| Doing Good Together Newsletter |
| Helping strengthen kids and communities through family volunteerism... |
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All year long we recommend books and other media that contain positive role models and prompt conversations with children about kindness, compassion and giving. Now readers have asked for a list of our favorite children's books. Here it is, just in time for your holiday shopping. Let us know what you think, and please share your own favorite kid-friendly books, videos and websites on our blog or Facebook page. Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season and a joyous New Year.
Jenny Friedman, Executive Director
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Rich and Purposeful Page-Turners
| Make a Difference.....
Both fun and meaningful, these books would make great holiday gifts for the children in your life. Here are 10 we love.
- Buddha at Bedtime: Tales of Love and Wisdom for You to Read with Your Child to Enchant, Enlighten and Inspire by Dharmachari Nagaraja. Twenty ancient Buddhist stories that engage children of all ages and inspire thoughtful conversation. (Read our blogger's review.)
- The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf. The story of a gentle bull who would much rather sit under a tree smelling the flowers than fight with the other bulls. (Read our blogger's review.)
 - The Gift of Nothing by Patrick McDonnell. A wonderful story for inspiring a discussion about the power of friendship, appreciation for what we have, and the true meaning of gift giving. (Read our blogger's review.)
- Miss Tizzy by Libba Moore Gray. A joyful elderly woman has a following among an ethnically diverse group of neighborhood children. When she becomes ill, the children get creative about how to express their love.
 - Great Joy by Kate DiCamillo. A sweet, simple Christmas tale about a kind organ grinder, his monkey and the little girl who worries over whether they have a place to go in the storm.
(Read our blogger's review.)
- Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch by Eileen Spinelli. A grumpy, lonely man discovers the importance of friendship when he receives an unexpected package from an admirer. A compelling message about the power of kindness.
- Grandmothers' Stories: Wise Woman Tales from Many Cultures by Burleigh Muten. Stories from Senegal, Japan, Russia, Hawaii, Mexico, Ireland, Germany and Sweden that feature older women who are kind, intelligent and independent. (Read our blogger's review.)
- If Everybody Did by Jo Ann Stover. This funny book has a nice message about the impact of your actions on others. (Read our blogger's review.)
- The Quiltmaker's Gift by Jeff Brumbeau. A great read and the perfect antidote to the season's all-too-common messages of materialism and greed.
- Sam and the Lucky Money by Karen Chinn. A charming story about a boy who gets "lucky money" for his birthday and ventures into Chinatown to look for the best way to spend it.
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Get Kids Talking
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Talk About It.....
Children's books are a wonderful way to begin meaningful conversations with your children. Pause now and then to chat and reflect as you read together.
You can talk about:
- Different ways to solve problems the characters are having.
- How you think each of the characters feel and how you would feel if you were in their place.
- What makes a hero and what it takes to be courageous.
- Strategies for dealing with difficult circumstances and emotions.
- How the story makes you feel.
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| Inspiration | |
The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.
Dr. Seuss
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| News from DGT | |
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Also, remember that ANY DONATIONS BETWEEN NOW AND DECEMBER 31, 2011, WILL BE MATCHED BY A GENEROUS GRANT FROM THE OSWALD FAMILY FOUNDATION! If you appreciate these newsletters and support our mission, please donate.
We're a small nonprofit, and a gift of any size makes a huge difference for us.
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Doing Good Together is a nonprofit, 501(c)3 organization that provides information and support to help people raise compassionate and socially conscious children through family volunteerism.
Copyright © 2011 Doing Good Together
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