Empty bowls - kids can help too!
This booklist provides resources for children who are interested in helping stop hunger and poverty in Burnaby and beyond. Creating awareness is the first step!
Find:
Empty Bowls is a biennial fundraiser coordinated by Burnaby's Food First Committee, a coalition of community service organizations and community volunteers dedicate to actively addressing issues of food security, hunger and poverty in Burnaby. Details about the 2011 event [PDF] . The Committee started the Burnaby Empty Bowls Project in 1999. It is one of many similar Empty Bowls initiatives held throughout the world since the early 1990s.
Food-related programs supported by the Food First Committee include school breakfasts, homework and snack programs, family cooking programs and community kitchens. Beginning in 2003, many Burnaby schools initiated their own Empty Bowls projects.
Stories to read aloud
The 100th Customer
Byung-Gyu Kim and K.T. Hao
"I'm not at all hungry," grandma insists, as she watches her grandson eat the least expensive pizza on the menu. Restaurant owners Ben Bear and Chris Croc watch silently then come up with an idea: What if they pretend this young man is really their 100th customer of the day - and that he has won free pizza and dessert? The dignity of the elderly woman is preserved by Ben and Chris's simple (and secret!) act of generosity. Level: Kindergarten to Grade 3.
Beatrice's Goat
Page McBrier
Beatrice's dream of attending school in her small Ugandan village comes true after her family is given an income-producing goat. This touching story shows how one child, given the right tools, is able to lift her family out of poverty. Based on a true story about the work of Project Heifer International - a charitable organization that donates livestock to poor communities around the world. Level: Kindergarten to Grade 3.
The Can-Do Thanksgiving
Marion Hess Pomeranc
Dee proudly buys peas with her own money but then wonders: "Where did my can go?" Her curiousity takes her to a soup kitchen where she experiences excitement and satisfaction as she and her father help prepare and serve an unforgettable Thanksgiving meal. Level: Kindergarten to Grade 2.
The Cardboard Shack Beneath the Bridge
Tim Huff
Has a child ever asked you about a homeless person in your neighbourhood? In simple, approachable verse, Toronto author Tim Huff helps children and adults begin a discussion about who is living on the street, why they might be there, and how we can change the way be act towards those more needy than us. Level: Kindergarten to Grade 2.
A Castle on Viola Street
DyAnne DiSalvo
Andy's handworking family gets their own house at last by joining a community volunteer program that builds houses. Level: Kindergarten to Grade 2.
Christmas Soup
Alice Faye Duncan and Phyllis Dooley
The Beene family is so poor that their Christmas meal consists of watery soup. So how could two hungry strangers help them? Their meagre meal proves to be a feast for the visitors and Baby Fannie's prayers for "something more" are answered as the whole family learns a lesson about giving and sharing. Level: Kindergarten to Grade 3.
A Circle of Friends
Giora Carmi
A young boy shares his snack with a homeless man sleeping on a park bench and unwittingly begins a cycle of good will. The man shares the crumbs with bird and the bird flies off with a sunflower seed, dropping it in the window box where the boy lives. They boy is delighted whan a beautiful sunflower greets him in the spring. This wordless story demonstrated the powerful effect a simple gesture of caring can have on others, leaving readers with a feeling of hope. Level: Kindergarten to Grade 3.
December
Eve Bunting
On Christmas Eve, Simon and his mother share their small cardboard box home with a stranger and Simon offers the old woman one of his Christmas cookies. The next day the woman has disappeared, but the spirit she leaves behind changes Simon's and his mother's luck. The story ends a year later when Simon's mother has a job and they have moved to a small apartment. The message of charity as a risk worth taking goes far beyond the Christmas season. Level: Kindergarten to Grade 3.
Fly Away Home
Eve Bunting
A homeless boy lives in an airport with his father, moving from terminal to terminal, trying not to be noticed. His emotions range from acceptance to anger to, finally, hope, when he sees a trapped bird find its freedom. Level: Kindergarten to Grade 3.
Gettin' Through Thursday
Melrose Cooper
As report card day approaches, Andre is excited because Mama has promised him a party for making the honour roll. But it's the day before payday, a day when money is tight and spirits are low. This is a warm and touching story of how, despite limited means, a single mother and her children find a creative way to celebrate a son's achievement. Level: Grades 1 to 3.
Grandpa's Soup
Eiko Kadono
"I want to eat hot soup, the meatball soup by dear wife used to make for me." Grandpa's repeated attempts to make the favourite soup bring new visitors to his door every day and Grandpa soon discovers that sharing with his new friends is the best cure for his loneliness. Level: Kindergarten to Grade 2.
The Hundred Dresses
Eleanor Estes
Maddie stands by and watches her classmates tease Wanda Petronski, a Polish immigrant who claims to own 100 dresses when in reality she wears the same faded dress every day. A wonderful read-aloud that will start discussions about compassion as well as the ethical dilemma of being a silent bystander. Level: Grades 1 to 4.
Isabel's House of Butterflies
Tony Johnston
Outside her home in Michoacan, Mexico, grows eight-year-old Isabel's greatest treasure: an oyamel tree. Here, every autumn, the tree is transformed into a golden casa de las mariposas by thousands of migrating monarch butterflies. But drought has ruined Papa's meagre crop of corn and beans and chopping the tree down seems to be the family's only hope for survival. Will Isabel's plan of selling butterfly-shaped tortillas to tourists earn enough money to save the tree? Level: Kindergarten to Grade 3.
