Books published by publisher Boys Town Press

When Pausing Can Be Powerful! Uh-oh! Gabe is losing it again. See all those big, bright buttons popping up all over his body? They come out whenever someone or some situation gets under his skin. And they pop up ALL. THE. TIME. Push his button and Gabe starts fighting. Push that button and Gabe starts yelling. Push any button, and Gabe overreacts, gets mad, makes poor choices and lands in trouble. What he really needs is a reset button! In this clever tale from school counselor and debut author Jennifer Law, young readers learn how to use PAUSE POWER to reset their mindset, calm down, stop losing control, and prevent anger when others push their buttons. It's a great lesson and fun read for students in grades K through 6. Tips for parents and educators to help children managing their emotions when they become angry and to raise self-awareness in themselves are included at the end of the picture book.

Noodle is always being told what to do. Pull the weeds. Make his bed. Kick the ball a certain way in soccer. Ugh! But he wonders, why? What's in it for him? Luckily, the adults in Noodle's life are there to teach him the importance of moving 'need tos' into 'I did Its!' Join Noodle as he learns the value of practicing small chores now, so he'll be ready for life's big challenges later.

Teach strategies to face a task, ignore distractions, and ask a teacher or other adult for help to get the job done. RJ's way of doing things isn't working out for him, especially in math class. His teacher is upset because so many of his assignments are missing or incomplete. RJ blames Norma the booger picker and Rodney the alphabet burper for distracting him during class. The fifth and final book in Julia Cook's award-winning series, Best Me I Can Be! Follow RJ as he learns he can save himself a lot of grief if he stays on task and does things the right way!Kids can relate to RJ as he learns to use his social skills and make positive behavior choices. Great for parents, teachers, and school counselors to teach important social skills and manners.Praise for I Just Want to Do it My Way!Great Tips to Help Our Children Succeed"Julia never fails to give us language and tips to help our kids experience success. I Just Want to Do It My Way! and the character of RJ allows our kids to truly connect and reflect. RJ’s situation gives important strategies and hope to kids, educators and parents, and teaches us that social struggles can be resolved if we make small changes. This book is another tool to help our kids learn that finishing their work feels great, and they can make any situation positive if they try!" - Sarah Stine, Educator, The Cloverleaf School of AtlantaGreat author, great book!"Julia Cook writes the best kids books ever!!! All the books in this set are so fantastic with a "moral" so the kids actually learn the consequences of their actions and alternatives they could take. My 10 year old loves reading them. He's a little behind on reading and has a few behavior issues and these are perfect for him---and most of the other kids in his class! Great stories, great illustrations. Thank you Julia; I hope you keep them coming!" - Janet B.

Norman David Edwards, better known as Noodle, has a problem; a big problem. Noodle is constantly being told what to do. "Noodle do this. Noodle do that. Please do it RIGHT NOW. You must feed the cat." But Noodle's problem is that there are so many other things he would rather do instead. Award winning children's author Julia Cook has crafted another tale of her character Noodle facing the realities of childhood. In PROcrastinator, Noodle learns the importance of doings things right when his mother (and teacher) asks him to do them, rather than putting them off till later. As Noodle's week progresses his cat gets hungrier, the trash piles up, and his poetry homework is no closer to getting done. PROcrastintor is a humorous and engaging look at the results a child only doing what is fun to do, rather than what needs to be done. Written for children in grades K-6.

Do your kids tell you that they'll get to chores or homework, but then YOU end up either starting it...or getting upset because you have to constantly remind them? This book simplifies task initiation by breaking it down into four easy steps. Blake doesn't understand why he has to clean his room RIGHT NOW. And he d rather do anything than learn multiplication! He'll get to those things eventually! But right now he is enjoying his video game. Luckily for Blake, his mom is there to help him understand why it's important to get started on tasks right away. By exploring his reasons for putting off the things he is supposed to do, Blake soon realizes that he is simply making excuses. Join Blake as he and his mom go through a few simple steps to help him take initiative and get things done. Time to Get Started is part of the Executive FUNction series of books that inspires children in grades K-5 to be flexible, organized, and resourceful. Tips for counselors, parents and educators are included in the back of the book.

