Babushka's Doll

Written by: Patricia Polacco

First line: It wasn’t that Natasha was a truly naughty child.

Why you should read this book: A typically self-centered little girl, Natasha demands that Babushka satisfy all her demands right now and refuses to understand any delay, despite her grandmother’s long list of necessary chores. Then Babushka lets her play with an old doll that comes to life and runs the little girl ragged in just the same way that she treats her grandmother. This story is much more effective than a lecture in teaching empathy and helping children understand how their behavior affects adults.

Why you shouldn’t read this book: You know that other people were put on this earth to serve you.