Books published by publisher Boys Town Press

Self-monitoring can be challenging to understand, and even more challenging to master. Help children develop their abilities to self-control! When he rushes home after an exhausting night of baseball, the last thing Braden wants to hear is Mom and Dad harping about everything he must finish on his to-do list. Of course, they wouldn't be on his case if he actually paid attention and did what he needed to do. From chores at home to questions on a quiz, Braden never checks his work for mistakes or to see if he missed anything. Is there a solution to his sloppiness? Yes... but will Braden be willing to try it? Can he become a master of self-monitoring? Award-winning author, happy father, and popular school counselor Bryan Smith highlights the importance of slowing down, being accurate, and double-checking one's work in the seventh installment of the Executive FUNction series written for K-5 students. Included at the end of the story are tips for parents, caregivers and educators to help children better control their self-monitoring skills.

Everything in Noodle's life stinks, or so he thinks. Homework stinks. Practice stinks. Yard work stinks. And family pictures? They REALLY stink! This is the Story of a boy whose attitude, or "baditude," is alienating everyone around him. Can Noodle let go of his angst and try to find the brighter side of life? With help from a teacher and his mom, Noodle learns how to turn his 'have tos' into "get tos" and his baditude into gratitude!

A fresh approach to a dirty dilemma. How do you make young children understand the importance of bathing and brushing? In this ingenious tale, young readers are sure to get the message that good hygiene will improve their health and their relationships! Jean the Fork hates taking baths or showers. She just can't figure out why people are not using her as frequently as the other silverware, or why the other forks, knives and spoons avoid her. When she asks the wise old can opener about it, he replies Well, I hate to break it to you my friend Fork, but it appears you smell like last week's pork! Will Jean get the message that she needs to practiced good hygiene?In the fifth book in her award-winning Building Relationships series, author Julia Cook offers a hilarious approach to a very personal issue - good hygiene! Tips for parents, teachers, counselors, and therapists are included. Help all smelly kids learn personal care with this fun book that teaches basic hygiene! This storybook is a clever fable with a timeless message.

Burns Mountain Regional Airport is a quiet little airport in the wilds of the Pacific Northwest. Nothing ever happens there... until The Fog rolls in, bringing with it traffic from other worlds. Then air traffic controller Marla Tucker and the rest of the airport staff go to work, guiding the alien visitors to land for clandestine meetings and mysterious trading. Before The Fog lifts, these strange aircraft will return to their worlds, and Burns Mountain will go back to sleep.The Fog Traffic remains a closely guarded secret... until one visitor goes missing, and the Mantis people want him back for an important diplomatic ceremony. Now government agents are taking over the airport, and suspicion falls on Marla and her friends. Marla must decide who she trusts and how far she will go to help a stranger in trouble... while avoiding interdimensional war!

A Story About Ignoring Distractions and Staying on Task Spring is in the air! That means great things like warmer weather, playing outside, and baseball! So, when Blake is distracted by kids in the schoolyard, it’s no wonder why he doesn’t notice his friends working on the ground and knocks over their project! And when things are slow in the outfield and Blake begins to work on a dirt clump beneath his feet, is it a surprise he doesn’t see or hear the warning before a baseball nails him in the elbow? And come on, how is he supposed to keep working on his math test when it’s taking FOREVER, and he just wants to go outside? Focus. Focus. Focus. That is the advice Blake frequently hears but fails to follow. Although he may be struggling with focus and learning to stay on task, the adults in his life are there to help teach him how to use tools like the work/brain break cycle, squishy eraser, glove tapping, and more! Fix It with Focus adds another entertaining lesson to the very popular Executive FUNction book series by award-winning author, school counselor, dad and coach Bryan Smith. Being able to focus is an important life skill and can help set children up for success. Included at the end of the story are tips for parents and educators to help teach children in grades K through 5 how to channel their energy, time-management and self-monitoring skills.

Boone can help teach your kids how to be grateful for what they have and how to work for what they want. Boone is a cute gosling, but right now he is really bothered! Why is his brother Finn the first to fly? And why can Otter flip but Boone can't? It just doesn't seem fair! Boone doesn't realize that everyone is different with different abilities. Fortunately, Boone is surrounded by friends who help him understand it's natural to look at what others have and wonder what it would be like to be like them. But it's more important for Boone to recognize his own strength and talents. Boone soon learns that instead of begrudging what others have or earned, he should be grateful for what he has, and work hard to earn what more he wants. A great book to help children overcome feelings of jealousy and envy, and to remember the importance of gratitude and hard work. Tips for parents, teachers and educators are included.

