Customer Reviews

We Can Get Along: A Child's Book of Choices

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The general message of the book is great. Different emotions that can occur when dealing with different people are expressed. The text then talks about how we feel about our own emotions and then how we have the choice as to how to react to our emotions and then how we then communicate back to the people who have done us wrong. The text is great, the messages are wonderful, and there is a lot to talk about, such as "I am in charge of my words and actions...they belong to me". What is mentioned is in general, getting along, feeling good when things go well, fighting, arguing, yelling, hitting, crying, taking turns, sharing, solving problems, and treating others well. More themes covered are name calling, physically hurting others, bullying, how friends should act with one another, and despite physical appearance differences, we are all the same inside with the same emotions and are deserving of respect from one another.

The thing I don't like about this book is that it is written in the first-person narrative but the book does not have a main character so it doesn't quite make sense when being read aloud. The sentences have statements such as "I don't like mean words" and "But I can choose not to do that". There is no main character in the book, either mentioned in text or in illustration. Every page has different illustrations of all different children. The text makes more sense if the child is reading it to themselves. This really irks me! The storyline just doesn't make sense to me without using a main character of some kind or at least referencing them by having a main character on every page's illustration to show whom the author is talking about.

I also like how the illustrations have one theme per page. Every child's favorite subject is sure to be covered on one of the pages: dinosaurs, trains, princesses, firefighters, etc.

Lastly, my favorite thing about this book is that it is written intelligently with respect that young children have control over their actions and intentions and can choose to act responsibly. I salute the author for acknowledging that young children are capable individuals who can make good choices independently.

I used this book with my 1st graders. The ideas are complex enough that I could only talk about a few pages a day. However, it helped my students and me find a common language to explain appropriate behavior. Thank you.

I saw this book and didn't think anything of it, then I checked it out at the library and discovered that my daughter loved it (4 years old) and it brought up many discussions about herself and others. We love reading it together! I had to buy it because she kept wanting to check it out again, and again.

Every parent should own this book. I enjoyed it, my son enjoyed it, and the illustrations were nice too

The message this book is trying to convey is good, but the artwork is so overwhelming. Each page has rainbows and pattern borders. I think for a child it is really hard to focus on the message when the artwork is so busy and distracting.

This was a good book about getting along with others and exhibiting self-control. Recommended, but not as highly as the Devotions for Self-Control.