Whining

Help Me Be Good!

by Joy Berry

“Help Me Be Good books” deal with the issues faced by children and parents alike, and help parents communicate with their children about how to grow up as better people. “A Book About Whining" concentrates specifically on that behavior in a short, easy to understand format.

Genres: Childrens, Picture Books, Nonfiction, Self Help

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1982

About the author

With over 85 million copies of her books sold, Joy Berry’s message has helped children around the world lead more responsible lives.

Joy Berry, pioneering educator, trusted child-development and parenting specialist, is the bestselling author of Joy Berry Classics for children with more than 250 titles and 85 million copies of her books sold. Joy Berry’s lifelong mission is to help kids help themselves by providing the information and motivation children need to lead responsible lives. Simply put, Joy Berry knows and understands children.

“Children should be 100% responsible for all of their choices and decisions by the time they are 12 years of age,” Joy Berry says. “In order for this to happen, parents need to encourage their children to make as many choices and decisions as possible as early in their lives as possible.”


Joy’s understanding of children and her pragmatic approach to educating and empowering children, has given rise to one of the most extensive juvenile product lines in the world.

Reviews

[Kim]

I love all the Help me Be Good Books by Joy Berry. I had a couple handed down to me from my mom and I found a bunch of the series at a used book store and bought them all! My kids love reading them just for story night, but I also find them very helpful to read when we are having a problem with a certain trait.

Each book focuses on defining what the action is, how it makes people feel and what to do about it. It helps explain how whining is counterproductive and explains the need for discipline when whining occurs. It's simple and quick and my kids love the little mouse or bunny character that pops up. The beginning shows what can happen when you do certain things, and in the end shows a much happier outcome if you try something different.

A Book About Whining redirects children to make clear respectful statements instead of whining.

[Rachel Boatright · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think everyone should either read these to their kids or have their kids read them. These books have a way to teach children how to deal with different feeling and emotions. In this book Annie is a young girl who has a problem with whining. This books makes children stop and think about what whining is and why they think they do it. A lot of kids whine because they either don’t want to do something or they think it will help them get what they want. Instead of whining it help children think of different ways to get what they need and understand why whining is not the way to solve their problems. I like the illustrations in this book because it shows a young girl finding other ways to solve her problems. All of these books have a great lesson of treating people the way you want to be treated and if you don’t want to listen to other people whine you shouldn’t whine either.

[Leslie Fisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. My kids (or mostly my daughter) have such a problem with whining. This book was really great because it identified reasons why they may be whining, explains why whining is not okay, then tells them the right way to behave. What I liked is that it also explained typical parent response to the whining so that the kids could understand it. I think this is such a great series. I remember my parents having several books by Joy Berry when I was a kid, and I found them helpful as a child, just like I find them helpful as a parents trying to teach my children. I still remember a lot of the lessons I learned in these books as a child. I highly recommend this book, and the series as a whole.

[Amber (Allgood) Jensen · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was hoping for something to guide my toddler, not teach her to "not bother" others...

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

We had several books by Joy Wilt Berry including most of the "Survival books" when I was growing up that my mother had passed on to me. I highly recommend this author for books for young children. She approaches the topic in a straight forward manner explaining the words and concepts and then giving concrete instructions on what to do. Right now we are reading some of the books aimed at younger children and my son picks them out on his own at story time.

[Finley Neal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joy Berry has a gift for writing books to a child's perspective. With Whining, she again lays out a series of explanations why whining is not the best way to solve whats bothering you. It's well written & easy to understand. These books are a must have for any parent looking for material to teach their child a proper way of life!

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Working with preschool children, we often have children come into the classroom that are used to getting what they want by whining. A great way to start a class discussion about whining is to read A Children's Book About Whining to start the discussion on what it mean when a child whines and why they do it and how to stop it.

