April 30th is National Honesty Day

April 30th is National Honesty Day

Arthur’s Classroom Fib
by Marc Brown

On the first day of school, Mr. Ratburn gives everyone the homework of writing a report about their summer vacations. Arthur’s friends all did exciting things like Buster a Muffy taking trips on ships and airplanes, Francine’s summer at tennis camp, and Binky’s trip to Disney World. Arthur knows that his summer was very boring compared to everyone else’s. That night, he decides to exaggerate a story where he rescues his sister D.W. from drowning, an octopus, and a shark. After reading the story aloud, D.W. tells him that it is a fib, and that he would get into trouble if he used it as his report. Will Arthur share the exaggerated story with everyone, or will he tell the real truth about his summer?















Princess K.I.M. and the Lie that Grew
by Maryann Cocca-Leffler

Kim was starting her first day of school in a new town, and she was afraid that the other children would not like her. Her father tells her that they will if she will just be herself. Whenever the teacher introduces Kim to the other students, one girl replies that her name is also Kim. Kim wanted everyone to like her so she told a little lie. She said that her name was K.I.M. for Katherine Isabella Marguerite. She also told the teacher that she was from a royal family, and the teacher bowed to her. The other children gathered around her later, and she decided to lie a little bit more. She told them that she was a princess, and that her grandmother is a queen. The children see her walking to school with her father who is wearing a suit, and as he hands Kim her lunch, he calls her princess. The children then really do believe that Kim is a princess. The other children then start doing little things for Kim, such as opening the door, carrying things, and giving Kim their lunches. Soon Kim is asked by the other students for autographs and pictures, and her lie keeps getting bigger and bigger. Then she tells everyone that her grandmother is coming to town. The other children really want to meet the queen. Will the other children find out about her lies? Will they still want to be her friends after they find out the truth?


















Neil Armstrong is My Uncle & Other Lies Muscle Man McGinty Told Me
by Nan Marino

Tamara Ann Simpson seems to be the only person on Ramble Street that knows that ten-year-old “Muscle Man” McGinty is a liar. McGinty is a new kid on the street, and he likes to exaggerate (which can be seen by some as lying). No one but Tamara seems to worry that Muscle Man tells these tall tales, and she wonders why that is. Muscle Man McGinty is a foster child, and to Tamara, he took away everything that had to do with her friend Kebsie when she moved away. That is why she is determined to prove him the liar that she knows he is. Then one day, Muscle Man states that he can beat everyone in the neighborhood at kickball (their favorite game), and Tammy knows that Muscle Man will finally be proven as a liar. No one in her neighborhood can back down from a challenge like that. Due to many obstacles, the game ends up lasting for several days, and to Tammy’s annoyance, the other kids on the street take it easy on Muscle Man. Will Muscle Man lose his bet? Will Tammy prove to everyone what she believes about Muscle Man, or will she find out the real reasons for his lying? Will she want to be his friend?


















The Honest-to-Goodness Truth
by Patricia McKissack and illustrated by Giselle Potter

One day, Libby’s mother asked her if she had fed and watered O’l Boss. When she lies to her mother, her mother tells her to “Speak the truth and shame the devil,” and then punishes her for lying by not getting to play with her friend and having to stay on the porch. Libby decides from that day on to never lie again. At church, Libby tells her friend Ruthie Mae that she likes her dress, but that she has a hole in her sock, and as she runs by, Libby does not see the hurt on her friends face. After church, Libby asks Ruthie Mae to walk home, but Ruthie Mae tells Libby that what she said was mean, even if it was the truth. The next day at school, Libby tells the teacher that Willie did not do his homework, which gets him into trouble. She continues to tell the truth all day, but by the end of the day, no one wants to talk to her. She is very sad and tells her mother what happened. Will Libby’s mother be able to teach Libby about when it is appropriate to tell the honest-to-goodness truth? Will Libby be able to stop her friends from being mad at her?