Be Positive!

November 1, 2013

PreS-K-These books are simply written and will empower students to turn around bad days. Affirming statements such as "Even when something seems bad, I can learn from it or find some good in it" are accompanied by large, cheerful, illustrations that are perfect for prompting discussion about how the scene reflects the writing and whether similar examples can be found in students' lives. The books conclude with numerous questions parents and teachers can ask to encourage additional reflection, as well as worthwhile hands-on activities to further emphasize positive thinking and foster self-confidence. Thanks in large part to the basic, clear language, these enjoyable volumes manage to avoid the overwrought proclamations that plague a lot of the self-help genre.

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2013
Preschool-G One of the first volumes in the Being the Best Me series, this picture book features an upbeat, constructive boy as he goes through his day and explains his view of the world. As he says, I can choose to be positive. He is also grateful and thanks those, like the school bus driver, who care about him or help him. He enjoys doing new things, being active outdoors, and helping others. Even in the dentist's chair, he chooses to be patient and to look for some good even when things seem bad. While all this virtue may sound a bit off-putting, the large-scale line-and-wash illustrations help the boy come across as a relatively normal kid. In four appended pages, Meiners offers adults tips to using the book and related activities with children. Another volume in the series, Feel Confident, will be published simultaneously. As Meiners' previous series, Learning to Get Along, has shown, there's a ready audience for simple picture books that communicate values to young children.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)