Books published by publisher Boys Town Press

Norman David Edwards, better known as Noodle, has a problem – a procrastination problem. He’s constantly being told what to do. “Noodle do this. Noodle do that. Please do it RIGHT NOW. You must feed the cat.” But Noodle has SO MANY – and SO MUCH better – things to do, like hang out with friends, watch must-see TV and play video games. So it’s no surprise his cat goes hungry, the trash piles up and his poetry assignment remains unwritten. Noodle always chooses to do the things he wants to do while never getting around to doing the things he NEEDS to do. Award-winning children’s author Julia Cook uses Noodle to creatively highlight a conundrum all children struggle with and offers simple strategies to help them learn how to balance doing what needs to be done while still finding time for fun.

Freddie the Fly learns an important lesson about talking less...and listening more. Freddy the Fly likes to talk and talk. He's so busy buzzing about the latest gossip, he can't listen to anyone else. Freddie doesn't realize how much of a chatterbox he is until he meets Mesquita. Her mile-a-minute mouth makes Freddie seem like a mute. Freddie the Fly: Motormouth is a humorous take on the problem of never opening your ears because you are talking too much. Appropriate for readers in Pre-k to fourth-grade, this colorful storybook teaches kids how to control their conversations and be excited about listening to, and learning from, others. Tips for parents, counselors and teachers are included. Follow Freddie as he learns an important lesson about listening to and learning from others.

Hunter Lane loves to read about space, draw pictures about space, and imagines himself soaring through the atmosphere as an astronaut some day! Unfortunately for Hunter, his day dreams about space are interfering with his ability to get his work done in class. With help from his teacher and his dad, he learns the steps to completing a task. Children can quickly and repeatedly get distracted, lose focus, and fail to follow through. In this book, children learn the steps to Completing a Task and the value of finishing even the most simple of missions.

Banish rude and insensitive comments at home and school by teaching kids in grades K-6 how to use a social filter. RJ is a youngster who always says what he thinks no matter how it sounds or makes others feel. RJ doesn’t realize his words are sometimes insensitive. He thinks he’s just speaking the truth and offering feedback. With help from his parents, he learns he doesn’t have to verbalize every thought that pops into his head. In fact, sometimes the less said the better! Join RJ as he discovers the value of thinking before speaking and realizes that with practice he can use a little self control to think before he speaks. He can give positive feedback, or none at all. If RJ can use his social filter, he won't offend or hurt the feelings of others with careless comments. This book is the seventh in Julia Cook’s BEST ME I Can Be! series which teaches children social skills that can make home life happier and school more successful. The skills are part of the Boys Town Education Model that has improved student behavior and classroom climates in hundreds of schools across the country. With RJ's help, K-6 readers will learn how to evaluate social situations and choose appropriate words to say. I Can't Believe You Said That! is an amusing tale with a message that teachers and parents will appreciate. The book also includes tips for developing your child's social filter.

Michael did a bad thing and then in a fit of panic, lied! And lied. And lied. This humerous chapter book for independent readers in grades 1-5, helps children understand the impact of making a mistake and telling a lie, and how a lie can quickly spin into more lies. What was supposed to be a fun, educational field trip to the local zoo turned into a living nightmare for a young third-grader. One stupid prank, quickly followed by one big lie, leaves Michael scrambling to save himself from a hotheaded redhead bent on revenge and a sharp-toothed alligator ready to chomp. Will Michael escape his web of lies by owning up to his mistakes and apologizing? Or will he keep hiding the truth by spinning wilder and wilder tales? Author Tony Penn has created a relatable story with Michael's adventures turning into misadventures. This comical yet educational tale shows the importance of owning up to your mistakes, being honest, and making apologies.

In this book children will learn how to build relationships without bragging or one-upping their classmates.Brad has a lot of great things going on in his life or at least that's what he tells all of his classmates! When one student won a contest, he told about how he won an even bigger contest! When another student broke his arm, he told about how he broke both arms AND both legs!Award winning author Julia Cook teaches children how to be a good friend by sharing the spotlight. Kids and adults will get a real kick out of Brad's tall tales as he learns the importance of being a 'Pull-Upper,' not a 'One-Upper.'This is the first book in the Communicate with Confidence series designed to teach kids key skills that will help them be more successful by mastering the art of communicating.

