“A snappy self-help guide with enough of a comic-book flair to appeal to guys.”—School Library Journal

“In a friendly, engaging voice, the text provides the reader with a safe place to ask and wonder about those tough middle school questions.”—Once Upon a Book

"Chock-full of helpful hints...lists resources to help readers increase their self-esteem. The graphic-novel-like design will make this self-help tool stand out and appeal to fans of that format." —School Library Journal

"A practical and fun resource for tweens making the adjustment from elementary to middle school." —Jennifer O'Donnell, About.com. Click here to read more of this review.

“This is a book that I am going to recommend to all of my new parents, and to those whose children are still having difficulty with good-byes.”—Andrea Coventry, Montessori Educator, Andi’s Kids Books Blog

"Bye-Bye Time addresses the separation anxiety that children may feel when a caregiver leaves them temporarily. It discusses feelings they may have, coping mechanisms, and the helpfulness of creating a ritual...The pictures are upbeat and expressive."
—School Library Journal

“Another beneficial addition to any bookshelf used by preschoolers and toddlers.”—Andrea Coventry, Montessori educator, Andi’s Kids Books Blog

"Clean-Up Time breaks down a routine activity as something necessary that 'can be quick and fun. Let's work together, everyone.' This cheerful book could act as a positive introduction to an unpopular task...The pictures are upbeat and expressive." —School Library Journal

"With this one book alone, you could revamp a whole school system, one school at a time. With this concept of cluster grouping, a school district could save all the costs of a self-contained or pull-out gifted program. And if you take this flat out declaration seriously, The Cluster Grouping Handbook will do all the thinking, all the planning, all the charting, and all the predicting you will ever need...to the ultimate meticulous detail. This is not an exaggeration. Every finite element for planning has been accomplished...buy the book! It has wonderful ideas." —Gifted Education Communicator

“A delightful addition to the series. I particularly like the focus on what kids can do to handle their anger more constructively, rather than focusing on what not to do. . . . The cognitive-behavioral perspective is also quite helpful—that changing thoughts as well as behaviors can help with handling anger. . . . Will appeal to kids as well as those who work with them.” —James J. Crist, Ph.D., author of What to Do When You’re Scared and Worried and Mad

“Bursting with colorful, easy-to-follow graphics that explain potty from start to flush. This darling book helps moms and dads—and all helpers—see that light at the end of the toilet. Your tots will gain courage and confidence with this book.” —Christine Coppa, Droolicious at Babble.com 

"Learning to use the potty takes patience and practice, and this charming, straightforward book helps pave the way. Young children learn how to use the potty and why it's time to do so, while gaining the courage and confidence to face this important milestone in their lives." —Edmonton's Child

“Boys will love this! Rather than getting yelled or preached at, this book takes a fun look at typical forms of rudeness and makes them totally uncool. Being polite, kind to others, is a first step in helping a child walk the talk of social justice.”—Reach and Teach

"Gifted teens have unique social needs but most programs for this population focus on their academic needs. This book remedies that problem by providing discussion guides for 70 topics across 6 categories: identity, stress, relationships, feelings, family, and the future. Helpful activitiy sheets and an extensive list of resources by subject are also included."
—Curriculum Connections, a supplement of School Library Journal

"It's not always an easy feat to teach little ones about morals and the difference between right and wrong. But great news for you author Elizabeth Verdick is here to help you..." —Baby Let's Shop blog

“Engaging...kids will enjoy the book.”—Children’s Literature

"This best-selling book by Earl Hipp gives teens information on how stress affects health and decsion-making. While it is not faith based, students will learn stress-management skills, such as assertiveness, time management and relaxation exercises. A study guide and leader's manual also are available. Free Spirit Publishing." —YouthWorker Journal, January/February 2009

“Get Out! is a tidy little book of 150 quick ideas to get kids out in nature and to teach them basic green habits.” —The Ohio River Region Get Out! Magazine

