Books published by publisher Free Spirit Publishing

What’s your choice€”to have to walk on stilts the rest of your life, or to always have to roller skate to get around? To have no short-term memory, or no long-term memory? To not eat for two days, or to not sleep for two days? Choice provokes thinking, and thinking is fun. Each card presents a delightful dilemma€”sometimes unusual, always challenging€”to spark conversation or controversy. Change your choice and change your mind. All ages, 101 cards, 3" recyclable plastic screwtop jar.

Ease little ones into the get-ready-for-bed routine with this warm and cozy bedtime book. Aided by Mom and Dad, a sister and brother enjoy a little snack, relaxing baths, time for brushing teeth, stories, lullabies, back rubs, and hugs. Cheerful, soft illustrations and reassuring text set a tone that helps toddlers feel good about settling down to sleep. (As the narrator explains, “I do my best growing when I’m sleeping.”) In the morning, the children will yawn, stretch, and be a little bit bigger, a little bit stronger, and a little bit smarter—all because of a good night’s sleep. Includes tips for parents and caregivers.

Kids today need manners more than ever, and Dude, That’s Rude! makes it fun and easy to get some. Full-color cartoons and kid-friendly text teach the basics of polite behavior in all kinds of situations—at home, at school, in the bathroom, on the phone, at the mall, and more. Kids learn Power Words to use and P.U. Words to avoid, why their family deserves their best manners, and the essentials of e-tiquette (politeness online). It seems like light reading, but it’s serious stuff: Manners are major social skills, and this book gives kids a great start.

If pets could talk, what would they say? Maybe “Fur is for petting, backs are for scratching, noses are for nuzzling . . . and tails are not for pulling!” Toddlers and pets belong together—as long as toddlers don’t chase, grab, squeeze, yank, and tease. In simple words and delightful illustrations, this book teaches the basics of kindness to animals: careful handling, awareness, safety, and respect. It also includes helpful tips for parents and caregivers.

Everyone gets angry, so it’s never too early for children to learn to recognize feelings of anger, express them, and build skills for coping with anger in helpful, appropriate ways. Children learn that it is okay to feel angry—but not okay to hurt anyone with actions or words. They discover concrete skills for working through anger: self-calming, thinking, getting help from a trusted person, talking and listening, apologizing, being patient, and viewing others positively. Reassuring and supportive, the book helps preschool and primary-age children see that when they cool down and work through anger, they can feel peaceful again.

4 years & up. Hands Are Not for Hitting by Martine Agassi. This book teaches children learn that violence is never okay. Children can learn to manage their anger and other strong feelings. Hands are capable of positive, loving actions such as playing, making music, learning, counting, helping, and much more! Includes a special section for adults with activities and discussion starters. Paperback. 40 pages.

This friendly picture book helps young children make sense of mixed-up emotions. Happy, and also sad. Excited, but nervous too. Feeling friendly, with a little shyness mixed in. Mixed feelings are natural, but they can be confusing. There are different kinds of happy—the quiet kind and the “noisy, giggly, jump and run” kind. And there are conflicting feelings, like proud and jealous, frustrated and determined. With gentle messaging and charming illustrations, a little girl talks about her many layered feelings, ultimately concluding, “When I have more than one feeling inside me, I don’t have to choose just one. I know that all my feelings are okay at the same time.” A special section for adults presents ideas for helping children explore their emotions, build a vocabulary of feeling words, know what to do if they feel overwhelmed, and more.

Everyone needs to know how to name and express feelings. Each jar holds 365 little slips printed with ";feelings words";€”gleeful, insecure, grateful, angry, cranky, courageous, hopeful, and many more. Pull a slip and act out the feeling, or invite someone else to act it out. Use as discussion starters, journaling prompts, or icebreakers for groups. Ages 8 & up, 365 slips, 3" recyclable plastic screwtop jar.

Mealtime—“Yummy-in-the-tummy time”—is an opportunity to teach young children two major life skills: nutrition and table manners. Simple but important mealtime routines come to life as the toddlers in this book remember to wash their hands, use a napkin and fork or spoon, stay at the table, and eat healthy foods. Toddlers also learn the one big rule for mealtime: Always try one bite (“You just might like it!”). Parents and caregivers want toddlers to develop healthy eating habits and positive mealtime routines. This book helps them do so with Verdick’s keen ability to speak directly to little ones and Heinlen’s delightful, appealing illustrations. Includes tips for parents and caregivers. Part of the award-winning Toddler Tools series.

A board book about recognizing and understanding emotions. “Sometimes I feel up and down . . . and up again— all in one day!” This reassuring book helps young children identify and understand emotions in terms of up feelings (like happy and loved) and down feelings (like sad and afraid). With straightforward words and warm illustrations, the book guides children to recognize that feelings change and that their own actions can often make a difference in how they feel. When their feelings are too big for them, children can ask for help, talk about things, spend some quiet time . . . or help someone else.Learning About Me & You Series Support toddlers and young preschoolers in developing self-awareness and social awareness with these charming board books focused on early social skills. With her straightforward and encouraging style, author Cheri J. Meiners guides little ones to understand how they fit into their world and how other people fit in, too. Children learn about belonging, feelings, playing, sharing, helping, and more. Perfect for group or home settings, each book includes tips and information for teachers, parents, and caregivers.

8 years & up. How to Take the Grrrr Out of Anger by Elizabeth Verdick and Marjorie Lisovskis. Kids need help learning how to deal with anger. This book speaks directly to them with strategies they can start using immediately. Blending solid information and sound advice with humor and lively illustrations, it guides kids to understand that anger is normal and they can learn to express it in healthy ways. This revised edition addresses children's exposure to increased societal violence and includes discussion and examples of anger related to texting and social media. Paperback. 128 pages.