Additional April Book Recommendations for Grades 3-6
Forgiveness, Graciousness and Courtesy, Gentleness and Humility
Forgiveness
Bible. “The Prodigal Son” in The Kingfisher Children’s Bible.
See General Collections. (K-6) Forgiveness
Profligate son asks for his inheritance from his father before father’s death. The father grants his wish, the son leaves home, squanders wealth in luxury and high life, then filled with remorse, returns to his father to ask permission to work as a servant on the family farm. Father forgives and welcomes him home.
Bible. “The Unforgiving Servant.” in The Kingfisher Children’s Bible.
See General Collections. (K-6)Forgiveness
Story of the servant who asks his master’s forgiveness for a debt and then is not equally forgiving with one who owes him.
Bible. “Crucifixion.” in The Kingfisher Children’s Bible.
See General Collections. (K-6)Forgiveness
Jesus forgives his crucifiers from the cross.
Bridges, Ruby. Through My Eyes. Scholastic, 1999. (4-6)
In this moving retrospective, Ruby Bridges tells her own story. In 1960 she was the first black child to integrate one of New Orleans’ all white elementary schools. This is a powerful book, filled with excellent photos of the period, clips from the New York Times, and photos of six-year old Ruby, who just wanted to go to school. It chronicles not just events key in the history of civil rights, but the courage, faith, and forgiveness of the little girl caught in the eye of the storm. “Kneeling at the side of my bed and talking to the Lord made everything okay. My mother and our pastor always said you have to pray for your enemies. . . . and that’s what I did.”
Pienkowski, Jan. Easter.
Alfred A. Knopf, 2010. (K-6) Forgiveness
The story of the passion of Jesus—his forgiveness of his crucifiers and of the good thief—is dramatically retold with silhouetting, vibrant color, and gold illumination.
Humility
Bruchac, Joseph. “The Girl Who Was Not Satisfied with Simple Things” in Iroquois Stories: Heroes and Heroines, Monsters and Magic.
Illustrated by Daniel Burgevin. Crossing, 1985. (3-5) Humility
The title says it all. Works well with 3rd grade Native American unit.
Ishii, Momoko. The Tongue-Cut Sparrow.
Illustrated by Suekichi Akaba. Dutton, 1987. (4) Humility
A Japanese folktale in which a sparrow teaches a mean-spirited old woman to appreciate the many gifts in her life. The poor, selfish, greedy old woman cannot be content. In a fit of anger she cuts out the tongue of her husband’s only treasure—a sweetly singing sparrow. The sparrow teaches her a lesson in living contentedly and humbly with what she has.
Jones, Jennifer Berry. Heetunka’s Harvest: A Tale of the Plains Indians.
Illustrated by Shannon Keegan. Roberts Rinehart, 1994. (3-5) Humility
Plains Indian tale of a generous prairie mouse (Heetunka) that shares her carefully harvested beans and seeds with the Dakota people in exchange for gifts. An ungrateful woman takes all of Heetunka’s beans, and learns the hard way that greed and ingratitude only bring her grief. Heetunka “will happily share with those who come to trade with humble, thankful hearts.” Themes of justice, fair play, and humility. Use with 3rd grade Native American unit.
Oldfield, Pamela. “Andromeda and Perseus” in Tales from Ancient Greece.
Illustrated by Nick Harris. Doubleday, 1988. (2, 6) Humility
The beautiful Andromeda is rescued by Perseus after her boastful mother earns the wrath and
curse of Poseidon. Highlights Perseus’s courage and the fatal flaw of hubris in the mother.
Paterson, Katherine. The King’s Equal.
Illustrated by Vladimir Vagin. Harper Collins, 1996. (3-6) Humility
Set in medieval times. Proud and vain king searches for a wife who is his equal in intelligence, beauty, and wealth. He finds her, but to win her love, he must learn wisdom and humility.
Sabuda, Robert. Arthur and the Sword.
Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 1995. (2-5)Humility
Striking stained glass illustrations in this tale of the humble son of Sir Ector, who finds himself
destined to be the King of England. The last shall be first!
Schwartz, Howard. “The Bird of Happiness,” in Next Year in Jerusalem.
See General Collections. (4-6) Humility
Jewish folk tale of a young boy (Aaron) and his family, who escape enslavement and wander through the desert guided by a stone sent from the Bird of Happiness. The family finds their way to Jerusalem and the Bird of Happiness chooses Aaron as their leader. As a ruler Aaron remem- bers to “put on my old rags to remember where I came from. For only then can I know where I must go.” A tale of hope and humility.
Schwartz, Howard. “The Language of the Birds,” in Next Year in Jerusalem.
See General Collections. (4-6) Humility
When King Solomon was a boy, he wished to learn all he could from humble surroundings and creatures. He traded clothes with a beggar, learned the language of the birds, and the language of the winds. The story reminds us that one often learns the most from the least.
