The Golden Plate by Bernadette Watts c2014 NorthSouth Books Inc.

Elizabeth had a beautiful Doll’s House. It had a tiny telephone table with a tiny telephone. It had every convenience a doll might want and many elegant extras. One of these was a golden serving plate. Isobel, who lived nearby, enjoyed playing with Elizabeth and her Doll’s House. Isobel’s own dolls had to make do with a serviceable home made out of a bookcase. Perhaps it could use a tiny update, so, after a visit to Elizabeth’s house, the golden plate left in Isobel’s pocket. It began to feel heavy on her walk home….

You will find many of Bernadette Watt’s books in the j398.2 section of your library. Her renditions of well known folk and fairy tales are lovingly illustrated with dreamy colors and lots of details for a child on your lap to study. Her work shows a deep appreciation for beauty. Probably there will be another post featuring her “Three Little Pigs”, “Bremen Town Musicians” and others. Today we celebrate one of her original stories. “The Golden Plate” is a gentle and sensitive handling of covetousness. It is a good one to read to your class after a dispute over property. It might also serve as a preventative! The solution to Isobel’s problem and kindness of the characters in this story were satisfying to my first grade listeners. I had a stack of possible titles to share this week, and this one kept creeping into my thoughts. Check your local library for a copy to read to any 5-to-8-year-olds at your house.