“There should be more books like this!”—LisaReviews.com

“Written with enthusiasm, and packed with great ideas, this little handbook will help families of all kinds improve their quality of life and strengthen their connection with the environment.”—Through the Looking Glass Children’s Book Reviews

“Can be used by classroom teachers across the curriculum as a source for activities and is sure to inspire budding environmentalists.”—School Library Journal

 “Helps adults become more respectful of the knowledge and abilities that young people have.”—Youthworker

“Kid-friendly text . . . Fox’s enticing, edgy, collage artwork will draw readers in . . . [and] send a strong visual message. This offering will be a great discussion springboard for teachers and counselors.”—School Library Journal

“Good-Bye Bully Machine is a top pick for parents of children who face bully problems in school.”—The Midwest Book Review, Reviewer’s Choice

"We love this series because they are a fun way to explain basic do's and don'ts' to your child and repetition from hearing the same book over and over gives you a better chance that it will actually sink in." —Baby Let's Shop blog

“Recommended!”—Midwest Book Review

“A great book to use at the beginning of the school year when establishing classroom rules . . . one to which teachers should periodically return to remind children of the listening rules.”—Andrea Coventry, Montessori educator, Andi’s Kids Books Blog

"I highly recommend these books for your home library if you have a little one." —Mommin' It Up

"Toddlers will manage to calm down fairly quickly upon coming across these gentle books that help them deal with various transitions in their young lives." —SAHManswers.com (Stay At Home Mom)

“Uses age-appropriate language and situations to illustrate the social courtesies contained within. . . . Great for parents to read on a daily basis with their young ones.”—Andrea Coventry, Montessori educator, Andi’s Kids Books Blog

“There is no such thing as a quick fix. However, if you’re beleaguered by the baby battles, these books could serve as a life preserver.”
—The Post & Courier

“The rhyming story is one that toddlers are going to enjoy and easily pick up as part of their routine catch phrases throughout the day. The pictures portray an adorable young boy telling his story and will be appealing to young children. It definitely is a book that will become a favorite with toddlers and can even be used before naptime at school or childcare.”—Andrea Coventry, Montessori educator, Andi’s Kids Books Blog

“There is no such thing as a quick fix. However, if you’re beleaguered by the baby battles, these books could serve as a life preserver.”
—The Post & Courier

"I highly recommend these books for your home library if you have a little one." —Mommin' It Up

"Toddlers will manage to calm down fairly quickly upon coming across these gentle books that help them deal with various transitions in their young lives." —SAHManswers.com (Stay At Home Moms)

"Do you have stubborn children like myself? If so, the ParentSmart KidHappy™ series of books from Free Spirit Publishing is something you need in your house...Each of the books in this series tackles the battle of wills that we all encounter in our homes."—LisaReviews.com

"Do you have stubborn children like myself? If so, the ParentSmart KidHappy™ series of books from Free Spirit Publishing is something you need in your house...Each of the books in this series tackles the battle of wills that we all encounter in our homes."—LisaReviews.com

"Do you have stubborn children like myself? If so, the ParentSmart KidHappy™ series of books from Free Spirit Publishing is something you need in your house...Each of the books in this series tackles the battle of wills that we all encounter in our homes."—LisaReviews.com

“Makes a great supplement for character lessons.”—The Old Schoolhouse^® Magazine, LLC

"If you are looking for a great gift for a child, this is it. It will literally give them hours and hours of fun, and they will be learning the entire time (and not driving you nuts)." —LisaReviews.com

“This graphic book (comic book style for those of us who grew up a while ago) should be slipped into every new middle schooler’s backpack or under his or her pillow.” —Reach and Teach

“Amazing, colorful, and educational. . . . Middle school kids would definitely benefit from reading this.” —Sue Scheff, parent advocate, founder of P.U.R.E.™, and author of Google^™ Bomb and Wit’s End

