Lucky Beans by Becky Birtha

Set during the Great Depression, Lucky Beans tells the story of an African American family surviving during this time.  As the title indicates beans play a significant role in this story and are the staple for many dinnertime meals eaten by the family.  Marshall and his younger brother are on the way to school when they pass a furniture store and notice a sign advertising a bean-guessing contest.  The closest guess wins a sewing machine.  Marshall had seen his mother eyeing this machine that cost a whopping $23.95, and knows this is not an amount his mother can afford.  Marshall knows that if his mother could win the machine this would help the family as she would be able to mend more.  Marshall and his mother use their math skills and the large amount of beans he often complains about to enter a guess into the contest.

The setting of this book may be unfamiliar to most children.  However with current economic conditions some youth may have overheard or been a part of conversation with adults talking about the Depression.  Children are also introduced to listening to programs on the radio instead of watching TV.  Lucky Beans does a great job of highlighting a family and focusing on the positive aspects during this troubling time for many.  Children will be able to relate and laugh at Marshall’s “Beans! Again? (Birtha 3).  The illustrations are very detailed, capturing the facial expressions and emotions of each character. 

I would recommend this book to children that I know enjoy a heartwarming story about families, children interested in math or contests, and history.  I believe that this book is most appropriate for children in grades 4 and up due to the content and the need to answer some questions regarding the Great Depression and the effect it had on families.  There may also be conversation about the treatment between races.

This book could be used in the library during a math and literacy activity or program.  A similar contest could be held in the library to encourage math skills. The librarian could also recommend to classroom teachers when teaching estimating and to show the importance of learning math.