Customer Reviews

Lucky Beans

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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

Marshall is sick of the beans his African-American family often eats during the Great Depression. But beans turn out to be lucky. With help from his mother and his schoolteacher, Marshall figures out how many beans are in a huge jar in the furniture store window, and the family wins a sewing machine. This book depicts a boy who learns from the women in his life. Kids will enjoy learning about history and math from this gentle, funny book.

I have included this book in my online Gender Equality Bookstore.

Marshall knew that times were tough, but that did not really help him feel any more grateful to see the pot of beans cooking on the stove. After all, they ate beans just about every night. Like many households, the Great Depression had hit Marshall's family hard with the loss of his father's job, the cramped living situation after his relatives moved in, and the shortage of money for food and clothes.

Those beans, though, took on a whole different meaning when Marshall spotted a sign in a store window challenging people to guess how many beans were in the enormous pickle jar. The winner would take home a brand new sewing machine worth $23.95. Although Marshall desperately wanted to help his mother win that prize, he knew they had to overcome two obstacles. Not only did they need to make a better guess than everyone else, they also had to find out if the storeowner would even allow a woman of color to win the contest.

Based on real events in the life of the author's grandmother, this new book helps today's generation of young readers better understand the difficult economic times and the racial discrimination of the Great Depression years. With illustrations that beautifully match the text's subtle humor and grace, Lucky Beans is an ideal choice when seeking picture books that are rich in substantive content.