giveaway · holiday · mentor texts · Read Aloud

Needs vs. Wants + 2 Book Giveaways

Stacey Shubitz

Every morning I receive an e-mail from Zulily.com, which entices me with products for my baby, who is supposed to arrive early next month.  Zulily always has fantastic merchandise (e.g., clothes, toys, accessories) at a discount price daily.  I want to buy nearly everything I see.  However, I realize that I don’t need most of the things I want to buy, which is why I’ve only purchased from Zulily once since I began subscribing to their daily deal emails.

I think a lot about “my needs” vs. “my wants.”  They’re very different things.  Sometimes we can confuse ourselves by thinking we need something, when in reality, it’s just something we want.  It’s the same with kids, especially at this time of year.  Many kids want expensive games, gadgets, and toys, which their parents simply cannot afford.  Some children understand the realities of their family’s financial situation, while others don’t.  Therefore, as educators, it’s important for us to discuss the concept of needs vs. wants in the classrooms.

There are two read alouds, Charlie and Lola: I Really, REALLY Need Actual Ice Skates and THOSE SHOES, that are ideal for broaching the needs vs. wants concept with your students.  Charlie and Lola: I Really, REALLY Need Actual Ice Skates is a relatively new book, while THOSE SHOES has been around for a few years (click here to read some of the things I’ve blogged about, with regard to THOSE SHOES in the past).   Each one deals with a child who wants, but doesn’t need, a particular type of footwear.  However, even though they deal with ice skates and the “in” sneakers, the idea of wanting something that one doesn’t actually need can be translated to anything on a child’s holiday wish list.

Here are some excerpts from both books so you can get an idea of how one of the two books deals with the topic of needs vs. wants.

Charlie and Lola: I Really, REALLY Need Actual Ice Skates

Click on the image to enlarge.
Click on the image to enlarge.

THOSE SHOES

Click on the image to enlarge.
Click on the image to enlarge.
Click on the image to enlarge.

Not only can you read these books aloud to your students, you can use them to inspire some introspective, holiday-related notebook writing about what one needs vs. what one wants at this time of year.  Perhaps, after reading Charlie and Lola: I Really, REALLY Need Actual Ice Skates and Those Shoes aloud to your students, they will realize that what they really need at this time of year are people that love them, which is much more fulfilling than any new game system ever will be.

GIVEAWAY INFORMATION:

  • Penguin Young Readers Group and Candlewick Press are giving away one copy of Charlie and Lola: I Really, REALLY Need Actual Ice Skates and THOSE SHOES, respectively.
  • To win a copy of the book please leave a comment about this post, in the comments section of this post by Thursday, December 16th by 11:59 p.m. EST A random drawing will take place on Sunday, December 19th and the winner’s name will be announced in a blog post later that day.
  • Please be sure to leave a valid e-mail address when you post your comment so I can contact you to obtain your mailing address.  If your name is selected, then I will pass your mailing address on to my contacts at Penguin and Candlewick who will ship the books out.  Please note: Your e-mail address will not be published online.

PERMISSIONS:

  • Charlie and Lola: I Really, REALLY Need Actual Ice Skates by Lauren Child.  Copyright © 2010.
    • Used with permission of Dial Books for Young Readers, a division of Penguin Young Readers Group.
  • THOSE SHOES.  Text copyright © 2007 Maribeth Boelts.  Illustrations copyright © 2007 Noah Z. Jones.
    • Reproduced by permission of the publisher, Candlewick Press, Somerville, MA.



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Published by Stacey Shubitz

Stacey Shubitz is a K-6 literacy consultant and former elementary teacher. She is the author of CRAFT MOVES and other professional books on writing workshop. Her forthcoming book, MAKE THE SCHOOL SYSTEM WORK FOR YOUR CHILD WITH DISABILITIES (Guilford Press, 2026), empowers parents to navigate the special education system.

48 thoughts on “Needs vs. Wants + 2 Book Giveaways”

  1. Pingback: Needs vs. Wants Book Giveaways — Winner Announcement « TWO WRITING TEACHERS

  2. I love Charlie and Lola, what believable characters. I have a little Lola at my home. I just found your blog and loooove it (as my little Lola would say).

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  3. I am a huge fan of Charlie and Lola…what voice! Those Shoes is an invaluable classroom treasure that kids will want to return to again and again. Thank you as always for your inspired ideas!

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  4. I LOVE children’s books and these 2 look wonderful. I am always looking for children’s books to use in the content area for my middle schoolers. Thank you so much for the titles!

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  5. Thanks for these book suggestions – I LOVE Charlie and Lola – the stories are fun, the dialogue is very relatable and the illustration style is fantastic – I’m not familiar with Those Shoes – but this looks like a great book also

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  6. I can make another writing connection to these books, though not specifically about wants vs. needs. –Last year I started my writing unit by having my 4th and 5th graders think of a message they wanted to share with others and then write a picture book that conveyed this message. We examined how professional writers convey a message through telling a story. I definitely have some tweaking I could do to the unit, but these two picture books sound like they’d fit well as mentor texts for a unit like this.

