Hans in Luck

Reach for this book when your child is spiraling after a mistake, struggling with the loss of a toy, or feeling like they always 'get the short end of the stick.' This reimagining of the classic Grimm tale follows Hans as he trades a giant lump of gold for a horse, then the horse for a cow, and so on, until he has nothing left but a heavy stone. While an observer might see a series of bad deals, Hans views each trade as a way to lighten his load and find true freedom. At its heart, this chapter book is a joyful exploration of perspective and the 'growth mindset' of finding the silver lining. It is perfectly suited for 6-9 year olds who are transitioning into independent reading but still enjoy the whimsical, absurd logic of folklore. By reframing loss as a gain in happiness, it helps children normalize the feelings of making a 'bad' choice while showing that our attitude toward our circumstances is often more valuable than our possessions.