Davey and Goliath: The Kite Book

Based on a classic episode of the original show. Davey invites a new boy from school to help him and his friends make a kite. But when Goliath accidentally wrecks the kite, Davey and his friends learn a valuable lesson about forgiveness.

Valerie O. Patterson - Children's Literature

Davey includes the new boy, Teddy, when he and his friends gather to play baseball. Afterward, Davey invites his friend, Jimmy, and Teddy to his house to fly a kite, where Teddy also meets Davey's dog, Goliath. When Goliath accidentally gets into the sticky paper and ruins the kite, Davey forgives him, much to Teddy's chagrin. They boys make a second kite. Teddy wants Goliath to stay out of the way so he will not ruin the new kite. When Teddy gets his turn with the kite, he acts selfishly and ends up getting the kite stuck in telephone lines. Chastised by Jimmy for his selfishness, Teddy responds by getting angry and running away. Jimmy and Davey make yet another kite and, as the two friends launch it, Teddy reappears. He apologizes for ruining the kite and asks for forgiveness. Although Jimmy hesitates, Davey says that God would forgive Teddy because God loves us, no matter what. The boys forgive Teddy and give him another turn at flying the new kite just to prove it. Teddy, though, seeing Goliath in the sticky paper again, decides to first help the dog before taking his turn with the kite. This concept book about learning how to ask for forgiveness and how to forgive is based on the Davey and Goliath television series, associated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and the illustrations are taken from the original series. 2005, Scholastic, Ages 4 to 8.