The Honest to Goodness Truth

The Honest-to-Goodness Truth
written by Patricia C. McKissack
illustrated by Giselle Potter

Universal Themes:
Compassion Honesty Tact

Before Reading Questions

• Who has ever heard the expression, "Honesty is the best policy?" What does that mean?
• Can anyone think of a time when it might be acceptable to not tell the whole truth?
• Why does the book's title appear in that cloud over the girl's head? What does that mean?
• Looking at the back cover, what might be the setting of this story?

Summary

When young Libby is caught in a lie, she feels better admitting the truth, even though she's punished double. It is the first time she has lied to Mama, and as far as she is concerned, it would be the last. "From now on, only the truth," she decides.

But in her commendable attempts to tell "only the truth," she is tactless and cold; as the girls at church admire Ruthie Mae's dress, for example, Libby points out that there's a hole in Ruthie Mae's sock. Before the end of the day she's told the truth about many of her friends: she tattles to the teacher that Willie didn't do his homework, reminds the class how Daisy had forgotten her lines at the Christmas play, and lets everyone know that Thomas doesn't have lunch money and must borrow from Miz Jackson.

Poor Libby can’t understand why her friends are all upset with her. Then Mama explains

“Sometimes the truth is told at the wrong time or in the wrong way, and for the
wrong reasons. And that can be hurtful. But the honest-to-goodness truth is
never wrong.”

As Libby feeds and waters her horse, she struggles with the meaning of Mama’s words. Just then Virginia Washington sashays out of the fields and remarks, “That horse is older than black pepper… I doubt you could get a dollar for that old flea-ridden swayback.”

Stung by Virginia’s words, Libby finally realizes the wisdom of Mama’s words. The remainder of the book sees Libby making it up to her friends through both words and actions.

After Reading Questions

• Do you think Libby was trying to hurt her friends' feelings when she told the truth?
• If what Libby said was true, then why did it create a problem?
• When might it be wrong to keep a secret?
• What happened to Lilly to make her realize that the truth needs to be told in the right way?

Extension Ideas: Language Arts

• Ask students to write a poem about honesty. As a starter, tell students that they can include Mama's words as lines in their poem. Other students may prefer to write a story about a time that they told the truth and hurt someone's feelings, or when someone told them the truth and hurt their feelings.
• Have students create a poem-like prose piece called. "Instead of ___, Say ___." For example: Instead of, "That green dress makes you look like a cabbage," say "I like the blue dress better; it brings out your eyes." This activity not only encourages students to think tactfully, it also provides excellent practice writing proper quotation marks, a skill which will transfer to narrative writing.
• Patricia McKissack uses similes and metaphors beautifully. When Libby lies, for example, she is "surprised how easy the lie slid out of her mouth, like it was greased with warm butter." Have students point out other literary devices in the picture book for discussion. Then, present students with some "boring sentences" in need of "dressing up" with similes.

Extension Ideas: Social Studies

Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Mrs. Douglas E. Younger

• The illustrator's style is very similar to that of William H. Johnson. Show some examples of the artist's work (many are available on Google image search) and ask students to draw conclusions about the lifestyles of Black Americans in the south. How are Johnson's and Potter's styles similar?
• To follow up on the above activity, have students use one of William H. Johnson's pictures (such as Going to Church) as a writing prompt, or ask students to paint in that same style.
• The symmetry and simplicity of Giselle Potter's faces are also reminiscent of African masks. Download some pictures of African masks and have children compare them to the artist's illustrations. Is the resemblance coincidental? What purpose did masks serve in various African cultures?

The Empty Pot

The Empty Pot
by Demi

Universal Themes:
Choices, Consequences, Honesty, Integrity, Virtue

Before Reading Questions

• Who has ever heard the expression that “honesty is the best policy”? What does that mean?
• How many of you have chores that you’re expected to do at home? How many of you complete those chores on your own, without nagging from your parents?
• Today’s tale is from China. Who can locate China on our map? What do you know about China?

Summary

The ancient Chinese emperor has decided that it is time for him to choose a successor to the throne. The flower-loving ruler decides that this shall be accomplished through a contest. Each child will be given a seed and told to do their best.

Ping, a young boy who also loves to grow lovely things, has great hope that he will be successful. Imagine his dismay, then, when he discovers that, despite the success of his friends, his own seed yields not even a single leaf.

Disappointed and ashamed, he approaches his father and asks for advice. His father tells him that he has done the best that he can, and that he has nothing to be ashamed of.

As the emperor examines the beautiful flowers brought before him on the final day, his face expresses nothing but disapproval. Finally, approaching Ping, he asks why the pot is empty. Ping explains that he did his best, but to no avail. The emperor then reveals that the seeds were cooked, and therefore could not grow. The contest was to find not the greatest gardener in the land, but the leader with the greatest integrity.

After Reading Questions

• Did the emperor ask each child to grow a beautiful flower? (He actually asked each child to do his/her best).
• What do you think the word integrity means? (Note: Integrity is often defined as “Doing the right thing, even when no one is watching.” How is that definition exemplified in this story?)
• What other stories have we read that show a character acting with integrity?
• What advice did Ping’s Father give him? Has anyone ever given you advice like that?
• Can you think of a time when it would be hard to tell the truth? Why is it still a good idea to tell the truth in these situations?

Extension Ideas: Math

• Tangrams are Chinese puzzle pieces used to create both simple and complex pictures. Grandfather Tang’s Story by Ann Tombert is an excellent picture book which tells a simple story in both tangrams and conventional watercolor illustrations. (Also check out Tangram Magicianby Ernst). After sharing this story together, allow children to create pictures using paper tangram pieces. You may also wish to let them explore online tangrams.

Extension Ideas: Language Arts

• Create a class chart titled “Integrity is…” and allow each student to complete the sentence with a concrete example of integrity in action.
• Older students can make individual posters with that same theme, or write stories or poems which illustrate integrity at work.
• Have students research words that come from the same base word as integrity (integer, integral, integrate). How are all of these words related?

Extension Ideas: Science

• Encourage students to collect seeds from various foods at home and then plant them in class.
• As a class, remove the seeds a bell pepper. Cook half of them and then plant the cooked seeds in one container, and the uncooked seeds in another. Is it true that cooked seeds won’t grow? Older students can research to learn about some special seeds which actually require fire in order to grow.

Extension Ideas: Social Studies

• China has given the world an immense number of innovations including paper, noodles, and gunpowder. Have students research these and other Chinese firsts.
• Why was the Great Wall of China built? Was it effective? What lessons did the Chinese learn from this wall?
• Who are some famous Chinese Americans? How can we learn about others?