The Boy Who Cried Over Everything [Kindle Edition]

Betsy Childs (Author), Dan Olson (Illustrator)

Book Description

Murray is almost four years old, but he cries over everything. An experience with a slingshot and a sparrow helps him realize that it's okay to cry when you are sad, but it's best not to cry when you're mad.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Though it's best not to cry when you're mad, it's okay to cry when you're sad.

Product Details

• File Size: 1279 KB
• Print Length: 30 pages
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: Childpress Books; 1 edition (December 27, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B006QWS1J8
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #284,713 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 37 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Well Intentioned but not Well Though Out July 19, 2012

By PHL1111 VINE™ VOICE

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Well I am clearly in the minority here by rating this less than 5 stars because as I write this 11 people gave this a 5 star review including one person who hadn't read it yet but couldn't wait to.

So the book is intended to help children know it's OK to cry when it's appropriate and not when it isn't appropriate (sad crying verses mad crying). Fair enough. The illustrations are great (plus one star) and the intent of the book is a noble one (plus one star). However to illustrate that it is OK to cry when you're sad the author has the little boy who cries accidentally kill a bird with a slingshot. A slingshot that the parents gave him as a reward/present! Am I the only one that finds it weird that parents would give a small child a slingshot as a present? Surely there had to be a better way to illustrate sad crying other than giving the boy a weapon which results in a dead bird.

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Lousy book July 20, 2012

By Tah_Dah

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

So a not-quite-4YO kid has a chat with his father, who says, "You're going to have to control yourself." (Yes, that quote is directly from the book). The child thinks it over, and manages not cry through TWO situations, and then he's given a slingshot as a reward. First off, simply having a "pull it together" talk with a 3 YO is not going to make everything better, and a slingshot for a little kid?

I didn't mind scene with the death of the bird and the boy, older brother, and father working together to bury it, but just hated how it got to that point. Glad I read this through before reading it to my kids - it's being deleted from my kindle.

18 of 21 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Deleting it from the Kindle right now December 21, 2012

By Linda

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book is free today, so I downloaded it to read to my 4 y.o. who cries over everything. I am so glad I read it first. I didn't bother reading the reviews before downloading it because it was free - what's to lose? My time, that's what.

The boy kills a bird. First of all, I don't think a slingshot is a great present for a 3 y.o. Secondly, he has to kill a bird to learn when it is ok to cry, and when it isn't? He could have scraped his knee, or maybe accidentally shot his brother on the arm with the sling shot or something (the brother cries, but still loves him, NO ONE DIES). Instead he kills something, they bury it and they get popsicles. It's almost like a treat for offing the bird. Yuck.

This book is being deleted right now. I would rather pay for a less disturbing book that teaches my little guy how to better control himself. I will end on a positive note: the illustrations were great and it was written really well and would have been easy for my 4 y.o. to follow.