“There’s a lot packed into this colorful title that falls somewhere between self-help and peer advice.”—School Library Journal

“Sit back and enjoy these 30 incredible human interest stories all about children who have faced extraordinary odds and accomplished near miracles.”—Skipping Stones Magazine

“Fabulous! This book is exciting, inspirational, and best of all, completely true!”—T.A. Barron, author of The Hero's Trail

“A one-of-a-kind book that uses real-life examples to teach young people everywhere that they can make a positive difference.”—Midwest Book Review

Reviews for previous title, The Doggy Dung Disaster & Other True Stories

“A one-of-a-kind book that uses real-life examples to teach young people everywhere that they can make a positive difference.”—Midwest Book Review

“A treasure chest, rich with hope, heavily laden with motivating stories."—Warren McLaren, Treehugger.com

“This collection of tales about real kids doing amazing things is inspiring.” —Washington Post

“Informative and interactive.”—Chicago Tribune

“The splashy, magazine-style layout, with lots of illustrations and sidebar activities, make this an attractive read for girls.”—Youth Today

“Junior and senior high girls, as well as their older sisters and mothers, will find it challenging and clarifying.”—Voice of Youth Advocates

“It’s important for children to understand they can’t take something away from another person without permission. It’s important they understand they have the right to say no when asked to share but can offer up a compromise for later. This book is a great way to lay that foundation.”—Andrea Coventry, Montessori educator, Andi’s Kids Books Blog

“There is no such thing as a quick fix. However, if you’re beleaguered by the baby battles, these books could serve as a life preserver.”—The Post & Courier

“A handy resource for all youth workers and educators.”—Youth Today

“Excellent communication book. . . . Do-able skills written in kid-friendly vernacular”—Youthworker

“Enlightening as well as hopeful.”—Youthworker

“A practical guide for teachers in mixed-ability classrooms to creatively meet curriculum benchmarks without focusing solely on standardized tests. Teachers will appreciate the combined use of research and practicality.”—Susan Hyde, M.Ed., Suite 101

“The hours this book saves teachers are immeasurable.”—Gifted Education Communicator

"This accessible, ready-to-use guide describes mental health and learning disorders often observed in school children, explains how each might be exhibited in the classroom, and offers suggestions for what to do (and what not to do). Written to and for the regular classroom teacher, this book is a valuable tool for all school personnel, parents, and anyone who works with children." —National Association of Elementary School Principals

"Very strongly recommended!" —Midwest Book Review

“The hands-on activities in this book make learning about leadership meaningful and fun while building character.”—Adolescence

“If you are a teacher or any other category of human being who enjoys “putting the ‘Active’ in Activities” as Mariam MacGregor describes it, this is the book for you. . . . Ms. MacGregor definitely knows how to lay out a compact activity format for teachers and leaders.”—Gifted Education Communicator, published by the California Association for the Gifted (CAG)

“This is an outstanding resource for all those who want to encourage young people in their leadership and teamwork skills. While there are many similar books available, this one will become one of the essential resources in the youth worker's library.”
—Dan Kreiss, YouthWorker Journal

“Among books recently published on this topic, this one distinguishes itself by covering more than 50 actual court cases involving teenagers.”—School Library Journal

“Deals with the hot, contemporary topic of online teen harassment, by both teens and by adults.”"
—Booklist

“A great tool to provoke dialogue and help bridge the ‘digital divide’ between teens and adults.” —Dr. Jenny Walker, president, Cyberbullying Consulting, Ltd.

