PPBF: The Giant Makes The Team

Today's PPBF scores a goal in my playbook.

Title: The Giant Makes The Team

Author: Linda Koons

Illustrator: Jennifer Harney

Publisher: Carson-Dellosa Publishing

Date: September 1, 2013

Suitable for: K-3rd

Fiction

Themes: attitude, perseverance, optimism

Brief Synopsis: Giant would like to be successful at a sport, but which one will be the best fit? Will he need a tennis racquet, a bowling ball, a golf club some goggles, or a helmet? Have students predict what he'll be best at, then watch and see what happens as the Giant's story unfolds.

Opening page:

The Giant stared at the pink clock on the wall. Good, just a few more minutes until Alex gets home, he thought.

Resources:

Click {here} to take a peek inside the book on Google Books.

Click {here} for the Carson-Dellosa Teacher Activity Guide.

Try the cool Icy Perseverance idea and more from North Carolina {here}.
Check out these perseverance activities from Keller ISD {here}.
Click {here} to compare and contrast The Giant with The Greatest, 
an optimism PSA from The Foundation For A Better Life.

Why I like this book:  Just look at how adorable Giant is in our character case! This book is such a winner because of its embedded message to never, ever give up. After trying a few and failing at them all, the Giant could have easily quit sports because it doesn't seem like any sport will suit him. But the Giant hangs in there until he finds the one activity that seems to fit. All too often, our kids give up on something because it's too challenging at their first or second go of it. I like the idea of sticking with something until you find what fits, even if it's not {gasp} a sport. Band anyone?

Have I piqued your interest? Then you'll be excited to learn that this is actually just one in a series of four tales about the lovable Giant. Click the book cover graphic above to check them all out. My friends at Carson-Dellosa are actually sending some along with me to give away at my breakout session at the Character Education Partnership's National Forum October 24-26, 2013. If you're there, stop by my Character Is Our Super Power session on Friday and volunteer to participate for your chance to win.

In fact, I have three softcover copies of one of The Giant's tales to give away; 
I'll send them to the first three people who comment on today's post. 
{Leave your email if you think it'll be hard for me to track you down.}  

To enrich this book's theme, show this powerful 
NEGU (Never Ever Give Up) 
clip from our friends at Soul Pancake featuring my 
perseverance pick, Kid President himself.

And don't forget that you've got until 10 pm central tonight to comment on the Bucket Filling From A-Z post for your chance to win a soft-cover, 
author-signed copy of Carol McCloud's new treasure.

Then head to Susanna Leonard Hill's blog {here} for today's PPBF selections and to see how you can add a title to that amazing list.