We did it! We completed The Unfinished Angel! Make sure you get your certificates printed off and hand them out this week to celebrate your accomplishment.
And do you have Extra Credit by Andrew Clements all set to go for March? Head here to see the alternate reading list I chose for younger and older kids and you’ll be ready to kick off our 2nd month!
Fun to Watch
Enjoy these short clips: Sharon Creech talking about The Unfinished Angel, actual footage from the international school that gave her the inspiration (see if you can spot the old tower where the angel lives!), & Creech reading the pigeon scene!
Just click the images below to watch:
More Books By Sharon Creech
If your kids loved The Unfinished Angel, you might want to check out some of Creech’s other popular titles (all are in the 8-12 age range):
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Time to Collect Your Pledges!
Photo by Marilyn de Guehery, Love146
If you have gathered monthly pledges, this is the week to go back to your book club sponsors, let them know your reading results and the ways you’ve healed the world, and ask them to donate for the children in the Philippines!
If they’re giving $5 US equivalent or more, you can pass this link directly on to them so they can give online: https://donate.love146.org/bookclub146
If you have givers who prefer to donate at the end of the entire book club instead, that’s fine, too–as long as you’ll remember to follow up with them when we’re all done. We want to work together to see this gauge rise!
And speaking of the Philippines, Malaya* finished the book and has received her certificate as well. She also answered a few questions about her experience, and her responses have been translated into English for us here:
(Parents, it could be inspiring to read these out loud to your children.)
What are ways that Zola helps to heal her corner of the world in this book?
Zola is a good child. She wants every person to have joy, peace, and love. Zola helps people who have nothing to eat. She is ready to help those who are in need. She does not give up.”
How do you think you can help heal your corner of the world?
Even though I am young and small, I believe that I can do something good. Here in the Round Home where I live, I always do everything I can to help my fellow clients do the things that they find difficult to do.
I can also help the world by praying to God to guide every person in the world. I believe that we don’t need much intelligence or ability to do good. I am sure that even a simple thing can bring good to others and the world.”
How does reading inspire you? Is there some way this book touched your heart?
Every time I read, I learn so much, like proper English or Filipino. My vocabulary widens every time I read a book. When I read, I meet many people through the characters. In every story there are good and bad characters and I learn from their attitudes. Through them, I am inspired to emulate their good deeds, as well as to dream to be able to go to different places. Because of reading, I am inspired to read more.
In the book I read, I was able to relate to the term “people are strange” because the first thing that came to my mind was that there are many things happening in the world like drugs, abuse, and others. That is why I thank Love146 because they help me start a new life.”
* Name changed to honor and protect her identity
Time to share YOUR answers for a chance to win!
The kids and I sent Books for Africa this week as one of our heal the world challenges!
Remember that each child who shares a response to the questions below will be entered to win an extra $10 donation to Love146 on their behalf, as well as a gift to inspire them to keep healing the world:
- How did reading this book inspire you? (or) Which part of it especially touched your heart?
- How have you helped to heal your corner of the world this month? (Share from your list on your reading log!)
Your kids have through Sunday, March 5th to leave a response in the comment section on this page–we’ll contact the winner via email next week!
A Prize for All Club Members
We’re ALL winners because we’ve laughed and learned and helped others this month, and Around the World Stories wants to celebrate by giving us a free audio story (& discount codes) to listen to in conjunction with our project!
Click the image below to listen, download, & find out more:
And just in case you missed them–previous book club updates:
- The Unfinished Angel: Our 1st Feb update; Our 2nd Feb update
- The links to the book club printables (including your certificates!)
Now enter your answers below for your chance to share with others AND your chance to win! (One comment for each individual child is allowed.)
When I was reading the book I found a lot of inspiration from Zola because she never gave up, she wouldn’t take no for an answer, she was compassionate, and she made the children feel comfortable and cared for.
I helped heal the world this month by spending extra time with a couple of boys who are a few years younger than me. We were on a trip with friends and I spent extra time playing with them and making them feel special.
The part of the Unfinished Angel that inspired me to do good in the world was when Senora Divino and the other people of the town gathered toys and food and clothes for the children in the chicken coop. I felt really happy that Senora Divino was not as nasty as she had seemed.
I helped heal the world this month by befriending a girl who was feeling scared and lonely at a camp I attended. She and I had a lot in common and we became really good friends. I am usually a really shy person and I was really glad that we were reading the Unfinished Angel because what the Angel and Zola did for the children in the chicken coop helped give me the courage to make someone feel happy.
