| Emotions & Feelings |
| Social Themes |
| Depression & Mental Illness |
| Juvenile Fiction |
| Self-esteem & Self-reliance |
Summary
Summary
A sense of optimism is a key ingredient to success in life. Guide young children to develop a positive outlook and discover how the choices they make can lead to feeling happy and capable. This friendly, encouraging book introduces preschool and primary-age children to ways of thinking and acting that will help them feel good about themselves and their lives, stay on course when things don't go their way, and contribute to other people's happiness, too.
Being the Best Me Series:
From the author of the popular Learning to Get Along® books comes a one-of-a-kind character-development series. Each of the first six books in the Being the Best Me! series helps children learn, understand, and develop attitudes and positive character traits that strengthen self-confidence and a sense of purpose. Each book focuses on a specific attitude or character trait--optimism, self-esteem, assertiveness, resilience, integrity, and forgiveness. Also included are discussion questions, games, activities, and additional information for adults. Filled with diversity, these social story books will be welcome in school, home, and childcare settings.
Author Notes
Cheri J. Meiners, M.Ed., has her master's degree in elementary education and gifted education. The author of the award-winning Learning to Get Along social skills series for young children and a former first-grade teacher, she has taught education classes at Utah State University and has supervised student teachers. Cheri and her husband, David, have six children and two grandchildren. She lives in Laurel, Maryland.
Elizabeth Allen is an artist and professional illustrator of children's picture books as well as a former songwriter and jazz musician. She has exhibited her art in galleries in the Midwest and on the East Coast. Elizabeth lives on a river running through a forest near St. Paul, Minnesota.
Reviews (3)
School Library Journal Review
PreS-K-These books are simply written and will empower students to turn around bad days. Affirming statements such as "Even when something seems bad, I can learn from it or find some good in it" are accompanied by large, cheerful, illustrations that are perfect for prompting discussion about how the scene reflects the writing and whether similar examples can be found in students' lives. The books conclude with numerous questions parents and teachers can ask to encourage additional reflection, as well as worthwhile hands-on activities to further emphasize positive thinking and foster self-confidence. Thanks in large part to the basic, clear language, these enjoyable volumes manage to avoid the overwrought proclamations that plague a lot of the self-help genre. (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
One of the first two entries in the Being the Best Me! series, this focuses on optimism, though its over-the-top feel-good message may limit its kid appeal. The story follows a young boy with Asian features from the time he wakes up to bedtime, and readers "listen" to his self-talk throughout the day. Most utterances reinforce an optimism skill: "I can think about things in a new way. / Even when something seems bad, I can learn from it or find some good in it." Publishing simultaneously is Feel Confident!, which looks at a black girl's activities and the self-confidence skills she uses. "I'm able to think and decide for myself. / When I make good choices, I can feel proud of myself. // When there is a problem, I can try to do something about it, or ask for help." Allen's seemingly digital illustrations show a nice range in terms of both racial diversity and situations that will be familiar to readers. Four pages of backmatter in each book include a list of relevant skills, some games and activities that will help develop those skills, a list of terms and discussion questions. Worthy as their messages are, however, kids are likely to recognize right away they are being preached to. If there is such a thing as too upbeat, these are. Teachers, school counselors and social workers seem to be the intended targets; children aren't likely to choose them on their own. (Picture book. 3-6)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
One of the first volumes in the Being the Best Me series, this picture book features an upbeat, constructive boy as he goes through his day and explains his view of the world. As he says, I can choose to be positive. He is also grateful and thanks those, like the school bus driver, who care about him or help him. He enjoys doing new things, being active outdoors, and helping others. Even in the dentist's chair, he chooses to be patient and to look for some good even when things seem bad. While all this virtue may sound a bit off-putting, the large-scale line-and-wash illustrations help the boy come across as a relatively normal kid. In four appended pages, Meiners offers adults tips to using the book and related activities with children. Another volume in the series, Feel Confident, will be published simultaneously. As Meiners' previous series, Learning to Get Along, has shown, there's a ready audience for simple picture books that communicate values to young children.--Phelan, Carolyn Copyright 2010 Booklist
