cover image Giving Box

Giving Box

Fred Rogers. Running Press Kids, $12.95 (96pp) ISBN 978-0-7624-0825-2

Fred Rogers, the host of Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood, helps parents to teach children lessons of generosity and community with The Giving Box, illus. by Jennifer Herbert, designed to ""create a tradition of giving with your children."" A hand-size hardcover comes packaged with a small painted tin bank in which children can save coins to donate to the needy. The book contains fables from around the world that convey a tradition of giving (e.g., the Hebrew tale of ""The Brothers,"" about two siblings who secretly help each other without the other's knowledge; Aesop's ""The Lion and the Mouse""), as well as a letter to parents, a letter to children and instructions on how to use the box--not just at Christmastime but year round. (Running Press, $12.95 96p ages 7-up ISBN 0-7624-0825-1; Dec.)