Fantasy Book

Sharing!

According to my husband, sharing is “when you have more than you need, you give a little to someone else.” While this is one way to look at the word sharing, a six-year old has a different idea.  According to a six-year old boy (my little brother), he says “to help each other and to give.”

Interestingly enough while the word is the same, each person’s perspective is a little different.

The book “Rainbow Fish” by Marcus Pfister is a story about a fish who has special glittery scales. Other fish think these scales are awesome and want them. However, Rainbow Fish does not want to share them.  Since Rainbow fish did not want to share, all the other fishes wanted no part of him.  He became very lonely and had no one to admire his scales.  After meeting with the Octopus, little fish asked Rainbow Fish for just one scale. Rainbow Fish obliged and gave away a little blue scale.  He was so excited and swam around.  Soon after all the other fishes wanted one too.  Rainbow Fish gave all the fish a scale and soon after they all swam around together.  Even though in the beginning Rainbow Fish didn’t want to share, ultimately he realized that by not sharing he would not have any friends.  
http://www.storylineonline.net/the-rainbow-fish/

Stone Soup” by Ann McGovern is a retell story of an old tales about a boy who is hungry and asks a woman in a house he comes across for something to eat. She claims she has nothing to offer him.  The boy asks for a stone since she has no food to offer.  With this stone, he tricks her into making him a hearty soup. They eat the soup together after she has made the table fit for a king.  After eating, the boy takes the stone and goes about his business.   

“Mama llama Time To Share” by Anna Dewdney is about Llama who gets a new neighbor.  While the moms are having tea, Llama and Nelly are sent to play together.  Mama Llama reminds Llama to share!  In the beginning of the story they build and play with blocks together.  He even says “maybe sharing’s not too bad.”  When Nelly goes to get a new toy, Llama starts crying and stomping his feet.  All of a sudden Nelly has Fuzzy Llama and accidentally they rip him.  Llama shouts he doesn’t like to share. Mama Llama fixes Fuzzy but places him on the stairs until Llama is sure he can share.  After baking a cake, Llama decides it’s time to share.  Llama and Nelly become friends!

While all three books have the theme of sharing, sharing comes about using different angles in the stories.  Despite the fact that Rainbow Fish and Llama aren’t sure they want to share, they eventually come around and share because if not, they wouldn’t have any friends.  In Stone Soup, the boy tricks the old woman into sharing.  I found it interesting to use all three books as they introduce the topic in unique ways that are appealing for our students. 

Dwedney, A. (2012). Mama llama time to share. New York: Viking Juvenile.

Lynch-Brown, C., Tomlinson, C., & Short, K. (2014). Essentials of children's literature. Boston: Pearson.

McGovern, A. (1986). Stone soup. New York: Scholastic.

Pfister, M. (1992). Rainbow fish North-South Books.