Learning the Difference between a Report and a Tattle for Young Children! Diamond, an elementary-aged rattlesnake, loves to tattle. She's proud to be the school's biggest tattle-tale, always slithering up to the teacher to rat out her peers who make a mistake or act a little mischievous. But her tattling is affecting her friendships. One minute she's outing Opal the Octopus for doodling, and the next minute she's calling out Casey the Cow for blowing bubbles. Is Diamond just a snake in the grass who can't be trusted? The class busybody who likes getting her classmates into trouble? Or does she tattle because she thinks it's the only right thing to do? This delightfully illustrated tale of Diamond Rattle Loves to Tattle, Diamond will learn about figuring out when the right thing to do means telling an adult and when the best thing to do is figuring it out on your own. A fantastic lesson on developing problem-solving skills for young readers in grades K through 5. Tips for parents and educators are included at the end of the story to help children learn other options besides tattling and getting to know the difference between trying to HELP someone in trouble and trying to GET someone in trouble.

Show kids the importance of discovering and respecting differences in others It's diversity week at Amelia's school, and she has no clue what it means or why it matters. Every day, she's introduced to cultures, cuisines and customs that push Amelia outside her comfort zone and test her preconceived notions about people and places. Is Mei really asking me to bow when I introduce myself? Is Rosa really celebrating toes? How the heck do I eat something wrapped in a cornhusk? And why is Malia's mom gyrating in a grass skirt? Amelia has lots of questions (and a few concerns), but the more she experiences, the more she realizes how diversity makes life more fun. She also discovers that differences shouldn't divide people because everyone shares something in common. This book is part of the Without Limits series written for kids in grades K-5. Tips for parents, counselors and educators are included in the back of the book. A definite must-read for all kids!

Teaching Children to Celebrate the Many Talents of Others Multi-talented Brown is the luckiest pencil in the box! In this fun, creative story, Brown learns that in order to make and keep friends, he needs to know how to be a good friend. And to be a good friend, Brown must find a way to share his many talents with others. At first, that seems hard to Brown. But he soon realizes that to be a good friend, all he has to do is be himself! Making Friends Is an Art! is part of the popular Building Relationships series written by award-winning author Julia Cook. This is a wonderful story for teaching kids of all ages how to practice the true art of friendship and getting along with others. Educators, counselors and parents will love reading the second edition of this very popular story with children which features fewer words and more positive, empowering messaging. Brown and his friends learn to recognize their talents by being true to themselves. Making Friends Is an Art! is the recipient of the prestigious Mom's Choice Award. Tips for educators and parents are located at the end of the story to help further address the importance of being a good friend.

Freddie the Fly learns an important lesson about talking less...and listening more. Freddy the Fly likes to talk and talk. He's so busy buzzing about the latest gossip, he can't listen to anyone else. Freddie doesn't realize how much of a chatterbox he is until he meets Mesquita. Her mile-a-minute mouth makes Freddie seem like a mute. Freddie the Fly: Motormouth is a humorous take on the problem of never opening your ears because you are talking too much. Appropriate for readers in Pre-k to fifth-grade, this colorful storybook teaches kids how to control their conversations and be excited about listening to, and learning from, others. Tips for parents, counselors and teachers are included. Follow Freddie as he learns an important lesson about listening to and learning from others.

Grab a child's attention with this colorful storybook about online safety and being kind and respectful to others.A cute, creative story about children and their texts, tweets, posts and pics. Screen wants all kids to know that everything you post is attached to your life, creating a digital trail that can't be erased. This book delivers a timeless message to a new generation just learning how to navigate the fast-changing digital age. Written for children ages 6-11, this storybook uses rhymes and colorful illustrations to grab their attention. There are also tips for parents and teachers who want to reinforce kindness and respect in a high-tech world and teach children, pre-teens, and tweens about cyberbullying. Part of the Communicate with Confidence series of children's books by author Julia Cook.

Cade learns that to be generous, it requires a real sacrifice. When Cade and his family find out their ice cream order was paid for by another patron, they continue paying it forward, and so starts the discussion of random acts of kindness Cade takes this idea and runs with it, showing unexpected kindnesses to others. But when Cade's dad would like him to donate some of his own toys, he has a hard time. Will Cade be able to learn the importance of being kind to others, even when it isn't easy? Find out in this tale about showing kindness.This storybook is part of the Without Limits series written for kids in grades K-5. Tips for parents, counselors, and educators are included. Use this book to teach children how they can participate in random acts of kindness