Additional December Book Suggestions - Grades 3-6
Generosity and Charity
Armstrong, Jennifer. Chin Yu Min and the Ginger Cat.
Crown, 1993 ( 2-4)
Arrogant, self-important woman turned humble and generous by clever cat. Works well with ancient China units in 2nd and 4th grades).
Chinn, Karen. Sam and the Lucky Money.
Illustrated by Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu. Lee and Low Books, 1995. (2-5)
Sam is eager to spend his lucky money received on Chinese New Year. Everything he wants seems to cost more than he has. A poor stranger then teaches him the value of what he has and Sam sees a good way to use his money.
Fang, Linda. “The Ch’i-Lin Purse” in The Ch’i-Lin Purse.
See General Collections. (4-6)
A wealthy Chinese girl, on her wedding day, takes pity on a penniless bride. To the weeping bride she gives her mother’s gift to her—a special purse, filled with—she knows not what. Later when she is separated from her family Hsiang-ling’s generosity of years before becomes her salvation.
Heyer, Marilee. The Girl, the Fish, and the Crown: A Spanish Folktale.
Viking Press, 1995. (4-6)
A selfish little girl is transformed into a fish, and then embarks on a great journey to restore the sea queen’s crown and her own honor. In the process she learns the meaning of compassion and generosity.
Jaffe, Nina. In the Month of Kislev: A Story for Hanukkah.
Illustrated by Louise August. Viking Child Books, 1992. (2-6)
Impoverished Mendel the Peddler and his children, along with a wise rabbi teach their wealthy and not-very-generous neighbor the meaning of charity. Humorous and wise.
Jaffe, Nina. Older Brother, Younger Brother: A Korean Folktale.
Illustrated by Wenhai Ma. Viking Press, 1995. (3-5)
Set in the mountains of ancient Korea, cruel and selfish older brother mistreats compassionate younger brother and banishes him from their ancestral home. The younger brother’s compassion to an injured sparrow brings him rich rewards and ultimately leads to comeuppance and reconciliation with the older brother.
Kimmel, Eric. “The Samovar” in Days of Awe.
Viking Child Books, 1991. (2-6)
A mysterious vagabond asks an old woman to care for his special silver urn (“samovar”) while he is gone. She does so at personal cost and inconvenience, but in the end is rewarded for her selflessness. A Jewish folk tale that embodies the virtue of charity.
Penn, Malka. Miracle of Potato Latkes.
Illustrated by Giora Carmi. Holiday, 1994. (K-4)
Poor woman opens her home to those in need and finds her latkes multiply.
Spyropulos, Diana. Cornelius and the Dog Star.
Illustrations by Ray Williams. Illumination Arts, 1995. (3-6)
Grouchy, miserly Cornelius Basset-Hound considers himself practically perfect. He dies and discovers he must learn the ways of love and friendship before being admitted to the celestial company. Delightful and charming.
Weiss, Jim. “A Christmas Carol and Other Favorites.”
CD. Greathall Productions, 1996. (K-6)
Weiss’s fine retelling of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, as well as O.Henry’s Gift of the Magi give new depth to the spirit of love that animates the holiday season.
Wilde, Oscar. The Selfish Giant.
Illustrated by Saelig Gallagher. Putnam, 1995. (2-6)
An embittered old man, a “giant,” shoos children out of his garden and cannot be bothered with their laughter or joy. His heart is moved to compassion and he is changed by the plight of a small child. Superb illustrations.
Yep, Laurence. Tiger Woman.
Illustrated by Robert Roth. Bridge Water Books, 1995. (2-6)
A beggar approaches a selfish, old woman in the market and asks for some of her food. She replies: “I’m a tiger when I’m famished, so be gone! Old beggar vanish!” Her words come true! He vanishes and she turns into a tiger! A delightful and whimsical Shantung folk tale that speaks to many degrees of charity.
Service
Marston, Elsa. The Fox Maiden.
