Emily Pearson’s book Ordinary Mary’s Extraordinary Deed is a lyrical and beautifully illustrated way to introduce and reinforce the “pay it forward” concept of kindness. It gets high reviews on Amazon. It even has discussion questions and curriculum suggestions available online.

So why did it fall flat with my little audience?

We have read it several times over the past two weeks. Nearly every time my two-year-old has fallen asleep before the third or fourth random act of kindness amid the fifteen that are detailed, so 2 seems too young to enjoy this story.

In contrast, my five-year-old definitely responded to the message in this book. She likes to point out how each person is helping the next. She has a few favorite deeds that we may try to do, like dropping produce off for people we know, smiling and complementing people who look unhappy, or helping strangers with heavy bags.

In that sense, the book has served its purpose. It has helped her see the big impact of small good deeds as they spread throughout the world. It has inspired her to do her own good works.

Clearly, it was an effective learning tool.

However, as my daughter jumps into the shallow pool of new readers, rhyming her cat’s with her hat’s and giggling at an angry fish on a dish, I don’t want our reading time to be reduced to moral instruction alone. In a world full of technological distractions, I want to teach her to love reading as much as I do, and that must begin with an early childhood full of deliciously entertaining stories.

As much as I liked the message, Ordinary Mary was less than thrilling. No amount of superfluous exclamation points can fix that.

I’m going on a mission to find uplifting tales of kindness and compassion that entertain as easily as Kate Dicamillo’s Louise, The Adventures of a Chicken. Books that inspire pleas for a second and third reading. Or at least books that support our Doing Good Together efforts without inducing extra naps.

Do  you have any recommendations for books that can entertain even as they educate?

I’ll be mining the DGT Resources page for good suggestions as well as wandering the web for good ideas. I’ll keep you posted!

Tags: Children's Books

About Sarah

Sarah Aadland is striving to make family volunteering a meaningful habit for her two preschoolers. Join the conversation as she ponders what they may (or may not have) learned and looks for helpful information about raising compassionate kids.Though she plans to one day put her Masters in Public Policy back to work for social justice, she sees family volunteering as a way to build a stronger community, a better world, and a more connected family. In addition to her children, Sarah tends a large garden, a small flock of chickens, and a habit of mindfulness amid the necessary rituals of parenting.

View all posts by Sarah