Bible. “The Prodigal Son” in The Kingfisher Children’s Bible.
See General Collections. (K-6) Forgiveness
Profligate son asks for his inheritance from his father before father’s death. The father grants his wish, the son leaves home, squanders wealth in luxury and high life, then filled with remorse, returns to his father to ask permission to work as a servant on the family farm. Father forgives and welcomes him home.
Bible. “The Unforgiving Servant.” in The Kingfisher Children’s Bible.
See General Collections. (K-6)Forgiveness
Story of the servant who asks his master’s forgiveness for a debt and then is not equally forgiving with one who owes him.
Bible. “Crucifixion.” in The Kingfisher Children’s Bible.
See General Collections. (K-6)Forgiveness
Jesus forgives his crucifiers from the cross.
Bridges, Ruby. Through My Eyes. Scholastic, 1999. (4-6)
In this moving retrospective, Ruby Bridges tells her own story. In 1960 she was the first black child to integrate one of New Orleans’ all white elementary schools. This is a powerful book, filled with excellent photos of the period, clips from the New York Times, and photos of six-year old Ruby, who just wanted to go to school. It chronicles not just events key in the history of civil rights, but the courage, faith, and forgiveness of the little girl caught in the eye of the storm. “Kneeling at the side of my bed and talking to the Lord made everything okay. My mother and our pastor always said you have to pray for your enemies. . . . and that’s what I did.”
Pienkowski, Jan. Easter.
Alfred A. Knopf, 2010. (K-6) Forgiveness
The story of the passion of Jesus—his forgiveness of his crucifiers and of the good thief—is dramatically retold with silhouetting, vibrant color, and gold illumination.
Humility
Bruchac, Joseph. “The Girl Who Was Not Satisfied with Simple Things” in Iroquois Stories: Heroes and Heroines, Monsters and Magic.
Illustrated by Daniel Burgevin. Crossing, 1985. (3-5) Humility
The title says it all. Works well with 3rd grade Native American unit.
Ishii, Momoko. The Tongue-Cut Sparrow.
Illustrated by Suekichi Akaba. Dutton, 1987. (4) Humility
A Japanese folktale in which a sparrow teaches a mean-spirited old woman to appreciate the many gifts in her life. The poor, selfish, greedy old woman cannot be content. In a fit of anger she cuts out the tongue of her husband’s only treasure—a sweetly singing sparrow. The sparrow teaches her a lesson in living contentedly and humbly with what she has.
Jones, Jennifer Berry. Heetunka’s Harvest: A Tale of the Plains Indians.
Illustrated by Shannon Keegan. Roberts Rinehart, 1994. (3-5) Humility
Plains Indian tale of a generous prairie mouse (Heetunka) that shares her carefully harvested beans and seeds with the Dakota people in exchange for gifts. An ungrateful woman takes all of Heetunka’s beans, and learns the hard way that greed and ingratitude only bring her grief. Heetunka “will happily share with those who come to trade with humble, thankful hearts.” Themes of justice, fair play, and humility. Use with 3rd grade Native American unit.
Oldfield, Pamela. “Andromeda and Perseus” in Tales from Ancient Greece.
Illustrated by Nick Harris. Doubleday, 1988. (2, 6) Humility
The beautiful Andromeda is rescued by Perseus after her boastful mother earns the wrath and
curse of Poseidon. Highlights Perseus’s courage and the fatal flaw of hubris in the mother.
Paterson, Katherine. The King’s Equal.
Illustrated by Vladimir Vagin. Harper Collins, 1996. (3-6) Humility
Set in medieval times. Proud and vain king searches for a wife who is his equal in intelligence, beauty, and wealth. He finds her, but to win her love, he must learn wisdom and humility.
Sabuda, Robert. Arthur and the Sword.
Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 1995. (2-5)Humility
Striking stained glass illustrations in this tale of the humble son of Sir Ector, who finds himself
destined to be the King of England. The last shall be first!
Schwartz, Howard. “The Bird of Happiness,” in Next Year in Jerusalem.
See General Collections. (4-6) Humility
Jewish folk tale of a young boy (Aaron) and his family, who escape enslavement and wander through the desert guided by a stone sent from the Bird of Happiness. The family finds their way to Jerusalem and the Bird of Happiness chooses Aaron as their leader. As a ruler Aaron remem- bers to “put on my old rags to remember where I came from. For only then can I know where I must go.” A tale of hope and humility.
Schwartz, Howard. “The Language of the Birds,” in Next Year in Jerusalem.
See General Collections. (4-6) Humility
When King Solomon was a boy, he wished to learn all he could from humble surroundings and creatures. He traded clothes with a beggar, learned the language of the birds, and the language of the winds. The story reminds us that one often learns the most from the least.