I encourage reading to not only my two children, but also with my nieces and nephews. Not only is reading a source of entertainment, but it can also help you educationally and emotionally. Books like the two I recently gotten to review, Liking Myself and The Mouse, the Monster and Me by Pat Palmer, ED. D., are two examples of books that do all three of these things.Liking Myself is a book that helps your child to be able to express their emotions in an appropriate way that can not only help them, but can also help the parents to understand what the child is experiencing and going through.
Liking Myself offers advice on how to handle oneself when feeling depressed, upset, or overwhelmed. Topics include: liking yourself, feeling talk, allowing, letting go, and body talk.
“Feelings are good friends. Feelings can let us know what is happening, what we want, what is important to us…. They tell you when you need to take care of yourself, like finding a friend if you feel lonely, crying if you feel sad, singing and smiling if you feel happy, and acting frisky if you feel good.”
The Mouse, the Monster and Me is a book that helps to teach your child to stand up for themselves the right way. It shows them how to treat others and how they can build their own self esteem. What I really like about this book is that it shows children how to handle situations where they might normally whine or cry and situations where they might have a temper tantrum. It helps to teach they how to not only handle themselves in these situations, but it also shows them how to be nice to others as well.
The Mouse, the Monster and Me focuses on the importance of finding a balance between one's aggressive inner “monster” and one's passive inner “mouse”. Children quickly grasp the metaphor and discover their assertive “me” self. Readers readily identify these behaviors in themselves and others. Other issues include: getting in touch with your own strengths; respect, rights, and responsibilities; how to say “no” to trouble; receiving criticism and compliments; and being yourself.
“Practice, with a friend or family member, assertive ways to ask. Remember…to stand or sit up straight …to look at the other person …to talk in a normal (not whining or shouting) voice …and to be honest and direct. It's OK to ask for what you want. (But don't expect to always get it.)”
About the author and illustrator -
Over thirty years ago, Pat Palmer and Louise Hart met at their first graduate school class in Greeley, Colorado. At the time, Pat was the founder and director of the Assertiveness Training Institute of Denver; Louise was a “displaced homemaker” pursuing a career. Pat’s penchant for speaking her mind came as a shock to Louise, who had never before met an assertive woman. Pat took her under her wing, and gave her a scholarship; it changed her life.
Pat’s dissertation, on teaching assertiveness from an early age, was published as two children’s books—Liking Myself, and The Mouse, the Monster and Me—that became international bestsellers in six languages. They were hand lettered, uniquely designed, and charmingly illustrated on traditional elementary school paper. Then, ten years ago, these powerfully written favorites went out of print in the U.S. Many were upset that these beloved books were no longer available for children and grandchildren, students and clients. Now, Dr. Louise Hart is republishing Dr. Pat Palmer’s two important books.
I think both of these books are a must have for anyone who has children. Not only can they aid your child with their self esteem and helping them to with the social issues that they face growing up, these books can also help parents by explaining and helping to educate their child with these issues.
These books are available from www.UpliftPress.com for $12.99 each with free shipping in the USA.
The products in this review were given to me free of charge for review. My review and opinions are not influenced by this or any source, they are my honest opinion of the product.
