Heroes - Lives to Learn From
December
Generosity Charity Service
December
Generosity Charity Service
Charles Dickens (1812-1870)
“Make me kind to my nurses and servants, and to all beggars and poor people…charitable and gentle to all.” Such was the prayer Charles Dickens wrote for his own young children to recite each day. A concern for the “least among us” pervaded this English writer’s life and suffused his novels. It shines with particular clarity in his classic, “A Christmas Carol”, beloved by generations of readers this season.
Charles Dickens grew up in industrializing London of the early nineteenth century. As a young boy, he knew both well-being and poverty. When his spend-thrift father ended up in debtor’s prison, so did the rest of the family – except Charles. Twelve-year-old Charles was sent into the London workforce and labored ten hour days at a shoe blacking factory to help make ends meet. He never forgot the degrading working conditions and the scorn for the poor that he experienced. He also came to know first-hand the crime-ridden life in London’s slums.
Later, Dickens was fortunate enough to be left a modest inheritance by his paternal grandmother, and receive an education. But his concern for the impoverished, for those who lived in his city’s bleak slums never left him. He fought for the poor and abandoned with what became his sharpest weapon – the pen. His novels, from Oliver Twist (1839) to Great Expectations (1861) artfully memorialized many of the characters and situations he had lived as a boy. Some of his books were responsible for actual legislation and action to improve conditions for the poor.
The lesson of Charles Dickens’ life for children is that generosity, charity, and service can be practiced in many ways – and should depend on one’s talents. Some may go into the slums and attempt to improve lives through better education, housing, or nutrition. Others may donate funds. Still others should pick up their pens!
“Make me kind to my nurses and servants, and to all beggars and poor people…charitable and gentle to all.” Such was the prayer Charles Dickens wrote for his own young children to recite each day. A concern for the “least among us” pervaded this English writer’s life and suffused his novels. It shines with particular clarity in his classic, “A Christmas Carol”, beloved by generations of readers this season.
Charles Dickens grew up in industrializing London of the early nineteenth century. As a young boy, he knew both well-being and poverty. When his spend-thrift father ended up in debtor’s prison, so did the rest of the family – except Charles. Twelve-year-old Charles was sent into the London workforce and labored ten hour days at a shoe blacking factory to help make ends meet. He never forgot the degrading working conditions and the scorn for the poor that he experienced. He also came to know first-hand the crime-ridden life in London’s slums.
Later, Dickens was fortunate enough to be left a modest inheritance by his paternal grandmother, and receive an education. But his concern for the impoverished, for those who lived in his city’s bleak slums never left him. He fought for the poor and abandoned with what became his sharpest weapon – the pen. His novels, from Oliver Twist (1839) to Great Expectations (1861) artfully memorialized many of the characters and situations he had lived as a boy. Some of his books were responsible for actual legislation and action to improve conditions for the poor.
The lesson of Charles Dickens’ life for children is that generosity, charity, and service can be practiced in many ways – and should depend on one’s talents. Some may go into the slums and attempt to improve lives through better education, housing, or nutrition. Others may donate funds. Still others should pick up their pens!
Charles Dickens: Scenes From an Extraordinary Life
Mick Manning and Brita Granstrom. Frances Lincoln Children’s Books, 2011 (K-3) |
Charles Dickens: The Man Who Had Great Expectations
Diane Stanley and Peter Vennema. Illustrated by Diane Stanley. Morrow Junior Books, 1993. (4-6) |
Holiday Themed Books
The following books tell the seasonal stories of the world’s faiths in sympathetic ways. Some are fictional events assuming the truth of the major story told. Most are not appropriate for public schools, but would find a happy home in independent schools, parochial schools, or Hebrew schools, as well as homes of believers.
Room for a Little One: A Christmas Tale. Martin Waddell and Jason Cockcroft
Margaret Elderberry, 2006. (K-2)
A warm and imaginative story featuring the Kind Ox, who offers room at the stable to any needy little one. Mary and Joseph, but mostly the baby Jesus, benefit! Simple text, glowing illustrations.
Margaret Elderberry, 2006. (K-2)
A warm and imaginative story featuring the Kind Ox, who offers room at the stable to any needy little one. Mary and Joseph, but mostly the baby Jesus, benefit! Simple text, glowing illustrations.
Humphrey’s First Christmas. Carol Heyer
Ideals, 2010. (K-2)
A playful tale of the First Christmas as experienced by a proud and self-important camel. Humphrey is charged with carrying the goods of the three kings on their journey to Bethlehem. Children will both laugh and be touched by the turn of events in which Humphrey meets the Christ child.
Ideals, 2010. (K-2)
A playful tale of the First Christmas as experienced by a proud and self-important camel. Humphrey is charged with carrying the goods of the three kings on their journey to Bethlehem. Children will both laugh and be touched by the turn of events in which Humphrey meets the Christ child.
The Chanukkah Guest. Eric A. Kimmel
Illustrated by Giora Carmi. Holiday House, 1990. (Generosity, K-2)
Eric Kimmel’s humorous and charmingly illustrated tale of a nearly blind, elderly lady who lives in the forest and fixes potato latkes for the first night of Chanukkah, expecting the rabbi as her guest. In walks a bear instead, drawn from his slumber by the tantalizing aroma. She mistakes him for the rabbi, and a wonderful tale of hospitality and humor follows.
