Winning by Giving

November 1, 2013

Gr 3-5-This upbeat series is perhaps most helpful for parents looking for a resource to help their kids gain a new perspective on matters such as academic success, community involvement, patience, and being part of a team. The books have a light touch, which may help readers be more receptive to the messages. Bold graphics and bright, dynamic photographs add appeal. Each volume opens with a list of vocabulary words for kids to define and questions that will help educators establish students' prior knowledge and expectations before reading the book. The titles conclude with questions and an activity for teachers and parents to use in checking reading comprehension and content mastery or to expand discussion of the topic. The less-than-substantial texts mean that this set is not particularly useful for report writing, but the friendly advice warrants a place on library shelves.

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 1, 2013
Grades 1-3 Got a few disagreeable kiddos in your library? See if you can't influence them with the positive vibes of the Social Skills series. Each relentlessly cheerful title takes one aspect of a winning attitude and explains why it might be a goal worthy of working toward. Winning by Giving defines philanthropy on the first page, then proceeds to extend the definition with suggestions that readers give their kindness, talents, and time to family, friends, and the community. Though the text can be a bit cornball, the clean design and bright full-bleed photos of giddy kids make these books suitable and approachable tools in addressing those, shall we say, character quirks out there.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)