“Explains the ramifications of teen cyberbullying in a very readable format.” —Stuart Nachbar, Educated Quest blog

“The Teen Guide to Global Action by Barbara A. Lewis is the perfect little book to hand to a motivated teenager who wants to make a difference. Hip, up to date, and easy to read . . . this book would be a great research reference for a geography or civics class and very useful to a high school environment or social issues club.”—Green Teacher

“This book belongs in the hands of every student who wants to change the world." —Benjamin Quinto, founder and executive director, Global Youth Action Network (GYAN)

"The Teen Guide to Global Action, by Barbara A. Lewis, tells the story of teen activists like Zach Hunter, who started Loose Change to end modern slavery; Janine Licare, who is helping to stop the destruction of rain forests; and Zhura Bahman, who started a foundation in her native Afghanistan to help girls with education." —Teaching Tolerance

"It's not always an easy feat to teach little ones about morals and the difference between right and wrong. But great news for you author Elizabeth Verdick is here to help you..."—Baby Let's Shop blog

“Lovely.”—Scholastic Parent & Child

“Annie Fox does a nice job of showing both sides of how both children and parents feel.”—Amy Barseghian, M.S.E., Parent Coach

“What makes this book so unique is that not just girls will want to read it! Boys will dig it, too.”—Special Needs Kids Examiner

“The third in the fantastic series of must-have middle school backpack stuffers . . . this [book] looks at how kids relate with their families.”
—Reach and Teach

“Thank goodness for the Middle School Confidential series! A must-have for tween girls."—ParentingPink.com

“Smart and funny and real, these tips and tools will help tweens deal with real life issues. I wish I had this series when I was in middle school.”
—Ericka Lutz, author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Friendship for Teens

“In her latest book, Annie Fox tackles the universal problem of conflict between tweens, teens, and parents. Families that use this book just might miss out on a lot of the relationship challenges that seem like a rite of passage.” —Tina Nocera, founder, Parental Wisdom

“What’s Up with My Family? tackles real-life challenges, from daily drama with parents and siblings to life-changing issues like divorce or the loss of a parent. The book blends the best of ready-to-use strategies with stories from the Middle School Confidential cast of characters. Another brilliant addition to the series!” —Joe Bruzzese, author of A Parents’ Guide to the Middle School Years

“A great starting place for young people who are hurting.”—Voice of Youth Advocates

“This compassionate, user-friendly book lists pages of resources and suggested reading, and should be made available to teens.”—School Library Journal

“Non-preachy and compassionate.”—NEA Today

“A tool with compassion and genuine understanding with advice that a grieving teen needs. . . .This book should be on the shelf of any parent, teacher, counselor, or youth worker.”—Youthworker

"It's not always an easy feat to teach little ones about morals and the difference between right and wrong. But great news for you author Elizabeth Verdick is here to help you..."—Baby Let's Shop blog

“Recommended for home, school, and childcare center’s early childhood library resources and character education reading lists.”—Midwest Book Review

“A useful tool for the classroom.”—Children’s Literature

"Awesome ABC Book"—Scholastic Instructor Magazine.

“An especially nice choice for a preschool classroom.”—Children’s Literature

“Simple things even toddlers can do for themselves and others.”
—Curriculum Review

“Excellent material.”—Voice of Youth Advocates

“Chock-full of information.”—School Library Journal’s Curriculum Connections

“A cornucopia of specific tips for parents.”—USA Today

“A must-have for every school system!”—Parent Council^®

“If there is a bible of K–12 service learning, it is Cathryn Berger Kaye’s The Complete Guide to Service Learning.” —Youth Service California

“The Complete Guide to Service Learning has been my go-to resource for sharing ideas with our partner organizations and with anyone who says, ‘Tell me about service learning.’ Rich in information, ideas, and practical suggestions, this guide inspires and reminds me how important our youth are and what valuable contributors they can be. Cathryn’s book brings learning and service to life.”—Elaine Liebsohn, America’s Promise Alliance

Praise for the Previous Edition:

“An informative book for those interested in creating or overseeing service-learning programs.”—Youth Today

“A wonderful step-by-step guide with handy tips and practical advice. An outstanding resource, a must-have.”
—Voice of Youth Advocates

“Timely and practical.”—Educational Dealer

“An indispensable map through the wilderness, one that should be issued to every queer kid immediately.”—The Advocate

