Purpose-Giving Children's Stories
Boom! Bang! Guns fire! Cannons roar! George Washington is fighting in the American Revolution. He sees a dog lost on the battlefield. Whose dog is it? How will it find its master? Early readers will be surprised to find out what happens in this little-known true story about America’s first president.
Empathy, Fairness, Kindness, Leadership, Responsibility, Trustworthiness
Nonfiction
AR Reading Level 2.5
AR Point .5
Word Count 719
We are excited to announce that we are introducing our newest blogger: Avery!
A little bit about Avery:
Hello! My name is Avery and I’m thrilled to be part of the team at RMR! I will be making new posts–and I’m also going to be the team technician, which is very exciting. Like Christy & Joeli, I am in a constant race to find those wonderful books-they’re out there-we just have to find them!
Did you know that one of our Founding Fathers was not born in America? An orphan from the West Indies, Alexander Hamilton came to the colonies and played an important role in the Revolutionary War, rising to become General George Washington’s right-hand man. But his accomplishments don’t stop there! He helped obtain the ratification of the Constitution; he was America’s first secretary of the treasury; and he established the first national bank and the U.S. Mint. A man of ambition, loyalty, and principle, he is now being celebrated as the prominent patriot he was.
Courage, Initiative, Leadership, Responsibility, Teamwork, Trustworthiness
Nonfiction
AR Reading Level 3.7
AR Point .5
Word Count 996
On October 11, 1896, 10-year-old Sam Deal and his horse, Ginger, watch as the brave surf men of Pea Island struggle to save the lives of nine people stranded on a shipwreck. Sam has dreamt of becoming a surf man just like the all-African-American crew, and this is his chance. Can he and Ginger help the crew rescue the victims, or will they be lost forever?
Courage
Fiction
AR Reading Level 3.5
AR Point .5
Word Count 1724
All William Ellsworth Hoy wanted to do was play baseball. After losing out on a spot on the local deaf team, William practiced even harder—eventually earning a position on a professional team. But his struggle was far from over. In addition to the prejudice Hoy faced, he could not hear the umpires’ calls. One day he asked the umpire to use hand signals: strike, ball, out. That day he not only got on base but also changed the way the game was played forever. William Hoy became one of the greatest and most beloved players of his time!
Perseverance, Critical Thinking-Problem Solving
Nonfiction
AR Reading Level 3.5
AR Point .5
Word Count 1025
In 1781, Thomas Paine came up with a model for a single-span bridge; in 1887, Adolf Eugen Fickmade the first pair of contact lenses; and in 1907, Paul Cornu built the first helicopter. But Leonardo da Vinci thought of all these ideas more than five hundred years ago!
At once an artist, inventor, engineer, and scientist, da Vinci wrote and drew detailed descriptions of what would later become hang gliders, automobiles, robots, and much more.
Innovation
Nonficton
AR Reading Level 5.4
AR Point .5
Word Count 1096
Louis Braille was just five years old when he lost his sight. He was a clever boy, determined to live like everyone else, and what he wanted more than anything was to be able to read.
Even at the school for the blind in Paris, there were no books for him.
And so he invented his own alphabet—a whole new system for writing that could be read by touch. A system so ingenious that it is still used by the blind community today.
Adaptability, Cleverness, Courage, Creativity, Critical Thinking-Problem Solving, Innovation, Optimism, Patience, Perseverance, Self Confidence and Self Control
Nonfiction
AR Reading Level 3.3
AR Point .5
Word Count 1763
Oscar, who is blind, teaches Lucy how to read his Braille book.
Patience
Fiction
AR Reading Level 1.1
AR Point .5
Word Count 120
A mouse’s courage pays off in a most unexpected way, transforming the offending birthmark into a badge of honor.
Courage
Fiction
AR Reading Level 3.4
AR Point .5
Word Count 744
One of the greatest joys I get comes from reading to my children.
But not just reading any story, certain stories.
Notable stories.
Stories that encourage, enlighten, inspire, influence and build awareness.
Stories that get us talking as a family.
We want to share these stories with you and hope you will share your stories with us.
My name is Christy and I have been enjoying every minute of digging for great stories and reading to my kids for 11 years. My oldest is 11, and now our fifth- is 6 six weeks.
In this conquest for great stories, Joeli, my sister has been right there with me. Although she’s in Oklahoma and I’m in Florida, together we have read thousands of children’s stories– always on the lookout for the next great one. Our excitement over finding a fantastic story never lessens.
“You’re the same today as you’ll be in five years except for the people you meet and the books you read” Charlie Jones
UpliftStories 