How Kids Make Friends: Secrets for Making Lots of Friends No Matter How Shy You Are [Paperback]

Lonnie Michelle (Author)

Book Description

Third Edition: Published 2002.

The latest, updated version of the book that has helped thousands of children gain self esteem and make friends.

"How Kids Make Friends" by Lonnie Michelle is a colorful children's version of Dale Carnegie's bestseller, "How To Win Friends and Influence People."

Editorial Reviews

Review

Everyone assumes it's easy for kids to make friends. But the truth is, it's just as hard for them to get to know others as it is for adults. Now there's a new book that changes all that -- How Kids Make Friends: Secrets For Making Lots Of Friends, No Matter How Shy You Are, written by Lonnie Michelle and illustrated by Teresa McHugh. It's the kids' counterpart to Dale Carnegie's How To Make Friends And Influence People. How Kids Make Friends is unique because it not only speaks to children, but to adults as well. Through dozens of sometimes-whimsical, colorful illustrations and friendly text, Michelle, a leading authority on child behavior, makes friendship-making easy and helps youngsters gain new self-confidence. How Kids Make Friends encourages children to believe in themselves. First, it helps kids realize they are important, likeable, and deserve good friendships. Youngsters will learn how to make all the friends they want easily, how popular kids get that way, what to talk about even if you can't think of anything to say, how to get someone's attention without saying a word, and how to get rid of shyness -- forever. Parents and teachers are treated to a special chapter in Michelle's book. They discover how to interact with their child in dozens of positive, affirming ways. They will see the value of helping their children learn these important social skills at an early age. Michelle shows parents ways to gain the respect of their children--without even having to ask for it--and techniques to reinforce the success habits children learn early on. "How Kids Make Friends" also gives parents pointers to make their child feel more comfortable inviting friends over, what to do when they arrive, and most of all, how to enjoy the friendships their kids are making to the fullest. "Learning these habits at an early age is one of the best things that could happen to your child," Michelle writes. She has studied child behavior and interaction for fifteen years, and presents interactive seminars. As a mother of two, she speaks from a wealth of experience. How Kids Make Friends is highly recommended for children ages six and up, parents, grandparents, educators and libraries. -- Midwest Book Review

Friends make life full and exciting; children's needs are vast and with the addition of each new friend lies a piece of the child's puzzle for completeness. Conversely, having few or no friends limits a child's personality and may lead to a poor self-concept and possibly to crippling emotional problems. In this book, the author acts like the kind and caring aunt who provides unconditional positive love and offers valuable secrets that can make life fulfilling and full of promise. She has created a gem of a book, both for children and parents. Each page offers the child a new tip and new possibilities. With each new strategy comes greater confidence and opening up to rewarding experiences. This book should be required reading for all elementary and middle school-aged children. -- Gerald D. Oster, Ph.D., Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry, University of Maryland Medical School. Co-author, Helping Your Depressed Teenager: A guide for parents and caregivers

How Kids Make Friends is highly recommended for children ages six and up, parents, grandparents, educators and libraries. -- The Midwest Book Review

I LOVED this book! By the time my mom and I were finished reading it, my face hurt from smiling so much. -- Julie R, age 9

I wish How Kids Make Friends had been available to me 30 years ago. It sure would have made my life easier. -- Shel Horowitz, author, The Penny-Pinching Hedonist: How to Live Like Royalty with a Peasant's Pocketbook

Lonnie Michelle has written what could be your child's first self-help book - How Kids Make Friends...Secrets for making lots of friends, no matter how shy you are. It definitely, yet gently, shows kids in their own language that acquiring friendships is a matter of the choices you make and the responsibility you take for the task - not something beyond their reach. This is a valuable lesson which if generalized can extend to many other life skills as well. I highly recommend it. -- Michael S. Broder, Ph.D., author of The Art of Living Single

Lonnie Michelle takes a sensitive subject and makes it a comfortable one; for both parent and child. With a new house, new neighborhood and new school ahead of us, this was just the book our family needed to jump that social hurdle and make new friends. -- Lisa Roberts, author of How to Raise a Family and A Career Under One Roof

Lonnie Michelle's book comes at a good time for an audience of parents, teachers, therapists and others who enjoy helping children grow and make their way in this complex society...It is written in a relaxed and upbeat manner with lots of specific suggestions and strategies that children can adopt for meeting new people, learning what to say, and what to do. Ms. Michelle doesn't just give advise: she has many explanations for why she suggests youngsters do as she says... -- Rita P. Sussman, Ph.D. Clinical Psychologist

WOW yourself by effortlessly raising your self esteem now. Read this book. -- New York Times best-selling author Mark Victor Hansen, Chicken Soup for The Soul

Where was your book ten years ago when I needed it? You've managed to fill an empty slot on the bookstore shelf, and I hope it does well. Useful information. A book every parent needs. -- Paula Hrbacek newspaper columnist, "Paula's Projects"

From the Publisher

This darling book has been especially popular for children who are shy or have recently moved to a new school, parents and grandparents, educators, librarians, child therapists, and special education schools and educators. How Kids Make Friends is available in bulk and charitable fundraising by special order. Give your child the gift of friendship.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 64 pages
• Publisher: Freedom Publishing Company (IL) (September 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0963815210
• ISBN-13: 978-0963815217
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #59,307 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #5 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Health, Mind & Body > Relationships > General
  • #19 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Health, Mind & Body > Self-Help > Self-Esteem
  • #23 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Nonfiction > Philosophy > Ethics & Morality

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

107 of 111 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars A shallow "How to Win Friends" book inappropriate for kids, May 31, 2002

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: How Kids Make Friends: Secrets for Making Lots of Friends No Matter How Shy You Are (Paperback)

With an 8-year old son learning how to make friends,and handle new situations at school, I was searching for a book to help him along. This book had suggestions like "smile" and "give people compliments" and I didn't think it was appropriate at all for the issues an 8-year old faces at school. It was way too shallow and didn't address real issues. I did buy another book at the same time from Amazon that was much better - "Good Friends are Hard to Find" and I thought it addressed very specific issues and gave great advice on how to handle each one.

38 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My child's teacher taught her how to smile w/this book, October 6, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: How Kids Make Friends: Secrets for Making Lots of Friends No Matter How Shy You Are (Paperback)

My 8-year old daughter came home from school one day, more bubbly than usual. She said that her teacher had a copy of "How Kids Make Friends", she read the book to the class, and the children actually took turns at the front of the class, using the ideas in the book. My shy daughter feels much more confident that she will be able to easily make friends, now that she knows how. I bought the book for her and her sister, so they can practice with each other.

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good starting point, October 16, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: How Kids Make Friends: Secrets for Making Lots of Friends No Matter How Shy You Are (Paperback)

I bought this book for my 9 yr. old son who isn't shy but has trouble relating to other kids. I like that this book encourages him to focus on other people, not on himself. (We can all learn that lesson!) It was a good conversation starter for us. I liked the reference to Dale Carnegie's book, "How to Win Friends and Influence People" which is a book my sons have seen my husband and I read several times! I do however think the book is a bit shallow when it promises kids will "make all the friends they want" and that kids can "automatically make friends". I think those statements should be a bit tempered. Overall, I liked the book.