Altruism

(Caring)

Word of the Month

December

Holiday: Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa How did the survivors of Pearl Harbor practice unselfish concern for their fellow solders? Why should we care about others during Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa?

Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom

The Berenstain Bears and the Trouble with Friends

The Berenstain Bears Forget their Manners

The Berenstain Bears and the Trouble with School

The Berenstain Bears are a Family

The Berenstain Bears and the New Girl in Town

The Berenstain Bears and the New Neighbors

Mr. Bow Tie by Karen Barbour

Horton Hatches the Egg by Dr. Seuss

Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge by Mem Fox

Brothers by Florence B. Freedman

The Bremen Town Musicians - Grimm Fairy Tales

And to Think That We Thought That We'd Never Be Friends by Mary Ann Hoberman

Yo Tenia Un Hipopotamo by Viveros Hector Lee (Spanish)

Three Good Blankets by Ida Luttrell

The Talking Eggs by Robert D. San Sousi

Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters: An African Tale by John Steptoe

Cherries & Cherry Pits by Vera Williams

The Quarreling Book by Charlotte Zolotow

Aesop's Fables

Fairy Tales by Hans Christian Andersen

Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Big Moon Tortilla by Joy Cowley

The House of Sixty Fathers by Meindert DeJong

Stepping on the Cracks by Mary D. Hahn

I'm Not Going to Chase the Cat Today by Jessica Harper

Tales from Shakespeare by Charles and Mary Lamb

Nessa's Fish by Nancy Luenn

The Princess and the Goblin by  George MacDonald

The Pilgrims of Plymouth by Marcia Sewall

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

Children of the Settlement Houses bgy Caroline Arnold

David Copperfield by Charles Dickens

Long March: The Choctaw's Gift to Irish Famine Relief by Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick

Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

The House of Dies Drear by Virginia Hamilton

The Clay Marble by Minfong Ho

The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth G. Speare

The Trumpet of the Swan by E. B. White

Compassion Books (link)

• We can promote compassion by helping our children to think about how others feel. For example, if your child says or does something hurtful to another child, help him or her to focus their attention on the feelings of his victim by saying, for example, "How do you think Zack feels? Would you like to feel like that?" Children develop compassion by practicing acts of caring and kindness towards others. As adults, we need to emphasize the importance of helping others, giving others the benefit of the doubt and being open to differences. Talk about the point of view of others as you watch TV, read books or discuss other people with your child. For example, ask, "What do you think that character is feeling and thinking?"

• Show care toward others, such as doing errands for sick neighbors or opening doors for others.

• Give others the benefit of the doubt. If your child complains that a classmate deliberately pushed him or her down on the way to lunch, explain that sometimes when people are in a hurry, they don't watch where they're going—they don't mean to push or hurt anyone.

• Be open to differences. If your child says "Our new neighbors dress funny," explain that people often wear clothes that reflect their cultures or native countries.

  —Daddy, why is Grandma crying?

  —She's very sad. One of her friends just died. Come sit with me. Do you remember how you felt when your gerbil, Whiskers, died?

  —I felt sad and lonely.

  —Well imagine how much worse Grandma must feel losing a friend. Maybe you can think of a way to help her.

  —I could give her a hug...

  —That's a great idea!