Fifteen Dollars and Thirty-Five Cents: A story about choices (I’m a Great Little Kid)

During recess, Joseph finds three five-dollar bills and two coins, one quarter and one dime: fifteen dollars and thirty five cents. His friend Devon suggests to turn them in, but Joseph refuses. On the way to class, they see their friend Lin in tears, and later find out that Lin has lost fifteen dollars and thirty five cents that she had saved to buy a present for her mom’s birthday. Devon feels terrible for her; Joseph does too but is afraid to say anything, because everyone may think he had stolen it. The teacher sees that Devon is upset and talks to him. He does not want to tell on Joseph, but he wants to help Lin. The teacher invites him to think: if it was his money, what would want people to do? Devon talks to Joseph and asks him to do the right thing. The teacher has left him an envelope and left the class empty for a few minutes. Joseph decides to put the money back in the envelope and on Lin’s desk. When the children are back to class, everyone is happy: Lin, her friends for her, the teacher, but mostly Devon and especially Joseph, who did the right thing. I really liked this book, it showed how happy everyone can be when they do the right thing.