Illustrated by Giora Carmi. Holiday House, 1990. (Generosity, K-2)
Eric Kimmel’s humorous and charmingly illustrated tale of a nearly blind, elderly lady who lives in the forest and fixes potato latkes for the first night of Chanukkah, expecting the rabbi as her guest. In walks a bear instead, drawn from his slumber by the tantalizing aroma. She mistakes him for the rabbi, and a wonderful tale of hospitality and humor follows.
The First Christmas. Carol Heyer
Ideals, 2003. (K-2)
Carol Heyer’s luminous artwork and simple, lyrical text bring the biblical story to life for young children. The account is faithful to the gospels and is told as the story of the Savior’s birth.
Ideals, 2003. (K-2)
Carol Heyer’s luminous artwork and simple, lyrical text bring the biblical story to life for young children. The account is faithful to the gospels and is told as the story of the Savior’s birth.
The Legend of the Poinsettia. Tomie dePaola
Puffin, 1997. (K-3)
Tomie dePaola’s bold artwork brings this touching tale to life. A poor Mexican child is too embarrassed to enter the Christmas procession for the Baby Jesus, because she has no gift to offer. Urged by a kindly stranger to take part, she gathers a bouquet of weeds, and upon presentation at the crèche, the humble stems are transformed to a magnificent bouquet of poinsettias.
Puffin, 1997. (K-3)
Tomie dePaola’s bold artwork brings this touching tale to life. A poor Mexican child is too embarrassed to enter the Christmas procession for the Baby Jesus, because she has no gift to offer. Urged by a kindly stranger to take part, she gathers a bouquet of weeds, and upon presentation at the crèche, the humble stems are transformed to a magnificent bouquet of poinsettias.
St. Nicholas: The Real Story of the Christmas Legend. Julie Stiegemeyer
Illustrated by Chris Ellison. Concordia, 2003. (K-3)
A young child’s introduction to the real St. Nicholas, fourth century bishop of Lycia, who helped provide a dowry for the daughters of a local villager, and whose generosity is commemorated in tales of Santa Claus.
Illustrated by Chris Ellison. Concordia, 2003. (K-3)
A young child’s introduction to the real St. Nicholas, fourth century bishop of Lycia, who helped provide a dowry for the daughters of a local villager, and whose generosity is commemorated in tales of Santa Claus.
Festival of Lights: The Story of Hanukkah. Maida Silverman.
Illustrated by Carolyn Ewing. Aladdin, 1999. (2-5)
This reverently told, colorfully illustrated text recounts the origins of this feast (Greek ruler Antiochus taking the Jewish temple, and the Maccabees reclaiming and rededicating it), how subsequent customs relate to the original feast, and what the customs are (ranging from the Dreidle game to lighting the Menorah.)
Illustrated by Carolyn Ewing. Aladdin, 1999. (2-5)
This reverently told, colorfully illustrated text recounts the origins of this feast (Greek ruler Antiochus taking the Jewish temple, and the Maccabees reclaiming and rededicating it), how subsequent customs relate to the original feast, and what the customs are (ranging from the Dreidle game to lighting the Menorah.)
The Christmas Story: From the King James Version. Henry Holt
Illustrated by Gennady Spirin, 2008. (2- 5)
In this lovely volume, the Christmas story is recounted using the gospels of Luke and Matthew. Exquisite and intricate illustrations.
Illustrated by Gennady Spirin, 2008. (2- 5)
In this lovely volume, the Christmas story is recounted using the gospels of Luke and Matthew. Exquisite and intricate illustrations.
“The Samovar” in Days of Awe. Eric Kimmel
Viking Child Books, 1991. (Generosity, 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.
Viking Child Books, 1991. (Generosity, 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.
The Secret of St. Nicholas. Ellen Nibali
Illustrated by Lon Eric Craven. Fairand Books, 2010. (3-5)
Historically based introduction to St. Nicholas by a master-story teller and talented illustrator. Recounts the story of Nicholas’s attempt to rescue three daughters who were to be sold into slavery, and his emergence as bishop of Lycia.
Illustrated by Lon Eric Craven. Fairand Books, 2010. (3-5)
Historically based introduction to St. Nicholas by a master-story teller and talented illustrator. Recounts the story of Nicholas’s attempt to rescue three daughters who were to be sold into slavery, and his emergence as bishop of Lycia.
The Lady of Guadalupe. Tomie dePaola
Holiday House, 1988. (3-5)
A reverent retelling of the Virgin Mary’s appearance to Juan Diego, an Aztec peasant, in Mexico in 1531. The “Lady of Guadalupe” appears in the clothing of an Aztec maiden, but offers the love of the Christ child. This classic is still in print more than two decades after its first publication, and explains the origin of Mexican devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Holiday House, 1988. (3-5)
A reverent retelling of the Virgin Mary’s appearance to Juan Diego, an Aztec peasant, in Mexico in 1531. The “Lady of Guadalupe” appears in the clothing of an Aztec maiden, but offers the love of the Christ child. This classic is still in print more than two decades after its first publication, and explains the origin of Mexican devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe.
The True Saint Nicholas: Why He Matters to Children. William J. Bennett
Howard Books, 2009. (5-Adult)
An older grade overview of the historical St. Nicholas by one of America’s leading educators. The book treats his life, legends that sprang up about his deeds, and his ongoing legacy.
Howard Books, 2009. (5-Adult)
An older grade overview of the historical St. Nicholas by one of America’s leading educators. The book treats his life, legends that sprang up about his deeds, and his ongoing legacy.