Spectacular Stone Soup

New Kids at the Polk Street School #5

by Patricia Reilly Giff, Blanche Sims (Illustrator)

"You never help people," Jiwon says.

Her friend is right. Stacy can't remember the last time she'd helped anyone! Now Mrs. Zachary wants her class to be people-helpers and prepare a Spectacular Stone Soup together.

Stacy works hard to be helpful, but no one seems to notice. Can quick thinking and a bunch of onions turn her into a spectacular people-helper?

80 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1988

About the author

Patricia Reilly Giff was the author of many beloved books for children, including the Kids of the Polk Street School books, the Friends and Amigos books, and the Polka Dot Private Eye books. Several of her novels for older readers have been chosen as ALA-ALSC Notable Books and ALA-YALSA Best Books for Young Adults. They include The Gift of the Pirate Queen; All the Way Home; Water Street; Nory Ryan's Song, a Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators Golden Kite Honor Book for Fiction; and the Newbery Honor Books Lily's Crossing and Pictures of Hollis Woods. Lily's Crossing was also chosen as a Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Book.

Reviews

[Kaye · Rating 3 out of 5]

This would be a good story to use to teach students about teamwork. I would have the students work together in groups of three to write a story about helping others. One person would be in charge of writing the story, another would be in charge of editing and the third would be in charge of reading it to the class.

[Erika · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute book from a spinoff series (from Giff's Polk Street series). I remember enjoying these as a kid, but they seem a little sparse now, but what can you expect from a book that's 75 pages long? A good early chapter book.

[Kayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this is a good story for children to read. It's about a young girls struggle to help people are her and I think that it is for for children to learn about helping others around them. I like how the story shows different ways that the students in the school can help each other.

[Megan Skyrm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like all good books there is a problem and a plan to fix the problem. This would be a great way to introduce working as a team player and that everyone has something to contribute.

[Eireanne]

On the suggested summer reading list for students.

[Victorb · Rating 2 out of 5]

Stacy hong up her cout. On wensday she lost it.