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

~ Lauren Murphy Payne M.S.W. (Author), Claudia Rohling M.S.W. (Illustrator) "I know lots of people at school, in my neighborhood, and on the playground..." (more)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 3. Written with clarity, authority, and empathy, this text explores the universal feelings of children in the area of getting along with one another. Good times such as laughing, working, and playing together make them feel happy and safe, while quarreling, hitting, bullying, and teasing make them angry and afraid. These are the givens of everyday life. The empowering theme here is that individuals choose how to behave. Everyone can share, respect others, think before speaking, work out problems, and enjoy many types of friends. Caring adults can be consulted in times of puzzlement and trouble. To make this didactic message lively and appealing, the short blocks of text are enclosed in double-page frames of imaginative and charming illustrations done in pen and ink and bright markers. Children of all races are shown in a variety of ordinary activities, with exuberant backgrounds and borders of interesting items. This expression of the Golden Rule in sensible, easily understood language could be used in any setting, with a group or one-on-one, to address individual behavior or peacemaking techniques in general.?Patricia Pearl Dole, formerly at First Presbyterian School, Martinsville, VA
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Ages 4^-7. Payne's attractive paperback reminds children how it feels when you get along with others--and how it feels when you don't. Each prettily and intricately bordered spread offers a message about treating others well on one page and then reiterates that message more simply on the facing page, resulting in a narrative that can be read alone. The basic message is to use one's own feelings as a guide to treating others: "I know how I don't like to be treated. I don't like to be teased, called names or yelled at." Within the borders, which feature such kid-appealing images as dinosaurs, stars, and baby chicks, are a multi-cultural group of children learning these important lessons. The book can help teachers, librarians, and parents find many ways for children, alone or in groups, to learn these lessons as well. Ilene Cooper

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Paperback: 36 pages
• Publisher: Free Spirit Publishing; Children's edition (February 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1575420139
• ISBN-13: 978-1575420134
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.6 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #345,393 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars reinforces that children can make good choices on their own, December 31, 2001

By	christinemm - The Thinking Mother (Connecticut, United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

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.

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Great Book for Teachers, July 30, 1999

By A Customer

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.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful - Easy for Kids to Understand, June 5, 2000

By	Toni Barton (Colorado Springs Colorado) - See all my reviews

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.