Nonfiction Books

A Smart Girls Guide to Friendship Troubles

Patti Kelley Criswell

Amazon Price: $9.95 List Price: $9.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: American Girl Publishing Inc Amazon Marketplace: 76 new & used starting at $2.87

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 19 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Ohhhh! The high drama of middle school power plays! 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

Your seventh grader might be bestest pals with a classmate on Monday, absolutely hate her on Wednesday and be back to undying friendship in time for the week-end! In between, there are snarky girls who spread lies, exclude her from conversations, and leave nasty notes on her desk. And, that's just one week!

In the high-action world of kid politics, your child needs an advantage, and American Girl has provided it with A Smart Girls Guide to Frendship Troubles. Kids, tweens and younger teens will adore this wonderful book!

Highly recommended!

Editorial Review:

From backstabbing to bullying to just being left out, here’s advice for girls about a whole host of friendship problems. How do you speak up for yourself when you’re worried about hurting your friend’s feelings? What if your best friend leaves you for the more popular crowd? What do you do when your friend the "rule setter" decides you’re not cool anymore? When- and how- do you get your parents involved without making things worse? Tips, quizzes, and real life stories about girls who’ve solved their friendship problems round out this timely advice book.

How to Be a Friend: A Guide to Making Friends and Keeping Them (Dino Life Guides for Families)

Laurie Krasny Brown

Amazon Price: $6.99 List Price: $6.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Little, Brown Young Readers Amazon Marketplace: 46 new & used starting at $2.87

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 21 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Fun and a great teaching tool 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

How to be a friend is such a nice book. It is like an instruction manual for kids who have difficulties making friends. It shows what is acceptable and what others find attractive in a friend. It tells directly what is annoying or inappropriate. I read this to my entire class, which consists of general education students and children on the autism spectrum (Asberger). I used it early in the year. It opened to door to much discussion and questions. We used it in therapy sessions, as well. I recommend it..

Great to discuss with 5 to 9 year olds 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This book has been great for an initial read to discuss with my children what a friend is. It continues to be a great reference tool for situations that come up. We pull out the book and read it with our children to remind them what a friend is and how a friend should treat them.

Editorial Review:

Written and illustrated by the creators of the popular Dino Life Guides for Families, this book uses precise language and humorous illustrations to offer specific ways to be a friend and specific ways not to be one. A special section on how to deal with bosses and bullies has valuable information for young children going forth in the world and encountering these situations for the first time.

Cookies: Bite-Size Life Lessons

Amy Krouse Rosenthal

Amazon Price: $10.18 List Price: $12.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: HarperCollins Amazon Marketplace: 56 new & used starting at $4.08

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 32 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Excellent children's book, perfect illustrations and a must-buy. 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

OVERVIEW: Fun book that hits every need that a parent is looking for in a Children's book: great words, smart writing and incredible illustrations.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Parents are constantly on the lookout for a new children's book for their kids' shelf that takes language, art and some sort of lesson and incorporates all those elements in a nice package: this one fits the order.

MY REVIEW:
THE GOOD: Every now and then parents come across a children's book that leaves the entire family in a euphoric state. Since it happened to most current parents when they were younger and their parents opened up and read " Green Eggs And Ham", now they're on the prowl for more books to fit their kids' bookshelves.

Unfortunately we come across a lot of dusty dud-tomes in our book hunt but every now and then we get a gem that has our three year old staring, our six year old smiling and the parents enjoying the read. This book does all that.

The author uses cookies (and so many things related to cookies) to teach words and simultaneously share some (very funny) life lessons such as:

"Trustworthy means, if you ask me to hold your cookie until you come back, when you come back, I will still be holding your cookie."

This would be great in itself, but Jane Dyer goes above and beyond with her lifelike illustrations with almost a nod to Norman Rockwell with their detailed beauty by showing on that "Trustworthy" page the little girl, holding and staring at a cookie and biting the side of her lip. You can't beat that.

Definitely a great read that'll leave parents wanting more pages and kids wanting a reread with cookies, please.

THE BAD: I wish there were more pages? There was nothing bad. Well, except maybe the desire for some kids to want cookies.

THE UGLY: Nothing ugly about this book. Printed on nice paper, the cover is a nice stock and the illustration is repeated on the hardcover. Even the inside flaps are an enjoyable read highlighting words like "SHAMELESS" when it comes to the author (you can check out Amy Krouse Rosenthal's site here) plugging her own work and "ILLUSTRIOUS" as defined with the illustrator's name (Jane Dyer).

Editorial Review:

Everyone knows cookies taste good, but these cookies also have something good to say. Open this delectable book to any page and you will find out something about life. Cookies: Bite-Size Life Lessons is a new kind of dictionary, one that defines mysteries such as "fair" and "unfair" and what it really means to "cooperate." The book is by turns clever, honest, inspirational, and whimsical. Go ahead, take a bite!

Friends: Making Them & Keeping Them (American Girl)

Patti Kelley Criswell

Amazon Price: $9.95 List Price: $9.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: American Girl Publishing Inc Amazon Marketplace: 24 new & used starting at $6.24

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 5 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Big hit 5 out of 5 stars.
5 of 5 people found this review helpful.

