Sam and the Lucky Money Literature Guide
We all recognize the joy of Sam who has money to spend any way he chooses. Sam has to make a difficult decision as he browses the toy store and the bakery. This book will spark a discussion about feeling lucky with what we have and helping others in creative and small ways. Sam's story encourages us to examine the benefits of sharing and discuss how it feels to give.
Before Reading
ASK: What would you do if you received four dollars to spend your way? Do you have a sense of what $4 will buy?
SHOW: Look at the picture on the first page of the story and discuss how Sam feels about the money inside the leisees (red envelopes). Notice his loving family.
CONNECT: Think about how you feel on a special holiday. This is a special holiday for Sam. He is excited and eager for what is to come. This year is especially exciting because he gets to choose how to spend his money.
During Reading
ASK: How does Sam feel when he steps on the man’s bare feet? How does he respond?
SHOW: Sam lives in an English-speaking country but he is in Chinatown on Chinese New Year’s Day. Notice that the woman at the bakery speaks to him in Chinese, but he doesn’t understand her. Look at the decorations and bright colors.
CONNECT: Have you ever felt the disappointment that Sam feels when he realizes that the $4 doesn’t buy the things he wants at the toy store? What happened? How does his mother respond to him?
After Reading
ASK: Why does Sam’s mother laugh when Sam says, “I know you can buy socks.” (Hint: look on the first page of the story.)
SHOW: Look at the final picture in the story. This picture shows how Sam feels about how he chose to spend his money. It also shows how his family feels about his decision. Describe how Sam feels.
CONNECT: Do you think Sam needed his mom’s permission to give the money to the man? Think of times you wouldn’t need permission to do something nice for someone else.
Activities
- Discuss the different ways members of your family feel lucky. Let each family member share an idea. Talk about a lucky day or a lucky find. Then think about the good things your family has that other people might not have (simple pleasures, love, warm clothes, etc.). Discuss times that family members felt that someone else was lucky. Talk about whether it is okay to say “you’re lucky” to another child. If it seems okay in some situations and not others, talk about the difference.
- Reread the parts of the story when Sam saw the old man. Talk about how Sam reacted to the man. Discuss how Sam must have been feeling when he reacted that way. Discuss how the man reacted to Sam each time. Connect this to personal experiences with seeing homeless people in your area and discuss how you feel in those situations. Discuss some possible ways to respond in the future.
- Get out a giant piece of paper and, as a family, make the longest list you can of small ways to say “I like you” to family and friends. Here are some ideas to get you started: bring someone a cookie, rub Mom’s back, offer to weed your grandma’s garden, sweep the floor, bring Dad a drink of water, offer to play your sister’s favorite game, smile at your brother, etc.
- Explore this Toolkit on Homelessness and Poverty for ways to support those experiencing homelessness in your community.