1. Because Zola does normal things but she’s also helpful. I also like the angel in it.
2. Setting the table.
Quinn, age 5
1- Even though the Angel was grumpy she still helped the kids. (Ellie, 12)
They helped the orphan kids. Even when they stole stuff. (Ethan, 8)
2- Helping my dad clean up after he was working on putting in new tile at our house. Because he doesn’t like to. (Ethan)
I took care of my neighbor’s dog for a week while they were out of town. (Ellie)
The part that touched my heart the most was when Zola and her father met the rest of their family and also when Zola told Angel about her brother.
I have helped heal my corner of the world by volunteering in the nursery at my church.
The part that touched my heart was when Zola told angel about her brother.
I help in my church in the nursery.
The part that I found inspiring was Zola’s insistence of the angel to “do something”! And I liked when she put the angel statue in the wall.
This month we are going to make a non-perishable food donation to our local food pantry. My Dad also made a donation to an elderly man who needed $ to stay in his house. (Katie, age 14)
Mirabella Lanthier: My favorite part was when they had they the table of toys and food for the children. After they had been so upset about having their things stolen, the villagers were so generous to give all these things to the kids. I liked the change in Signora Divino that she was throwing slugs in their yard but also was so tender towards the kids- feeding them raviolis.
Jonah Lanthier: My favorite part was when all the kids yelled ‘ Papa, Papa!’
Asher Lanthier: I saved the cupcake with pink icing for my sister because I thought she would like it. (how I have helped heal my corner of the world)
The part that I thought was inspiring is when Angel was upset that Zola kept calling the bright light a pigeon and Angel said,” even though I am upset that Zola is calling the light a pigeon I have to be a nice pigeon and let her keep talking.” So Angel was still being polite so I can be like that too.
And I have helped to heal the corner of the world by not using Styrofoam and wasting it and instead I used paper bags to take food home from restaurants. And I am also collecting money for the Round Home.
~Madeline age 11
This book inspired me to be like Zola, always trying to help people who need it and never giving up. One way i helped heal the world is picking up trash with my Grandma and putting more money in the basket at Church. And collecting money for the Round Home.
~Savannah age 10
Eva (age 10)
1. How Zola helped the kids
2. Collecting money for awanas clubs in other countries
Hannah (age 11)
1. I can make a difference even though I’m young.
2. Volunteering time to help at our church
Abbye (age 13)
1. The dad welcomed the kids instead of sending them away.
2. I organized my mom’s drawers at home.
Neil (age 8)
1. I liked when she took care of the children even though they weren’t her’s and she didn’t know where they were from.
2. I helped at our church with organizing craft supplies.
1) Zola and the angel helping the kids inspired us.
2)Hugged mom a lot
Mom’s favorite part was when the angel says that, “Sometimes peoples need angels and sometimes angels need peoples…sometimes old peoples need young peoples and sometimes young peoples need old peoples.”
1) My heart was touched when Signora Divino fed the children ravioli.
2) I made my dada two flowers out of paper, I gave my mama a necklace, I made Josie a notebook, and gave Anna paper to write on. I also made my mama’s bed and helped pick up my neighbors trash can.
Ella, age 6
Zola wants to help everyone and she wants the angel to help everyone: “Angel, DO something!” I really like the part when they were helping the children. I also really liked that it was set in Switzerland, as we also live in Switzerland and I liked the Italian words (even though I speak German). I heal my corner of the world by playing with refugee children at a local refugee center twice a month.
– Yael, age 10
The part of the book that really touched my heart was when the orphans got the food, toys and clothes. This month, I helped heal the world by helping at an event for Rise Against Hunger. I also visited an elderly friend who was in the hospital, and I invited a widow over for lunch.
My favorite part was reading about the mountains. They sounded really pretty.
I gave money to buy hats and scarves and gloves for people in Alaska.
The part of the book that warmed my heart was when Zola made the doll for Signora Mondopoco before she died. This month, I helped the world by donating to our church from my own money, and I made extra effort to help clean up at a event we went to.
I like how the villagers offered the food and toys and stuff to the children. The villagers were angry at them because they stole, and then they went from feeling mad at them to being nice to them. I helped heal the world by reading and by giving my money to the work our church does.
I liked when Signoro Pomodoro was crying because the children were saying, “Papa, Papa.” It made my heart sing because he could have said, “shoo, shoo, get out of my house.” To heal the world, I made special effort to do a good job on my chores and shared my money with my church.
I loved when the angel helped the children by making the people want to help them. To heal the world, I made pictures for my family and fed the dog his dinner.
Elizabeth: 1) I liked the story about the chocolate. 2)Taught people how to knit hats for the needy and helped around the house.
Matthew:
1) The part with the dog.
2)Helped around the house, planned a service project, sent Valentines cards to some folks that might be lonely.