As I've watched what has happened on Capitol Hill since the federal government bailed out banks with a promised $700 billion rescue package, I'm reminded of Laura Numeroff's "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie."

The book, used by teachers of pre-K children to third-graders, remains one of my favorite reads. So is her "If You Give a Pig a Pancake," also beautifully illustrated by Felicia Bond. Both stories provide lessons on the unintended consequences of generosity.

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