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  7. These are great! I love the idea of using this as an introduction to a persuasive writing unit. It’s amazing how applicable picture books can be for any grade level! 🙂

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  9. What a pertinent story and blog reflection for this time of the year. It is so very important that we all understand the true meaning of Christmas. Books are such a powerful way to get a message out there.

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  11. I echo the posts above mine – perfect books for social studies as well as this time of the year. (any time of the year really!) And yes…I WANT them too! 🙂

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  13. These books are now on my “want” list! But I feel like I “need” them. If it is this hard for me, I can imagine how hard needs vs. wants is for kids at this time of year!!!! Thanks for bringing these books to life on your website. Absolutely am addicted to the website.

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  14. In today’s society this is such an important concept to teacher children. Having books to introduce and invite discussion opens doors for in depth learning. I am planning on having students create a cartoon based on wants vs. needs. Thanks for the info.

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  17. Great books to build an understanding around needs and wants! These books are a must-have for primary teachers. You have the best suggestions!

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  18. My 8th grade E/LA students love when I read aloud to them. I do this to introduce a topic. Wants vs Needs will be covered in our Persuasive Writing unit. “Charlie and Lola: I Really, REALLY Need Actual Ice Skates and THOSE SHOES” will certainly be helpful. Super!

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  19. Great book choices! Needs vs. wants is a difficult topic to understand at any age! Another great addition to these titles is Dr. Laura Schlessinger’s book titled “But I Waaannt It!” Sammy learns that things do not have the power to make us happy! Thanks!

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  22. The idea of need v. want is an important topic to address, especially at this time of year. Reading aloud books such as these would make it much easier for children to understand. I am definitely going to check these titles out.

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  23. Both of these books sound wonderful for teaching the concepts of wants vs. needs in our economy unit! Plus both books could be used as mentor text in writer’s workshop. I not only want, but need these books! If I don’t win them, I’ll be buying them.

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  24. Those Shoes is one of my all time favorite picture books and I use it during both reading and writing workshop! I have not read the Charlie and Lola book, but it sounds like a perfect match to read and compare with Those Shoes! I can imagine the great whole class conversations around the book already! I would love a copy!

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  25. I love Charlie and Lola! In first grade, we’re talking about needs and wants right now related to animals and habitats. This book would be a perfect tie in. Thank.

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  28. I’m pretty sure that, as teachers, we can all acknowledge that Christmas break is a NEED! 🙂

    This is a great topic; I teach in a district with a very high SES, so students don’t have much concept of needs vs. wants. Many of them get pretty much everything they want. I come back from break to hear about their new iPads and HDTVs and laptops and PS3s… And they drop the word “need” in relation to all these things.

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  29. Those Shoes can be used for MANY things within both the Writing and the Reading Workshop. I don’t have it but I’ve heard Debbie Miller use it as well as many of my teachers. Glad to know about the other one as well!

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  34. I love Charlie and Lola — I would love to incorporate these titles into the social studies unit that I teach my students about needs and wants, a standard in my state. Thanks for the great lesson idea!

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  36. We teach basic needs vs. wants/desires in our Social Studies / Economics unit. It’s amusing to hear what they think they need. Although my heart does melt a little bit every time one of them suggests that love is a basic need. 🙂 I tend to agree with them even though it’s not on the official list.

    I don’t need these books, but I really want them!

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  37. What an original and thought provoking concept for children to engage in. So many times they do not realize how much they have and how much other do not have. These books would be wonderful read and think alouds for any season and could teach some life-long and valuable lessons.

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  38. I’m always looking for new books! I’ve purchased many of the books you recommend. These will be added to the list! The other teachers in my building love your ideas as well! Thank you!!!

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  39. I love this topic. My 6 & 4 year old struggle to recognize their “needs”. I have read Those Shoes to my students, and they were struck by the fact that he was willing to wear shoes that were too small just because they were cool. We had some great discussions about how clothing can lead to bullying as well.

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  40. I really enjoyed when you spoke at the Silver Academy and used Those Shoes as an example, it gave me some great ideas on how to read with my own children:) great book!

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  42. Needs and wants is one of our 1st grade standards, and it’s a tough thing to teach, especially with very low-income kids. I will look for these books!

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  43. Looks like two more books to add to my holiday wish list! Thanks for the great suggestions! (By the way, thanks for the tip about the actual blog post!)

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  44. I would love to have these books in my classroom. I have a lot of students we need to hear these stories as well as many who live them everyday.

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  45. I love the Charlie and Lola books! Kids really identify with them. Also, love the conversations that have come out of “Those Shoes”. Kids are really able to connect with that book and discuss the character’s feelings.

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  47. I adore Charlie and Lola, and the topic of needs and wants is always relevant. Those Shoes is a book that children can identify with, and also builds awareness. Thank-you for this opportunity!

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