[soggy socks · Rating 1 out of 5]

A book that teaches the wrong message to young children. Simply telling them to not bother others with their “whining” when they may be emotionally disregulated and in need of some actual care, love and attention. It’s a cheap fix for lazy parents that don’t want to deal with their children having emotions and (shocker) may need help understanding why they feel that way and how to deal with and process those emotions in a HEALTHY MANNER that’s not just summed up to ‘stop crying about it omg’.
It’s a book I remember reading one too many times when I was very young because this book was the perfect way for (again lazy) parents to tell children that “oh you’re upset? Well no one wants to deal with that so stop”. All this teaches is that you need to suppress your emotions and stay quiet when you feel distressed when that is the opposite of how children should be taught to process their feelings.

I loathe this book.

[Denise Lauron · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember reading the books in this series to my children when they were young. There were some books with great advice for the children and parents on how to handle difficult behavior.

I think I kept this one because I knew whining sometimes lasts into adulthood. The techniques in the book are great!

I would recommend this to anyone with a child who whines. Read aloud to the child. It will help you both.

[Wjanajnajqm · Rating 1 out of 5]

Goodness, this is extremely outdated, which is expected considering this was written about 40 years ago, and I would not recommend anyone reading this to their kids or looking at this for advice. I mean, I'd start whining if I was sick or hungry enough and I'm way older than the target demographic for this.

[Giselle Ates · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series of books provides great opportunities to discuss inappropriate behavior and positive alternatives. However, to make them more engaging, be prepared to expound on the illustrations, which clearly depict the point but don’t provide a complete story.

[Georgina Dowden · Rating 1 out of 5]

Telling a child to stop whining when they feel sick is wild.
Outdated, clearly written by a dinosaur from a generation that believes children should sit down and shut up, and not disturb their parents with their emotions when they’re trying to read the newspaper.
Gross.

[Nathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great lesson.

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I grew up on these books and absolutely love them! The Help Me Be Good books are great for young children. My children also loved them when they were young.

[Kylie Abecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved these books as a kid and I still think they’re a brilliant series that can’t be extremely useful own teaching some very difficult lessons.

[Rayan -_- · Rating 5 out of 5]

i'm a good kid now. 5/5.

[vickey mouse clubhouse]

Read this in my cousin's car while waiting for McDonald's. Hands down my quickest read to date.

[Ranee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sharing with the next generation 💕

[Suzanne Lorraine Kunz Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book to open the discussion of what whining is and is not. And how we might better care for ourselves and those around us when we are sad or longing for something.

[Anete Ābola · Rating 3 out of 5]

Since my criteria for book quality comes from biblical worldview, I can say that this lacks the biblical worldview. Anyway, there are some good points for those little chronic whiners to ponder.

[Misbah · Rating 2 out of 5]

A book for kids trekking them why they shouldn't whine.

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a great book for kids and adults to read together!! Joy Berry has a wonderful way of bringing things to a kids level to help them understand things better. Sometimes as an adult we forget kids see and process the world differently than us.

This series is wonderful for any home or classroom! I want them for he community center where I work!! I am also thrilled they are being made available as ebooks!!

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I used this book tonight to help my two youngest children (ages 5 and 2) understand why whining isn't going to get them positive attention. I especially enjoyed that the author gives alternate actions for the children for different circumstances that may cause their whining. The book held their attention and hopefully we will see some improvement in their behavior.

[Siskiyou-Suzy · Rating 3 out of 5]

As I've mentioned in some other reviews, I don't use this series anymore. There is not enough positive redirection/positive instruction on what to do otherwise and how to manage the experience of not acting on feelings immediately.

[Theresa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Whining
Berry, Joy
This is a good story teaching children correct behavior and how to change their behavior to enable them to get more of what they want by being socialized

[Vivian Clarke · Rating 4 out of 5]

We all at some point have been whining about something. It is a good book to show that whining doesn't always get you what you want.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

What to do about whining.

[Audrey · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book teaches a child a grown up response on what to do instead of whining when they are unhappy.

[Colin Sage · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joy Berry is the best.

[Sophie Crane · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's so important for kids to know their negative behaviour is understood. All the books in this series are good.