As the holiday season grows near, images of poverty compete with consumer advertising for our attention.
The holidays may be a popular time to donate money, food or toys, but our students face simultaneous pressures to "fit in" by acquiring the latest gadgets. How do we keep the message of community, caring and active global citizenship going? Let's go back to the books.
Powerful messages can be learned through picture books.
Experts tell us that to become active global citizens, we must care and empathize. In their work empowering youth to change the world, Marc and Craig Kielburger have learned this fact firsthand: "We need to remember how important it is to learn about people in difficult circumstances, about the suffering they go through, the reasons they are in the situation, the specific problems they face, the capabilities and strengths they possess, the solutions that are possible and especially, the role that "we" play in "their" solution.”
In my classroom experience, picture books stimulate discussions where students connect the dots for themselves. A few suggestions are listed below.
Each story is told from the child's point of view. They describe a child's discovery of poverty and how they moved from the position of observer to helper in a swift and pragmatic way. The message is a strong reminder to adults that simple actions taken by children can make a large difference.
These books are strong enough to stand-alone, but if used to launch a discussion, we can help students explore multiple perspectives and empathize. Students can share experiences that put them in contact with conditions of poverty and ultimately, they may decide that helping people living in poverty is not just a holiday act, but a year-long commitment.
Books to try for grades three to eight:
- The Lady in the Box by Ann McGovern (1997, New York). Sisters discover a homeless woman during the holiday season. They consider what she needs to survive during the winter and bring items from home. They eventually share their secret with their mother who joins their efforts to help the homeless woman.
- Sam and the Lucky Money by Karin Chinn (2002, New York). Sam is anxious to spend his Chinese New Year's money. During a shopping trip he encounters a homeless man with bare feet. Seeing the man's gratitude from his mother's gift of quarter, Sam gives the man his money towards a new pair of socks.
Also look for:
- The Three Questions (Based on a story by Leo Tolstoy) by Jon J. Muth (2002, New York)
- Edward the "Crazy Man" by Marie Day (2002, Toronto)
- Something Beautiful by Sharon Dennis Wyeth (1998, New York)
I would love to hear about your favourite books and experiences!
Best Wishes,
Catherine McCauley, M.Ed.
Director of Teacher Development
educators@freethechildren.com
