Parents who talk about and model basic values such as honesty, trust, and responsibility.
Caring • Equality and social justice • Integrity
Honesty • Responsibility • Restraint
Leon and the fun-loving neighbours who live in his hometown ramble through the pages of a novel for beginning readers, The Thumb in the Box. When the citizens of New Auckland request a simple water pump to put out fires, the government sends an unneeded fire truck. In a village with no vehicles whatsoever, they are not about to build a road or add a fire hydrant. They stay true to their values but cause quite a commotion in the process.
A member of Parliament, who delivers the truck by barge, looks on in astonishment as they dismantle it in the ocean. The uses to which they put various parts of the otherwise useless vehicle are creative. Along with the laughs, the book paints a picture of a community with a shared vision, where caring and compassion are the order of the day. Here, everyone takes responsibility for each other’s welfare.
Another hallmark of this story is how naturally grown-ups and kids are in conversation and in relationship with each other. Sharing books gives real grown-ups and children a chance to do likewise. They offer a way to preview situations that call for honesty, restraint or caring – any number of positive values. Without being dreary or preachy, they strengthen character. In fact, whether a book reflects a healthy, happy lifestyle or describes a very different reality, parent and child become explorers on a quest for greater understanding.
On his or her own, a fifth grader may tackle a novel like Sarah Ellis’ The Breadwinner, set in war-torn Afghanistan. It’s a lucky child, however, who reads it elbow to elbow with a caring adult. The bestseller has its share of searing images – of children harvesting human bones in a cemetery, for example. What a gift to share and discuss with your child feelings of outrage and sympathy.