Like so many people during the Great Depression of the 1930s, Marshall Loman's dad has lost his job. There's little money, but there are plenty of beans-in fact, Ma cooks them for supper every single night! Beans start looking better when Marshall sees the contest posted in the furniture store window. HOW MANY BEANS ARE IN THE JAR? WIN THIS BRAND NEW SEWING MACHINE! Ma needs that sewing machine-but how can Lomans possibly guess right? Then Marshall remembers something he learned in arithmetic class. Becky Birtha's engaging story, based on her grandmother's memories of Depression years in the African American community, is illustrated by Nicole Tadgell's expressive paintings.
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Editorial Reviews
From Booklist
Math and wry comedy mix in this lively historical story based on Birtha’s grandmother’s memories of life during the Depression. Young Marshall describes his African American family’s hardship when Dad loses his job and then his relatives crowd into Marshall’s room. Worst of all are the beans Ma constantly cooks. Then a local furniture store makes an exciting offer: whoever guesses the number of beans in a huge jar on display will win a new sewing machine. If only Marshall could win the prize for Ma so that she could earn money by sewing. He works out a system to estimate (not guess) by counting the number of beans that fill a quart jar, and how many quarts fill up a crock . . . and his formula works! The expressive watercolor paintings show both the racism that Marshall and his family endure as well as his final triumph, and Tadgell folds in humor, as Marshall faces what looks like a lifetime supply of beans. An informative final note fills in more about the era’s history. Grades 1-3. --Hazel Rochman
Review
"Math and wry comedy mix in this lively historical story based on Birtha's grandmother's memories of life during the Depression." Booklist
"Young readers thus will discover fun, realistic applications for the estimating and multiplication skills they learn in their classrooms. Math is not the only subject in Birtha's lively lesson plan, though....Lucky Beans can be used across the curriculum to educate while it entertains. Ideal for classrooms and school libraries, it's also a strong choice for public libraries." School Library Journal
"The family works together to survive and finds moments of love, appreciation and sheer happiness....Tadgell's watercolor illustrations move the story and stir readers' emotions. A two-page spread of the contestants in the store teaches readers everything they need to know about the characters without a letter of text." Kirkus Reviews
"With its math and social studies elements, this will be a practical book for schools, but it's also a welcome addition to the growing number of picture books about families getting through difficult economic times." Horn Book Magazine
"This heartwarming story provides young readers a lesson in addition and multiplication and reveals a family's perseverance to make the best of life's circumstances. Lucky Beans is based on stories about the author's grandmother during the Depression. Tadgell's pastel-like illustratoins bring genuine warmth to this story." Multicultural Review
"This story is fitting for today's economic times, and along with the social studies and math connection, it will be welcome in any classroom...Soft watercolors bring to life the 1930s and the warmth of togetherness of a loving African-American family."
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beans, beans, beans . . . it was always beans, but just maybe yucky beans could be lucky beans!,
This review is from: Lucky Beans (Hardcover)
The streets and sidewalks were a snowy mess and the cold winds seemed to go right through Marshall Loman's old clothes and chill him to the bone. He raced up the three short steps of the family home shouting, "What's for dinner, Ma? I'm starving!" His eyes widened as his took the cover off a large pot. Beans, beans, beans . . . it was always beans. His Ma said they were lucky to have them, but every night made him want to hate them. The house was filling up with relatives and to make it worse he had to "share a room with his little brother and sister, Tommy and Patsy." Even their clothes were wearing out, but his mother had hope in President Roosevelt. Perhaps he could help everyone because he was "on the poor people's side."
The next day when Marshall and Tommy were passing by Kaplan's Furniture Store he spotted something very interesting in the window. There was a new sewing machine and a huge jar of beans. Beans, beans, beans . . . it was always beans. This time though, these beans might just help the family. Anyone who could guess how many beans in the jar would win the sewing machine. There was a lot of thinking to do and Marshall would have to think about what he learned in school. There were 333 beans in one cup, four cups equal a quart . . . with Marshall's help, would his mother guess the right number of beans in that humongous jar? This is a heartwarming story about a young boy during the Depression years who learned that those yucky beans were really lucky beans. The scenario, loosely based on a tale relayed to the author by her grandmother, is reminiscent of many stories told by those who lived during those hard times. The story gives off an aura of hope as we see a family who is living and working together to ensure the family's welfare. Marshall, like any other boy, was portrayed very realistically and we know exactly what he likes, dislikes, and what his dreams were. The artwork was expressive and, with the little touches, brought back the good times families had during the Depression. In the back is an author's note that gives a brief overview of the Depression years.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Lucky You When You Read this Book!,
By
This review is from: Lucky Beans (Hardcover)
It's the middle of the Great Depression and Marshall's family is struggling just to survive. They eat beans every night. A prize sewing machine is offered in a contest, and maybe, just maybe, with the help of math, beans, and a little belief, everything will work out just fine.
As a nanny I'm constantly on the lookout for books that will appeal to my young charges. This book will definitely do so. I love how it tells an engaging yet heartwarming story. It teaches dual lessons about the power of belief as well as the beauty of estimation. It resonates with any reader who has ever eaten beans more than they would like to, and may just have your kids clamoring to taste them. Because of all of these aspects, it will appeal to kids as young as 4 and as old as 11. I also appreciate the historical references to both the Great Depression as well as discrimination.
4.0 out of 5 stars
Lots of good "stuff",
By
This review is from: Lucky Beans (Hardcover)
I loved this book. It teaches children about history, the great depression, segregation at a time when African Americans did not always share the same opportunities as caucasions, about doing without, about determination and... as an added bonus, using math skills. The ending was happy with a delightful litte twist. This book is sure to make you smile and the illustrations are wonderful.
~DeeDee Fox, author and illustrator, The Ruby Red Slippers
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