My niece is 9 and I gave this to her as one of her Christmas gifts. She loves her other books from the American Girl series and this one is no exception. She began reading it immediately and then discussing it with me. It was a big hit! And it seems very practical and useful for helping young girls navigate those early relationships with friends.

Oh, you gotta have friends! 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 5 people found this review helpful.

Bette Middler sang about it -- You gotta have friends! American Girl will explain it all to the tween in your life: how to meet friends, keep friends, avoid arguments, and keep on having fun through it all!

This book is a must have for girls and their families. Conversations will be started, communication will grow, and happiness will abound. Now, what could be wrong with that?

This book is filled with wonderful illustrations that underscore the lively writing.

Absolutely recommended!

Editorial Review:

FRIENDS gives girls everything they need to know about making new friends and making the most of the friendships they already have. The interactive book is full of quizzes, crafts, and thoughtful advice, including tips and true friendship stories from girls. Five mini posters are bound at the back of the book for girls to tear out and share with friends!

It's Okay To Be Different

Todd Parr

Amazon Price: $6.99 List Price: $6.99 Not yet published By: Little, Brown Young Readers

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 33 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Courtesy of Kids @ Teens Read Too 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

If you haven't yet discovered the magic that is TODD'S WORLD, I recommend that you do so today! This series is great fun for both children and adults alike, whether it be in the form of a book or a video. Todd Parr knows what appeals to kids -- bold, bright, colorful illustrations and characters that are all unique in their own special way.

With IT'S OKAY TO BE DIFFERENT, children of all ages learn that no matter what your difference -- being in a wheelchair, being embarrassed, having different moms or dads, having an invisible friend -- it's perfectly A-OK. From the fanciful to the truthful to the whimsical, all kinds of differences are explored in ways that are easy to understand for the youngest reader, but that will also send home a message to those who are older.

This is one book you need in your personal collection!

Reviewed by: Jennifer Wardrip, aka "The Genius"

Editorial Review:

It's okay to need some help.
It's okay to be a different color.
It's okay to talk about your feelings.
It's okay to make a wish...

It's Okay to Be Different cleverly delivers the important messages of acceptance, understanding, and confidence in an accessible, child-friendly format featuring Todd Parr's trademark bold, bright colors and silly scenes. Targeted to young children first beginning to read, this book will inspire kids to celebrate their individuality through acceptance of others and self-confidence.

Along with the four other bestselling Todd Parr picture books debuting in paperback this season, It's Okay to be Different is designed to encourage early literacy, enhance emotional development, celebrate multiculturalism, and promote character growth.

My Friends and Me: A First Look At Friendship

Pat Thomas

List Price: $5.95 By: Barron's Educational Series Amazon Marketplace: 1 new & used starting at $19.11

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 26 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Simple but Beautiful Book on Death 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

If you want to explain a death in the family to children, and are looking for a book that does not rely on any particular belief system, this is the one to get. "I Miss You" explores death unsentimentally but compassionately, and puts the issues in a way children will understand. Some of the issues the book touches on:

* All things are born, and eventually stop breathing, functioning, thinking, and die. In other words, death is an inevitable part of life.
* Feelings of sadness are natural, and you may not want to be part of groups, and people may not know what to say to you.
* There's a lot we don't know about death, and different cultures have different beliefs.
* As long as you remember the ones who passed on, they become part of you, and are, in a sense, not dead.

This is an excellent book, for children and adults alike, on a difficult subject.

Editorial Review:

Children soon discover that having a friend and being a friend affect the way they feel about themselves. The author discusses the rewards and responsibilities of friendship, and shows how the ability to form a friendship is a vital part of every child's emotional development Titles in this sensitively presented series explore the dynamics of various relationships experienced by children of preschool through early school age. Kids are encouraged to understand personal feelings and social problems as a first step in dealing with them. Written by psychotherapist and counselor Pat Thomas, these books promote positive interaction among children, parents, and teachers. The story lines are simple and direct--easily accessible to younger children. There are full-color illustrations on every page. (Ages 4-7)

Dude, That's Rude!: (Get Some Manners) (Laugh and Learn)

Pamela Espeland, Elizabeth Verdick

Amazon Price: $8.95 List Price: $8.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Free Spirit Publishing Amazon Marketplace: 32 new & used starting at $4.57

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Really Funny! 5 out of 5 stars.
6 of 6 people found this review helpful.

I have two boys, ages 10 & 12, and they got a real kick out of this book. I did too! It is a good overview of manners of all kinds, but in a humorous setting. I would recommend it to anyone with kids who need a "brush up" on manners. Very well written.

Comprehensive and hilarious 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

This book was perfect for my 9-year-old, who really enjoyed the funny sections but also learned a lot from the informative text. It covers everything - from cell phones to dinner table manners to even "fartiquette" - and has full-color art as well so it was fun shared reading. An excellent resource for easing kids' fears about social situations and for promoting mannered behavior in today's kids.

