books as educators and understanding real consequences

Great for talking about telling the truth, going to teachers for help, story sequencing, and about sharing. ( )

Ruthie and the Not So Teeny Tiny Lie was such a great book because of how relatable it is to students. Reading it, I was very drawn to the plot and the characters. Every kid can probably relate to Ruthie. She has a fascination with teeny tiny things. For example, she collects tiny seashells from the beach and flowers "no bigger than fairy wings." Though children reading the book my not have the same interests as Ruthie, they can relate to collecting things they enjoy. When she find the tiny camera, it's like the holy grail of her collection, but she lies about it being hers because she knows she has to have it. I'm sure everyone reading this story, young and old can relate to that. When Ruthie feels so guilty about lying that she can barely eat or sleep, students are bound to relate to that as well. The plot is great because it's hopeful. In the end, Mrs. Olsen is more so proud of Ruthie for stepping up and telling the truth, so much so that she even gives her a hug and little kiss on the forehead. Instead of yelling and getting mad, she stays calm and that will reassure students reading that telling the truth may seem scary but it's always better than lying. Mrs. Olsen talks about how courageous it is to tell the truth and that is really the main takeaway from this book. Though it may be hard to tell the truth, it's always the right thing to do. ( )

Wonderful story about telling the truth. I would definitely use this story to preface a discussion about being honest. The students would see a good example of how a conscience works! ( )

Ruthie and the (Not So) Teeny Tiny Lie by Laura Rankin is a story about a little girl, Ruthie, who finds a camera on the playground that does not belong to her. Ruthie lies to her teacher about it being her camera and finds that it is not a satisfying feeling. The story teaches the morals of telling the truth and of finding forgiveness through mistakes. I love this story because it tells a story that children can learn from and relate to. You could use this in a classroom read-aloud and have students discuss how they can relate to the story in some way. The illustrations of the book are also very cute and colorful. ( )