The Courage Seed

1. Author: Jean Richardson
2. Title: The Courage Seed
3. Illustrator: Pat Finney
4. Genre: Realistic Fiction
5. Subgenre: Cultures
6. Theme: We all have courage within us if we simply believe in ourselves.
7. Primary Characters: Mary, Aunt Betsy, Night Singer
8. Secondary Characters: Mary's parents, Mrs. Lasater
9. Award/Date: None/1993
10. Publisher: Eakin Press
11. Summary: A young girl, Mary, loses her parents because of a car accident. She is forced to move in with her Aunt Betsy. While struggling with losing her parents, she also struggles with the idea of going to school with people who probably wouldn't accept her. With her grandfather's previous advice and finally giving things a shot, she discovers the children there are from other places around the world and are from different cultures.
12. How used: This story can teach children to give things a chance. We all have a little courage in us if we just simply try to find it. Mary not only discovers it is ok to be herself, but she opens herself up to other cultures, like what our students will need to learn as well.