"If you are a teacher or librarian or youth worker, please read this book, and if you agree with me that it’s terrific, do all you can to make it available to the young people you serve."
—Nancy Garden, Lambda Book Report

“A great choice for teens who are gay or questioning their sexuality, or even those who would like to know more about what it's like to be queer. Written in hip language and style, the book covers the basics in GLBTQ 101.”—GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network)

“Sensitively written...speaks frankly and directly to teens.”
—Teaching Tolerance

“An honest, sensitive book which addresses the concerns and questions GLBTQ youth face every day.”—Staten Island Advance

“Provides an important point of departure for discussing constructive ways of coping with and resolving strong feelings such as anger, jealousy, and fear.”—School Library Journal

“The most incredibly readable, enjoyable, laughable, enlightening, and insightful book.”—Voice of Youth Advocates 

                                                                   
“Surprisingly simple ways for teens to respond to and interact with people to get the best results.”—Youthworker

"Chock full of information for kids as well as teachers and parents...should be in both school and public libraries."—KLIATT 

“As a former homeless person, I was completely impressed with the content and layout of the book. This resource would make an excellent service project for a homeschooling family, youth group, scout troop, homeschool group, or anyone else interested in finding out how to help that segment of society that seems to be overlooked.”—Practical Homeschooling

"An outstanding contribution. It is not a stretch to believe that if this book were translated into the world's many languages and disseminated all over the globe, today's youngsters would be tomorrow's peacemakers.  It is highly recommended."—Voice of Youth Advocates

“The Kids’ Guide to Working Out Conflicts is really helping me deal with conflict. Thanks so much for all the information.” —Asbel C., age 13, Georgia

"Will help youngsters to develop more mature coping skills. Useful for libraries and for peer-mediation programs."—School Library Journal

"An outstanding contribution. It is not a stretch to believe that if this book were translated into the world's many languages and disseminated all over the globe, today's youngsters would be tomorrow's peacemakers. It is highly recommended."—Voice of Youth Advocates

“Gives kids the skills they need to take much of the sting out of those tender years.”—Teaching K–8

“Kids will love this approachable book, and guidance counselors will find it the perfect tool to introduce conflict resolution activities.”
—Library Media Connection

"Espeland's well-organized book has lots of useful information and teen appeal." —School Library Journal

“It would be wonderful if these and the other lovely books in the Learning to Get Along series could be dropped from the air by the thousands over every city and town throughout the world.”—Catholic Parent

“Readers looking for guidance and direction will respond positively to the book’s format.”—School Library Journal

 “A useful self-help book and practical guide to life.”—School Library Journal

“Girls wishing to build their self-esteem will enjoy this book, and its suggestions.”—Library Media Connection

“This whole book is written with touching sensitivity and tact, yet is very direct and very specific. It speaks with a voice of experience without moralizing. I would buy a dozen and hand them out to every young girl I know.”—Gifted Education Communicator

“Recommended.”—Voice of Youth Advocates

“A comprehensive manual with excellent strategies and encouragement. Tell your child’s teacher about this book.”—National Association for Gifted Children

“A refreshing and completely unique resource.”—Youthworker

“An excellent introduction of how juvenile justice works . . . great resource for classroom and group discussions.”
—Booklist

“The perfect gift to give a teen. As a psychologist and a mother, I give this book two thumbs ‘way up.’ Bravo to Annie Fox and Ruth Kirschner for giving teens a sound resource to help them through the ‘roller-coaster years’”—Louise Masin Sattler, NCSP, owner of Signing Families

"Definitely worth reading...it will help you reduce how often you get stressed and help you deal with things that annoy you." —Scholastic Choices Magazine

“A concise, effective book filled with specific suggestions to help kids.”
—Education Today

"Will empower children."—School Library Journal

“This cheerful, instructive title highlights the power of words.”—School Library Journal