Hailey learns that magic apps which change her appearance are NOT the answer to finding happiness Summer is over and Hailey is dreading going back to school. She doesn't feel like she fits in. If only she could be tall like Tyler, or fast like Braden, or smart like Cade! Then she'd feel better about herself! Imagine Hailey's surprise when she wakes up the next morning and finds her bathroom mirror is covered in Magic Apps! Each app promises to make her taller, faster, smarter, and more! What harm is there in trying it? Join Hailey on her comical adventures as she tries app after app, trying to be someone she just isn't. With help from her mom and friends, Hailey soon realizes that trying to be like others isn't all it's cracked up to be! If Hailey can look within herself, she'll see that she has so many gifts to offer. And that by being herself, instead of relying on others, she'll be much happier. Written for kids in grades K-5, this story gives kids the message about how important it is to stay true to who you are. Tips for parents, counselors and educators are also included.

Herman Jiggle is excited to make some new friends. But first he needs to figure out how to stop his tummy from doing flip-flops and his words from getting stuck in his mouth! He can't seem to introduce himself or talk to others without getting nervous. With Mom eager to help Herman overcome his nerves and learn to make a good impression, she teaches him some new skills like how to introduce himself, and how to start up a conversation. Award-winning author, educator, and parenting expert Julia Cook pens a new book series that is sure to have K-5 students laughing loudly as relatable Herman tries his new skills. Follow Herman as he fumbles along the way to growing comfortable while speaking with others. With exceptional illustrations by accomplished artist Michael Garland, coupled with entertaining stories that teach important skills, this series is sure to be a hit with your child! Tips for educators and parents are included. This storybook is the first in our Socially Skilled Kids book series, and a great tool to help your child overcome social anxiety.

Freddie, our lovable fly, is tappin' and flappin' his way to trouble. He whirls around to and fro, buzzing from one distraction to another. Is it any wonder he forgets his lunch, fails his spelling test and leaves the house semi-dressed? Freddie is a go-go-go kind of guy who has no time to listen, focus or pay attention. His lack of concentration causes a real fright when he finds himself lost and alone at the zoo. Will that be the scare Freddie needs to finally take action and turn his BEE on and BUZZ off? Readers will love finding the answers in this delightfully insightful tale by speech-language pathologist and educator Kimberly Delude.

RJ is making a lot of trips to the time-out chair!Without telling anyone, he and his best friend Sam decide to walk home from school instead of riding the bus. Later the two of them are caught trying to use Dad's computer to get on the Internet. After their piano lesson, RJ and his sister Blanche snack on Mom's triple-layer double-chocolate cake with whipped cream frosting and spoil Grandma's birthday party surprise.RJ's Dad helps him learn how to do a better job of asking for permission, and when RJ and Sam return to school their principal has them practice making an apology. RJ feels a lot happier when he says he's sorry to his teacher, the bus driver, and Grandma, and he learns that asking for permission will mean fewer trips to the time-out chair!SORRY, I Forgot to Ask! is the third title in the award-winning BEST ME I Can Be! series from the Boys Town Press to teach K-6 children social skills that can make home life happier and school more successful. Tips for parents, teachers, and school counselors on how to teach and reinforce the social skills are included.A must have book for teaching children manners and important social-emotional skills.

My name is Gus, but most people call me GAS. As parents and educators, we've all been there. Gas is passed and a variety of snickers, giggles and negative comments ensue. But did you know that everyone and every living thing passes gas (except jelly fish and coral sponges)? If it's so natural, why do we struggle with teaching children how to respond appropriately when it happens? Join Gus as he and his classmates learn the brief biology lesson behind why we all pass gas, and the right way and the wrong way to handle it when it happens in public. Written for kids in grades K-5, this book is a great resource to help kids navigate the tricky subject of passing gas and how to act when it happens. Tips for parents, counselors and educators are included.

Reading this humorous story will help elementary students understand the difference between bullying and teasing. Is the Tease Monster a friend or a foe?That's what One of a Kind has to figure out in this quirky tale. One of a Kind has big feet and loves eating popsicles while standing upside down. He doesn't understand the difference between friendly teasing and mean teasing. When Purple laughs at One for being weird he feels rotten. And when Plaid called One a brainiac for getting an A+ on his math test he doesn't know what to say. With help, he learns that teasing is part of life and that laughing at someone is mean teasing or bullying and can have a hurtful bite, but laughing with someone is alright when it's not done out of spite! Author Julia Cook uses this story to help kids learn that the goal of teasing should be to create closer relationships and make connections, not to hurt the feelings of others. Tease Monster shows kids that teasing turns into bullying when kids use it to gain greater social status or if the intent is to harm. This story also gives children tools for how to respond to teasing or bullying. A great read for all children ages 5 to 11, but especially those with behavioral disorders. Tips for parents and educators are also included. This book is part of the Building Relationships series to help kids learn social skills.