Don't Tell a Whopper on Fridays: The Children's Truth Control Book [Hardcover]

Adolph Moser (Author), David Melton (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 9 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up

The Emotional Impact Series...

The truth may be sacred, but many people--both children and adults--think lying is easier. Some people lie so often that it becomes a habit--a very bad habit--that reduces their own sense of self-esteem and makes others not trust them. In a clear and easy-to-understand narrative, Dr. Moser discusses the problems of lying and the importance of telling the truth. he offers thoughtful examples and suggests ways that can help children tell the truth. Dr. Moser's text is informative, entertaining, witty, and easy to read. David Melton's illustrations are outstanding. They are bright and clever, and often hilarious. Children are sure to love this book. parents are bound to appreciate its common-sense approach. And teachers and counselors will recognize this book as a valuable tool for affecting the lives of children in positive ways.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Dr. Adolph Moser enjoys talking with children and they enjoy talking with him. He has a special ability of writing to children in a very personal and friendly way that makes them feel that he is talking just to them. He also has a great sense of humor. His young readers love that. "If I had my way, no child would read any of these books alone. I wish that a parent or a caring adult would sit next to the child so they could read, look at, and discuss these books together." Dr. Adolph Moser

From the Author

Dear Friend: I wish I could tell you that I never have told a lie. But I can't do that because it wouldn't be true. The truth is--I have told lies. I told lies when I was a child. And I have told lies as an adult. I was glad when people believed my lies, but I was never proud that I had lied to them. When people discovered I had lied about something, I always felt embarrassed and ashamed of myself. When I finally realized that telling the truth was important, I decided to be a more truthful person. As I became a more truthful person, I soon had more friends, and I found that more people trusted me. That made me feel better about myself. Beacuse I believe that telling the truth is so important, I wrote this book just for you. I hope you enjoy it. and I hope the book will help you to become a more truthful person.

Your Friend Adolph Moser

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Hardcover: 61 pages
• Publisher: Landmark Editions; 1 edition (January 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0933849761
• ISBN-13: 978-0933849761
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #550,109 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Why lying is silly, January 26, 2002

By 

Alyssa A. Lappen (Earth) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Don't Tell a Whopper on Fridays: The Children's Truth Control Book (Hardcover)

A pediatrician I knew often told parents that all children lie. It may be a learned behavior, but for some reason all kids learn to do it by the time they are two. The hard part is teaching them to unlearn.

This 61-page picture book contains simple language easily read by first and second graders (on a par with Dr. Suess), but its sophistication about children's propensity to lie will keep them coming back until they are approaching middle school.

The premise is simple: While everyone, even the author, has told some lies--"I'm late because my watch stopped, I did not spend my lunch money on candy"--most people need to tell the truth to feel good about themselves. People get along much better in life if they tell the truth.

The book explains that there a lot of different kinds of lies, and a lot of reasons that people tell them. "Some people can look at others, face to face and they can tell an enormous WHOPPER. But when others lie, their faces get red, and they have to turn to look away." People lie because they don't want to tell the truth, don't want to admit that they have done something wrong, prefer to blame others, think it will get them out of trouble. Lying, on the contrary, often gets people into even more trouble.

Some of Moser's books are funny. Not this one. But Moser does make even adults look silly when they lie. A car salesman looks ridiculous telling his customer "This car is in perfect condition." A politician, who promises, if elected, to raise only wages, but never to raise taxes, looks silly too. So does the kid who tells his friends that his uncle was an explorer before becoming an astronaut and a movie star.

Next, kids learn about why it's important not to lie. First, liars need good memories, so they can remember who they lied to and what they told them. Otherwise, they'll get confused and will soon be caught in their lies. Worrying about this makes some liars unable to eat or sleep. It even makes them worry that people will stop believing or lose respect for them. If people want respect and trust from others, Moser tells kids, "you must apologize for lying and tell the truth."

Telling the truth, he concludes, is "like ice skating--the more you do it, the easier it becomes." Once kids have digested this message, they tell the truth more often, and have every reason to feel proud. Alyssa A. Lappen

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I reviewed this book and thought it was great., July 16, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Don't Tell a Whopper on Fridays: The Children's Truth Control Book (Hardcover)

Recently, I reviewed Don't Tell a Whopper on Fridays!, and Iwas impressed with Dr. Moser's hepful words and colorful, attention-catching illustrations. I had tried to keep copies of his earlier Emotional Impact Series books in my office waiting room, but they quickly disappeared. During the brief periods that the books from Dr. Moser's emotional Impact Series stayed in my waiting room, parents and children were always reading them before appiontments.They often wanted to discuss them in detail in my office.The popularity of Dr. Moser's books among my patients was amazing. I'd kept story books and children's magazines in my waiting room for years. They never disappeared, just Dr. Moser's books did. i no longer have a private practice , but I imagine that Don't Tell a Whopper on Friday! would myster vanish just as fast as Dr. Moser's other books.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good book for kids who like to stretch the truth, December 20, 2007

By 

L. Starnes "Blue Jean" (U.P. of Michigan) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Don't Tell a Whopper on Fridays: The Children's Truth Control Book (Hardcover)

This book is a great one for my now 7-year old. He's in the denial stage when he does something wrong, and we read it the other night. It's a funny look at the different types of lies, why people lie, and why it's best not to lie. Great teaching book for kids (and adults, too).