Illustrated by Tatsuro Kiuchi. Simon and Schuster, 1996. (1-4)
In this lovely Japanese folktale, Yuri, a fox-turned-maiden, explores the world of human beings. As a maid servant, she grows attached to the family she serves, and comes to love her fellow man-servant, Haruo. She also comes to understand that the forest is really her home. When her master and his family learn her secret (that she is really a fox), they are outraged and try to kill her. This tale puts one in mind of the Little Prince’s reminder: “You are forever responsible for that which you have tamed.” Both Yuri and Haruo take the adage seriously.
Osbourne, Mary Pope. The One Eyed Giant.(Tales from the Odyssey, Book 1); The Land of the Dead(Tales from the Odyssey, Book 2);Sirens and Sea Monsters(Tales from the Odyssey, Book 3). Illustrated by Troy Howell. Hyperion, 2002 and 2003. (4-6)
This exciting retelling of famous stories from Homer's Odyssey carries students from Troy (at the end of the Trojan Wars) to Ithaca,(as Odysseus finds his way home). Whether fighting the Cyclops, battling cannibal giants, or escaping a temptress, Odysseus courage and fidelity have the ability to inspire across the millennia. Osbourne has successfully simplified and quickened the pace of the epic, making the classic accessible for younger readers, and whetting their appetite for the real thing.
Quackenbush, Robert. Don’t You Dare Shoot that Bear: A Life of Theodore Roosevelt.
Simon and Schuster, 1990. (4-6)
Humorous presentation of the life of a man who gave himself with gusto and conviction to the service of his country. Excellent for grade unit on early presidents.
Rabin, Staton. Casey Over There.
Illustrated by Greg Shed. Harcourt Brace, 1994. (2-4)
Set in World War I, a younger brother waits, watches, and writes to President Wilson, hoping for the return of his older brother who is fighting overseas. Superb illustrations. Themes of service to country and the ties that bind.
Singer, Isaac Bashevis. Elijah the Slave.
Illustrated by Antonio Frasconi. Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 1970. (2-4)
Poor Tobias goes to the city to seek his family’s fortune. He meets the prophet Elijah, who offers his assistance if Tobias sells him as a slave. Reverent Tobias protests, but humble Elijah insists. Humble service to others brings about a happy ending.
Armstrong, Jennifer. Chin Yu Min and the Ginger Cat.
Crown, 1993 ( 2-4)
Arrogant, self-important woman turned humble and generous by clever cat. Works well with ancient China units in 2nd and 4th grades).
Chinn, Karen. Sam and the Lucky Money.
Illustrated by Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu. Lee and Low Books, 1995. (2-5)
Sam is eager to spend his lucky money received on Chinese New Year. Everything he wants seems to cost more than he has. A poor stranger then teaches him the value of what he has and Sam sees a good way to use his money.
Fang, Linda. “The Ch’i-Lin Purse” in The Ch’i-Lin Purse.
See General Collections. (4-6)
A wealthy Chinese girl, on her wedding day, takes pity on a penniless bride. To the weeping bride she gives her mother’s gift to her—a special purse, filled with—she knows not what. Later when she is separated from her family Hsiang-ling’s generosity of years before becomes her salvation.
Heyer, Marilee. The Girl, the Fish, and the Crown: A Spanish Folktale.
Viking Press, 1995. (4-6)
A selfish little girl is transformed into a fish, and then embarks on a great journey to restore the sea queen’s crown and her own honor. In the process she learns the meaning of compassion and generosity.
Jaffe, Nina. In the Month of Kislev: A Story for Hanukkah.
Illustrated by Louise August. Viking Child Books, 1992. (2-6)
Impoverished Mendel the Peddler and his children, along with a wise rabbi teach their wealthy and not-very-generous neighbor the meaning of charity. Humorous and wise.
Jaffe, Nina. Older Brother, Younger Brother: A Korean Folktale.
Illustrated by Wenhai Ma. Viking Press, 1995. (3-5)
Set in the mountains of ancient Korea, cruel and selfish older brother mistreats compassionate younger brother and banishes him from their ancestral home. The younger brother’s compassion to an injured sparrow brings him rich rewards and ultimately leads to comeuppance and reconciliation with the older brother.
Kimmel, Eric. “The Samovar” in Days of Awe.