Teach children to stop making excuses and blaming others when they make mistakes.Elementary school kids will identify with Noodle as he makes one excuse after another for his behavior and choices that lead to unwanted consequences. It just isn’t his fault that his brother’s game ran late, and he didn’t finish his homework. Or that his mom forgot to remind him to turn in his library book. By learning to accept responsibility he finds instead how to use mistakes as opportunities for problem-solving and to turn negatives into positives.This first book in the new Responsible Me! Series, follows Noodle through a very rough day at school.Kids of all ages can see themselves in Noodle and are able to relate to his thoughts, feelings, and emotions and he learns about taking responsibility for his actions.Customer Review:Most of Julia Cook's books state they are for 4-10 year old children. As the grandparent of a young teen with Asperger's, I'm here to say her books are usually the only way we can help him to understand whatever the current or new problem might be. We can talk about what he needs to say or do, but it seldom connects, as he will tune out and shut down during a parental lecture. These books have been a godsend. Speaking out of turn and/or interrupting... yep, there's one for that.Tattling, teasing, personal space, choices, responsibility, meltdowns, anxiety, worry, frustration, grief, attitude adjustment - one for each of those too. She has written so many wonderful, easy to read and comprehend, short books on social skills - the one trait so many Aspies share - I think we have purchased them all. Maybe she'll write a few books to help older teens and younger adults refine their social skills ... I'd buy them! - Vicki Cobb

Teach children to respond appropriately to different situations and put their flexible thinking skills to use! Blake wants to sell his brother, Braden, to another family. Savannah wants to fight Mary over an insult. Braden sooo wants to sneak out of class to play kickball. The characters in this fast-paced story face conundrums that make each of them consider solutions that are inappropriate, ill-advised or irresponsible. Fortunately, some good old-fashioned fatherly advice coupled with a tried-and-true strategy for solving problems keeps everyone safe and satisfied. This story introduces and encourages readers to use SODAS (Situation, Options, Disadvantages, Advantages, and Solution) as a way to logically and thoughtfully figure out how to solve any problem, from the silly to the serious. What's the Problem? adds to the wildly popular Executive FUNction series, which artfully weaves skill teaching into humorous storylines to help readers become flexible thinkers, problem solvers and self-managers. Included at the end of the story are tips for parents, caregivers and educators to help reinforce the importance of problem solving skills and helping to determine the appropriate response in any situation.

If your child overreacts, this book is for you! This entertaining story teaches social-emotional skills to children. What was supposed to be a carefree afternoon of go-cart racing quickly turns sour when Braden shouts and pouts about the rules. Turns out he is too short to drive a go-cart by himself. Hearing his parents say the rules are the rules only makes him more upset until a major meltdown follows. Will Braden ever learn to keep his cool in the face of disappointment? Will every discouraging moment send him into an emotional meltdown? Part of the Executive Function series of books for children, Of Course It's a Big Deal! teaches kids not to overreact to situations, use flexible thinking and keep their emotions in check! This entertaining story also gives kids strategies (and benefits) for maintaining self-control and managing disappointment. Tips for Parents, teachers, coaches and counselors are also included. A great resource for children with a behavioral disorder, ADHD or autism.

Teach your child not to spill the rumor marbles! Most of us have been involved with rumors somehow. But how many people really stop to think about the damaging effects?> Fortunately, award-winning author Julia Cook does, and cleverly brings this serious subject to light in an entertaining and funny, but cautionary, tale about the importance of NOT starting or spreading rumors, and why lies and deception or tall tales, can hurt others.Told through the eyes of the rumor marble, the story describes how a simple misunderstanding starts a chain reaction that can't be undone! Using witty rhymes and silly situations, young readers learn the dangers of spreading rumors and repeating gossip. This book can help kids understand the importance of honesty and sticking to the facts and not gossip. There are even practical ideas for teachers and parents on how to help kids identify and respond to lies and innuendo.Part of the Building Relationships series of books to help children with social skills and manners. K-6 students will laugh as they read this story and are reminded that rumors are pieces of information that have not been verified and that it's much easier to prevent a rolling rumor marble from starting to roll forward than trying to stop one!

Isaac is impatient and a little rude. When he needs help, he wants immediate assistance. When he has questions, he wants instant answers. If he doesn't get a speedy response, this second-grader interrupts others by shouting and grabbing. Isaac never waits his turn and does whatever he feels like to get an adult's attention, including hollering at his teacher and seizing the shirttail of a store clerk. Watching him interrupt others is a masterclass in bad manners and embarrassing behaviors. And it's not just his lack of patience and poorly timed interruptions that cause chaos. He mistakenly stays quiet during an emergency when an adult's attention is desperately needed. The result is a yucky, sickening mess. In the pages of But I Need Your Help Now!, young readers learn valuable lessons about how to wait their turn, stop blurting out in the classroom and interrupt the right way - when necessary! This is the first title in award-winning author and school counselor Bryan Smith's new Stepping Up Social Skills series. Included are tips for educators, counselors, and parents.