Summary of Book:
But No Candy by Gloria Houston is a historic realism children's literature book. This book is about a seven year-old girl named Lee who loves candy. However, she lives during the time of World War II and there is no more candy. She asks why and she is told it is all overseas with soldiers such as her uncle. She sends a letter to her uncle and asks him to send her a candy bar when he can. She is very worried about the candy, however she eventually realizes what war is and what was more important. When the war is finally over, her uncle brings her home a candy bar but she knows candy doesn't really matter. All she cared about was that her uncle was home.

Personal Reaction:
I love this book! I love how it gives a child's perspective on war. Most kids cannot comprehend what is happening in a war so this book helps young readers to be more knowledgeable and understand what some of their family members may be dealing with overseas.

Classroom Extension:
Living in a military town, I think this book could be very helpful if implemented in Lawton Public Schools. I would have my military family students all come up and share stories about their parents or family members that are in the military. I will also have my students each have a piece of candy and later discuss with them would they rather have the candy or have their loved one with them. After this I would have them tell me why they chose what they did. ( )

This book is about a young girl named Lee. She loves candy but since she lives in times of war there is no candy left. She asks why there is no candy and she is told that all the candy is overseas with soldiers like her uncle. So Lee has it in her mind that when the war is over there will be candy. In a letter to her uncle she asks him to send her a candy bar when he can. Lee is so worried about candy but eventually comes to realization of what war is. When the war is finally over her uncle comes home and gives her a candy bar but she knows that all that matter now is that he is home. I really enjoyed this book. It gives the reader a sense of how it was during war from a child's point of view. It makes me realize how lucky I am to live in a place and time where I can have both what I need and what I want within reason. I liked how the author showed how Lee's character changed in the way she saw war through the years. The illustrations go great along with the story using watercolors to create a great image of the characters and setting. A classroom extension could be to have students write a letter to a soldier overseas now at war like Lee did to her uncle. Another could be to have students draw a picture of what they are thankful for.

Lee loves candy, but with with WWII the candy disappears and her uncle goes off to fight. Lee dreams of having candy again, but when the war finally ends and Lee is older, she realizes that having her uncle back is better than having candy. ( )