Viking Child Books, 1991. (2-6)
A mysterious vagabond asks an old woman to care for his special silver urn (“samovar”) while he is gone. She does so at personal cost and inconvenience, but in the end is rewarded for her selflessness. A Jewish folk tale that embodies the virtue of charity.
Penn, Malka. Miracle of Potato Latkes.
Illustrated by Giora Carmi. Holiday, 1994. (K-4)
Poor woman opens her home to those in need and finds her latkes multiply.
Spyropulos, Diana. Cornelius and the Dog Star.
Illustrations by Ray Williams. Illumination Arts, 1995. (3-6)
Grouchy, miserly Cornelius Basset-Hound considers himself practically perfect. He dies and discovers he must learn the ways of love and friendship before being admitted to the celestial company. Delightful and charming.
Weiss, Jim. “A Christmas Carol and Other Favorites.”
CD. Greathall Productions, 1996. (K-6)
Weiss’s fine retelling of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, as well as O.Henry’s Gift of the Magi give new depth to the spirit of love that animates the holiday season.
Wilde, Oscar. The Selfish Giant.
Illustrated by Saelig Gallagher. Putnam, 1995. (2-6)
An embittered old man, a “giant,” shoos children out of his garden and cannot be bothered with their laughter or joy. His heart is moved to compassion and he is changed by the plight of a small child. Superb illustrations.
Yep, Laurence. Tiger Woman.
Illustrated by Robert Roth. Bridge Water Books, 1995. (2-6)
A beggar approaches a selfish, old woman in the market and asks for some of her food. She replies: “I’m a tiger when I’m famished, so be gone! Old beggar vanish!” Her words come true! He vanishes and she turns into a tiger! A delightful and whimsical Shantung folk tale that speaks to many degrees of charity.
Service
Marston, Elsa. The Fox Maiden.
Illustrated by Tatsuro Kiuchi. Simon and Schuster, 1996. (1-4)
In this lovely Japanese folktale, Yuri, a fox-turned-maiden, explores the world of human beings. As a maid servant, she grows attached to the family she serves, and comes to love her fellow man-servant, Haruo. She also comes to understand that the forest is really her home. When her master and his family learn her secret (that she is really a fox), they are outraged and try to kill her. This tale puts one in mind of the Little Prince’s reminder: “You are forever responsible for that which you have tamed.” Both Yuri and Haruo take the adage seriously.
Osbourne, Mary Pope. The One Eyed Giant.(Tales from the Odyssey, Book 1); The Land of the Dead(Tales from the Odyssey, Book 2);Sirens and Sea Monsters(Tales from the Odyssey, Book 3). Illustrated by Troy Howell. Hyperion, 2002 and 2003. (4-6)
This exciting retelling of famous stories from Homer's Odyssey carries students from Troy (at the end of the Trojan Wars) to Ithaca,(as Odysseus finds his way home). Whether fighting the Cyclops, battling cannibal giants, or escaping a temptress, Odysseus courage and fidelity have the ability to inspire across the millennia. Osbourne has successfully simplified and quickened the pace of the epic, making the classic accessible for younger readers, and whetting their appetite for the real thing.
Quackenbush, Robert. Don’t You Dare Shoot that Bear: A Life of Theodore Roosevelt.
Simon and Schuster, 1990. (4-6)
Humorous presentation of the life of a man who gave himself with gusto and conviction to the service of his country. Excellent for grade unit on early presidents.
Rabin, Staton. Casey Over There.
Illustrated by Greg Shed. Harcourt Brace, 1994. (2-4)
Set in World War I, a younger brother waits, watches, and writes to President Wilson, hoping for the return of his older brother who is fighting overseas. Superb illustrations. Themes of service to country and the ties that bind.
Singer, Isaac Bashevis. Elijah the Slave.
Illustrated by Antonio Frasconi. Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 1970. (2-4)
Poor Tobias goes to the city to seek his family’s fortune. He meets the prophet Elijah, who offers his assistance if Tobias sells him as a slave. Reverent Tobias protests, but humble Elijah insists. Humble service to others brings about a happy ending.
