize it’s up to him to restore what he loves? For ages 3 and up.

Henry Hikes to Fitchburg, by D.B. Johnson

Inspired by a passage from Henry David Thoreau’s Walden. Henry and his friend agree to meet one evening in Fitchburg, which is thirty miles away. Each decides to get there in his own way: one by train, and one on foot. Henry’s friend works to earn train fare, doing chores for Mrs. Alcott, Mr. Emerson, and Mr. Hawthorne, while Henry walks the thirty miles, enjoying the natural world as her goes. Minimal text and beautiful stylized paintings. (Also highly recommended by the same author: Henry Works, and Henry Climbs a Mountain, inspired by Thoreau’s Walden and Civil Disobedience.) For ages 4 and up.

Just a Dream, by Chris Van Allsburg

Young Walter doesn’t understand why he should take care of the earth, until one night he travels on a fantastical adventure into an overcrowded and polluted dreamscape world that wakes him up to a more eco-friendly way to live. Beautiful and eerie illustrations. For ages 4 and up.

Wild Wings, by Gill Lewis (J FIC LEW)

When Callum spots crazy Iona McNair on his family’s property, she’s catching a fish with her bare hands. She won’t share the fish, but does share a secret. She’s discovered a rare endangered bird, an Osprey. Poachers, egg thieves, and wild weather are just some of the threats, so Iona and Callum vow to keep track of the bird and check her migratory progress using the code a preservationist tagged on her ankle, no matter what. But when one of them can no longer keep the promise, it’s up to the other to do it for them both. Set against the dramatic landscapes of Scotland and West Africa, this is a story of unlikely friendships and the everyday wonders of the wild. On the list for the Intermediate Battle of the Books. For ages 8 and up.

Hoot, by Carl Hiaasen

Roy, who is new to his small Florida community, becomes involved in another boy’s attempt to save a colony of burrowing owls living on the building site of a new restaurant. This hilarious adventure involves new kids, bullies, pancakes, alligators, eco-warriors, cute pint-sized owls, and more. A Newbery Honor winner. For ages 10 and up.

MONEY

Part of good stewardship is care of money

Follow the Money!, by Loreen Leedy (J NF 332.4)

This picture book depicts a day in the life of a quarter (named George, of course!) and his travels from the time he is minted until he is deposited in a bank, ready for the next day’s adventures. A great book for practicing simple equations, learning about basic economics, and gaining an appreciation for the value of money. For ages 5 and up.

The Everything Kids’ Money Book, by Diane Mayr (J NF 332.4)

This book tells kids about where money came from, how to make and save money, and how to spend it wisely, from allowances to lemonade stands to savings accounts. Activities include making penny spiral towers and cooking silver-dollar pancakes. For ages 7 and up.