Editorial Review:

In order to get on in today's world, kids need manners more than ever, and "Dude, That's Rude!" makes learning them easy and fun. Full-colour illustrations and easy-to-follow text teach kids the basics of polite behaviour in all sorts of situations - at home, in school, at the shops. This superb volume also gets kids to learn Power Words (great for nearly any situation) and P.U. Words (ones to avoid), why their friends and family deserve their best manners and behaviour, as well as the basic essentials of etiquette - how to be polite online. Manners are an incredibly important social skill, and this volume will give kids everywhere a great start.

Join in and Play (Learning to Get Along)

Cheri J Meiners

Amazon Price: $8.76 List Price: $10.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Free Spirit Publishing Amazon Marketplace: 20 new & used starting at $5.33

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 5 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

A great series of books, pick any one! 5 out of 5 stars.
15 of 15 people found this review helpful.

I would highly recommend any of the books in this series by Cheri Meiners. Join In and Play is a great book for parents whose children are shy or may avoid social interactions. It offers a variety of ways they can be included and have fun with their classmates and friends, even illustrating how to ask to join a game or play quietly beside another child. It also would be helpful in helping a more confident, popular child to reach out to quieter, less engaged peers.
These books caught my eye because the writing level is just right for pre-K and kindergarten children. Truthful without being preachy or overly wordy, the series shows children and family members from many different ethnic groups in the colorful illustrations, and each book addresses issues which are developmentally critical to this particular age group: sharing, taking turns, being afraid, listening, respecting others, helping out at home, etc. These books have given us a starting point to discuss problems at school or interacting with others, and have helped my son to have more empathy for his peers....I am hopeful that this quality will serve him well as he continues on to kindergarten and elementary school. It is exciting to hear him use ideas from this series to problem solve.

Editorial Review:

It’s fun to make friends and play with others, but it’s not always easy to do. You have to make an effort, and you have to know the rules—like ask before joining in, take turns, play fair, and be a good sport. This book teaches the basics of cooperation, getting along, making friends, and being a friend. Includes ideas for games adults can use with kids to reinforce the skills being taught.

Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul on Love & Friendship

Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, Kimberly Kirberger

Amazon Price: $10.17 List Price: $14.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: HCI Teens Amazon Marketplace: 194 new & used starting at $0.01

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 17 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Friends. You gotta have 'em, but sometimes they drive you crazy. You love 'em, but sometimes they make you mad. They'll help you through a crisis...unless they are the crisis.

So What's The Deal?

Friends are more than just the people you hang out with. They make you laugh, they keep your secrets, they offer advice (some good, some bad), they give you a shoulder to cry on. Sometimes they move away, or betray your trust, or flake out, but mostly they are the people who are always there for you. And they know you'll be there when they need you most. Because that's what it means to be a friend.

Sometimes friendship is overwhelming, sometimes it's confusing, sometimes you feel like you don't have a friend in the world, buy don't worry, it's like that for everyone. That's what the stories in this book are all about. They're from real teens, and they're about the bizarre, difficult and wonderful things that really happened to them and their friends.

Put that together with weird facts, cool graphics, fun advice and quizzes designed to help you figure what you and your friends are all about, and you've got the real deal on friendship

Me and My Friends: The Book of Us (Colors may vary) (Klutz)

Klutz Inc.

Amazon Price: $11.53 List Price: $16.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Klutz - Model: 8145 Amazon Marketplace: 47 new & used starting at $0.01

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Features:

• A book by and about girlfriends
• Write-right-in-it book is full of irresistible all-about-us activities
• Funny quizzes, fill-in-the-blanks, doodle how-tos, messages in code, compatibility tests, lists of favorites, secret identities and tons more
• Comes with special envelopes, a spinning perpetual birthday calendar and 78 plastic stickers in cool shapes and translucent colors
• For ages 8 and up

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 9 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

A great group project 5 out of 5 stars.
10 of 10 people found this review helpful.

My daughter received this as a birthday gift and the most amazing thing happened. She stopped opening gifts and all of the girls sat right down and filled out this book. They spent almost an hour focused on this fantastic book....talking, comparing stories and ideas, laughing, teasing one another and sharing thoughts. It was wonderful.

I can't promise that everyone will get that reaction, but it's worth the chance; I give it to every 9-12 year old girl I need to buy a gift for.

:-) 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 3 people found this review helpful.

I LOVE this book! it's great for girls ages 8-18. Although I love it, my friends aren't too crazy about it and don't really care. But if you have A LOT of friends then this is the book for you!

Good Quality, Contruction and Content 4 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

My daughter asked for this book (journal/activity book) and she loved it. It held her interest for a few months, but she's an avid reader, and as readers go ... they move on to new material all the time.

She was ten when she received it and it is age appropriate through 13 or so.

Editorial Review:

This write-right-in-it book is full of irresistible all-about-us activities: funny quizzes, fill-in-the-blanks, doodle how-to’s, messages in code and tons more. Fun for any number of friends from two up to a dozen. Like the best of friendships, it’s a laugh to share today and treasure to keep forever.