"We don't have much, but remember, there's always someone who is worse off than you are. So count your lucky stars that you've got what you've got."

The Lucky Star
by Judy Young
Kids Wings Award Book

Have you ever wondered what kind of a world your great-grandparents grew up in? How was it like yours? How was it different from yours?

When times are hard for you, do you have someone who points out your lucky stars?

The Lucky Star by Judy Young will give you a snapshot of what it was like to grown up in the 1930s, during The Great Depression when times were hard. You will get to read about nine-year-old Ruth whose daddy lost his job and had to take a new job with the Civilian Conservation Corps. His new job took him far away from home but let him send most of the money he made back to his family. Ruth was a top student in school. She knew the value of reading and was looking forward to going into the fourth grade when she heard that the school had been closed. There was no money to keep it open.

Ruth's mother showed her how to count her blessings...she called them lucky stars, but the darkness kept hiding them from Ruth. Her mother had to take a job, and she herself, couldn't read, so Ruth worried about her little sister who was supposed to start school next year. How would Janie ever learn to read?

Ruth struggled to understand, but finally realized that SHE could be her little sister's lucky star! What do you think Ruth did?

This story of family struggles in the Great Depression paints a gloomy picture that suddenly brightens as a big sister teaches her little sister and her friends to learn how to read in the most unique way!

The 15 pages of activities in the Kids Wing lesson plans for The Lucky Star by Judy Young provide extension and problem solving for your students who will learn about the Great Depression, character building in a child's effort to help her sibling, and the blessing she and her family receive for her efforts. This teachers' guide for this award-winning picture book with beautiful full-page paintings by Chris Ellison integrates the curriculum with drama, problem solving, group activities, research, math, and editing and revision in writien. All children, including gifted and talented students will love the challenge and inspiration of this fine story.