Makayla Cares about Others

Plot Summary

Makayla loves to fix all kinds of things, and thanks to the toolbox Grandpa gave her, she’s ready to mend anything she can. When Aunt Karen’s turtle figurine broke or when Mr. Bell’s bird-feeder fell off the tree, Makayla was there to help.

On her way to Grandpa’s one day, Makayla sees her neighbor planting a memory garden in honor of her cat who passed away. Makayla cares about Mrs. MacFee and knows that she should help with the garden, but there are bugs in the garden, and Makayla is terrified of bugs!

When Makayla leaves Mrs. MacFee alone in her garden, she feels sad that she can’t help her neighbor. Then, she begins to think about how her grandpa still takes her to their favorite ice-cream shop, even though he can’t eat sweets anymore. Makayla realizes that caring is about doing nice things for other people, even when you don’t have to and when it’s hard to do. Makayla returns to Mrs. MacFee’s garden, determined to overcome her fear of bugs in order to help plant the garden.

This story in the “The Way I Act” series shows readers the importance of kindness and compassion. Virginia Kroll lives in New York. Nancy Cote, who lives in Massachusetts, adds her warm illustrations.

Reviews

"Though the message is what matters most in this series from—how we best ought to carry ourselves (honesty, responsibility, respect and forgiveness being some of the topics covered)—all the good intentions would fall flat without an appealing storyline. Fortunately, Kroll takes the barebones message about doing things for others even when you don’t have to, even when it is hard to, and drapes it on the sympathetic shoulders of Makayla. Makayla likes to fix things: a broken branch, a cracked tchotchke, things young readers could fix as well. But to mend a neighbor’s heart—her old cat just died—Makayla will have to overcome a dread of bugs to help plant a memorial garden. Her fuel is personal gumption, a sense of caring and some advice from Grandpa. Cote’s sunny colors add the right —touches for a story that feels just right." Kirkus Reviews

"The illustrations portray Makayla pondering the problem and overcoming her concern. Pictures vary in size, which keep readers' focus. This book is useful for discussing concern for others, but it also can stand alone as an enjoyable story." School Library Journal

"The shiny artwork with its look of an animated television show will be familiar to kids. It's the message about caring, however, told in a way listeners will understand, that is the heart of this book, an entry in the Way I Act series." Booklist

Associated Keywords
character, education, character education, kindness, compassion, caring, 4945-2, 49452