One Good Deed

by Terri Fields Narrated by Book Buddy Digital Media

Overview

It all started with some berries...

In this version of paying it forward, one good deed leads to another as people in a multicultural neighborhood, including a Jewish family, change the life of the community.

"The author lets her characters make her point (the world is a much better place when people are kind), only introducing the Jewish term for this behavior - mitzvot - at the end of the story. Melmon's upbeat illustrations are similarly nondenominational and will help listeners visualize the story's key elements."-Booklist Online

"This is a good read-aloud for young children, as the art is benign and the text includes a pleasing repetition of reactions from neighbors, who are always 'surprised' and 'delighted' by the kindness bestowed upon them. Another positive touch: the succinct back story about the derivation of the word 'mitzvah.' A sweet plug for random acts of kindness."-Kirkus Reviews

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly

05/25/2015
Fields (Burro’s Tortillas) and Melmon (Baby Wants Mama) present a pay-it-forward story that shows how one kind action—sharing some fresh-picked mulberries with an elderly neighbor, for instance—can turn an unfriendly neighborhood into one overflowing with generosity. As Fields introduces the residents of Lancaster Street, she uses repetition to emphasize how each of them almost unconsciously realizes how they can help someone in need. “Then she had a thought she’d never thought before,” she writes of Mrs. Thompson, the recipient of the mulberries, who gives one of the pies she bakes with the berries to Mr. Riley next door. He helps retrieve a basketball from the roof of a garage, the young basketball players call time-out to rake the leaves of a neighbor who’s on crutches, and so on. Playing into the idea that Lancaster Street “seemed dark and gloomy” even on sunny days, Melmon shows the neighborhood literally brightening with each page turn. A closing reference to these deeds as mitzvahs is the only religious element in the story—it’s clear that these actions cross all backgrounds and belief systems. Ages 3–8. (Aug.)

From the Publisher

"A recommended purchase for Judaic collections and others." — School Library Journal

Kirkus Reviews

2015-05-18
When Jake spontaneously decides to give some handpicked mulberries to the old woman next door, he begins a chain of "pay-it-forward" events in his neighborhood. First, readers view a double-page spread of Lancaster Street, seen from the vantage point of a mulberry-tree branch, with neat lawns and well-kept pets but no humans. "Even on sunny days, Lancaster Street seemed dark and gloomy. Neighbors did not smile at each other…or talk to each other…or help each other." Bright flowers and nesting birds belie the supposed gloom, but the streets are certainly empty of people. The next page shows Jake in the tree. His mulberry mitzvah—declared so and defined as a good deed at book's end—inspires Mrs. Thompson to bake a pie for Mr. Riley, and Mr. Riley to retrieve two boys' roof-bound ball, and so on. The simple art is colorful but not memorable. Attempted multiculturalism feels strained: the one child of color wears basketball garb, and the probably-Asian-American Mr. Lee is a computer expert. This is a good read-aloud for young children, as the art is benign and the text includes a pleasing repetition of reactions from neighbors, who are always "surprised" and "delighted" by the kindness bestowed upon them. Another positive touch: the succinct back story about the derivation of the word "mitzvah." A sweet plug for random acts of kindness. (Picture book. 3-5)

Product Details

BN ID:	2940171827649
Publisher:	Lerner Publishing Group
Publication date:	01/01/2017
Series:	Jewish Values
Edition description:	Unabridged
Age Range:	Up to 4 Years

Read an Excerpt

One Good Deed

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By Terri Fields, Deborah Melmon

Kar-Ben Publishing

Copyright © 2015 Terri Fields
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4677-3478-3

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CHAPTER 1

But one day, as Jake climbed his mulberry tree to pick its ripe fruit, he saw old Mrs. Thompson outside her house next door.

Suddenly he had a thought he'd never thought before. I bet she's sad she can't climb trees. I could take her some of these delicious mulberries.

When Jake arrived, Mrs. Thompson was surprised. She was delighted. She had enough fruit to make two mulberry pies.

Then she had a thought she'd never thought before. I loved getting these mulberries. I bet Mr. Riley next door would like one of my pies.

When Mrs. Thompson arrived, Mr. Riley was surprised. Mr. Riley was delighted. As he ate the delicious pie, he looked out the window and watched the kids next door playing ball. Suddenly he saw the ball land on the roof of his garage.

Then he had a thought he'd never thought before. I bet I could help them. I could take my ladder and get their ball.

When Mr. Riley handed them back their ball, Jeffrey and Joshua were surprised. They were delighted. As they tossed it back and forth, they saw Mr. Lee hobbling on crutches to his front door.

Then they had a thought they'd never thought before. Mr. Lee can't rake the leaves in his yard. But we could!

(Continues...)

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Excerpted from One Good Deed by Terri Fields, Deborah Melmon. Copyright © 2015 Terri Fields. Excerpted by permission of Kar-Ben Publishing.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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