The Lady in the Box
Ann McGovern
Even though their mother has cautioned against talking to strangers, Ben and his sister try to help "the lady in the box" by bringing her food. When their mother notices that food and a warm scarf are missing, she helps the children find ways to help homeless and hungry people in their neighbourhood through volunteering at a soup kitchen. This touching story conveys the message that, even for large problems, small efforts can make a real difference. Level: Kindergarten to Grade 3.
Lily and the Paper Man
Rebecca Upjohn
At first Lily is frightened of the scruffy looking man selling papers on the street. But, as the snow starts to fall, she stops thinking about herself and starts to worry about how cold he must be. With the help of family and neighbours, Lily bravely comes up with a plan she'll never forget. Level: Kindergarten to Grade 2.
Mama Panya's Pancakes
Mary and Rich Chamberlin
Mama Panya has just enough money to buy ingredients for a few pancakes, so when her son Adika invites his friends over she is sure there will not be enough to go around. This tale will captivate children as they learn about Kenyan village life and about how giving always brings you something in return. Includes a map, notes on local animals, a glossary of Kiswahili words and a spicy pancake recipe. Level: Kindergarten to Grade 2.
One Hen: How One Small Loan Made a Big Difference
Katie Smith Milway
With a small loan, Kojo, a poor boy in Ghana, buys one hen and eventually builds a farm that allows him to go to school, hire neighbours and loan money to villagers wanting to start their own small business. Based on a true story, this is a great introduction to economics and specifically the microloan lending systems in developing nations. Two parallel texts (one in simple, rhythmic verse, the other in detailed prose) and lively illustrations make this book accessible for all elementary students. Level: All ages.
Our Community Garden
Barbara Pollak
This heartfelt story captures the excitement of children getting their hands dirty and learning to nurture living things. It is a joyful celebration of different cultures working in their community garden and reminds us of the value of people working together. Level: Kindergarten to Grade 3.
The Runaway Rice Cake
Ying Chang Compestine
Just like the gingerbread boy, the Chang Family's special New Year's rice cake, a nian-gao, jumps out of the over and runs away! When it is stopped by a hungry old woman, they share it with her and return home to find a wonderful surprise from the Kitchen God. This heart-warming story conveys an important message about sharing and compassion. Level: Kindergarten to Grade 3.
A Shelter in Our Car
Monica Gunning
Since she left Jamaica for America after her father's death, Zettie lives in a car with her mother while they both go to school and plan for a real home. Mama's unwavering love, support and gutsy determination give Zettie the confidence that, together, she and her mother can meet all challenges. Level: Kindergarten to Grade 3.
The Teddy Bear
David McPhail
A teddy bear, lost by the little boy who loves him, still feels loved after being rescued by a homeless man. A bittersweet story in which a young child begins to understand the meaning of love, kindness and compassion. Level: Kindergarten to Grade 2.
The Three Questions
Jon J. Muth
When young Nikolai seeks counsel from Leo, the wise old turtle who lives in the mountains, he is sure Leo will know the answers to his three questions. But it is Nikolai's own response to a stranger's cry for help that leads him directly to the answer he seeks. The author combines his Zen studies with his love of Tolstoy in this profound yet simple book about compassion and living in the moment. Level: All ages.
Tight Times
Barbara Shook Hazen
A small boy, not allowed to have a dog because times are tight, finds a starving kitten in a trash can on the same day his father loses his job. A touching story that shows ho, even in the midst of poverty, families can have fun without spending a cent when they work together and use their imagination. Level: Kindergarten to Grade 3.
Under the Lemon Moon
Edith Hope Fine
One night Rosalinda is awakened by a noise in the garden. She is astonished to see a man creeping away with a sack of fruit from her beloved lemon tree. When Rosalinda seeks La Anciana for advice, the old woman offers an inventive way to help the tree and the man driven to steal her lemons. Set in the Mexican countryside, this charming story explores how it feels to get gifts - and to give them. Level: Kindergarten to Grade 3.
Non-fiction resources
The Complete Guide to Service Learning
Cathryn Berger Kaye
A compendium of proven, practical ways to engage students in civic responsibility, academic curriculum and social action. Includes activities, ideas and resources to help teachers and youth workers engage young hearts and minds in reaching out and giving back. Level: Grades 6 to 8.
It's Our World Too!
Phillip M. Hoose
Budding activists will find inspiration in the stories of 14 young people who are working for human rights, the needy, the environment or world peace. Includes practival suggestions for planning, organizing, publicizing and raising funds for social action projects. Level: Grades 5 to 7.
Health
Katie Duckworth
In the context of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, Health looks at the right of all children to receive nutritious food, clean water and health education, whether they are poor, homeless, disabled or have to work for a living. Level: Grades 4 to 7.
A Kids' Guide to Hunger & Homelessness: How to Take Action
Cathryn Berger Kaye
Kids learn about the causes and effects of hunger and homelessness, read about what other people have done and are doing to help, explore what their community needs, and develop a service project. Includes facts, quotations, real-life examples, resources as well as a note to teachers and other adults - and a lot of inspiration to get out there and make a difference in the world. Use as a stand-alone or in conjunction with The Complete Guide to Service Learning. Level: Grades 4 to 7.
Reach Out and Give
Cheri J. Meiners
Even very young children can help to make the world a better place. This book begins with the concept of gratitude, because feeling grateful is a powerful motivator. Words and pictures show children contributing to their community in simple yet meaningful ways including participating in food drives. Includes discussion questions, a philanthropy role play, generosity games and ideas for service projects. Level: Kindergarten to Grade 3.
World Hunger
Susan G. Hunnicutt
The early twenty-first century carries with it both the promise of the future and the concerns and complexities of the past. Through clear text and specific examples, this title examines world hunger, an issue that deserves our attention as responsible global citizens. Level: Grades 6 to 9.