Thanks for the Feedback, I Think (Best Me I Can Be!) by Julia Cook

BEST ME I Can Be! #6

by Julia Cook

Do you know a young person who tends to argue or give excuses when you are trying to correct behavior? Or a student who misinterprets praise and compliments?Teach them the social skills “how to accept feedback” and “how to give and receive compliments” using a kid-friendly story with a lesson that enriches social emotional learning.This entertaining story follows RJ as he goes about his day doing the things he enjoys, such as blowing bubbles, playing soccer, and hanging out with friends. But when a couple of friends give him compliments, he just isn’t sure how to respond! As RJ continues through the day, he hears from his teacher and parents that while there are many things he’s doing very well, there are some things he needs to work on.His first reaction is to argue and make excuses. Throughout this story, RJ learns what it means to receive positive and negative feedback, and how to respond appropriately. Parents and teachers will love taking kids on RJ’s journey as he discovers the many forms of feedback, and he learns to accept and grow from criticism and compliments at home, in school and with friends.This picture book book is the sixth in Julia Cook’s  BEST ME I Can Be!  series which teaches children in grades K through 6 social skills that can make home life happier and school more successful. Tips for parents and educators to effectively teach how to give and receive compliments and how to accept feedback are included at the end of the picture book.The series also

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Growth Mindset, Fiction, School, Teaching, Writing

Unknown Binding

First published September 1, 2013

About the author

"In order to teach children, you must enter their view of the world."
~ Julia Cook

JULIA COOK, M.S. is a national award winning children’s author, counselor and parenting expert. She has presented in thousands of schools across the country and abroad, regularly speaks at national education and counseling conferences, and has published children’s books on a wide range of character and social development topics. The goal behind Cook’s work is to actively involve young people in fun, memorable stories and teach them to become lifelong problem solvers. Inspiration for her books comes from working with children and carefully listening to counselors, parents, and teachers, in order to stay on top of needs in the classroom and at home. Cook has the innate ability to enter the worldview of a child through storybooks, giving children both the “what to say” and the “how to say it”.

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Non-fiction in the sense that it's overtly educational, but it's still a fun and engaging story. My husband should read this. :sigh: I will look for others in the series that might help me improve my social skills.

Probably a good set for homeschooling families if the kids don't spend a lot of time with cousins, Sunday school, or whatever.

[Eden Silverstein · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simple useable advice for kids just wish name calling of girls was absent

I would have rated this book higher if the two female characters in the story—one who gives a compliment and one who gives mean feedback—were just Bernice and Sue versus Bossy Bernice and Sue the Booger girl. Sam who plays soccer with RJ is just Sam.

Maybe this book is just targeted for boys. But that said books meant for boys shouldn’t belittle girls. The name calling doesn’t add to the message.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

RJ learns to accept feedback and respond appropriately. He struggles with what to say when he gets a compliment or suggestions so often says the wrong thing or overreacts. His parents talk with him and offer tips. He tries them and discovers life is much easier when he responds with a thank you or other appropriate remark.

[Lilith Day · Rating 4 out of 5]

I purchased this book because some of my students needed to heat more about feedback. They struggled with hearing when they are wrong and we wanted to share something with them in an out of the box way. This book is perfect.

This book is both fun and silly. It is all about a boy going through his day and hearing what others had to say. Some feedback was nice while others were not. However, at the end of the day, it was up to him to look inside and make the correct choices.

The first thing the kids loved about this book was the silliness. It is funny and filled with great humor. What I loved, through reading this book, we were able to bring up discussions that in the past have been difficult.

I enjoyed this book. This book is a great start. We used it as a starting point. Sometimes all the kids needed was a small push and now they are heading into an amazing direction.

[Kylie2018 · Rating 5 out of 5]

RJ is given playful kudos for his bubble blowing skills, a compliment for his new t-shirt and some friendly advice in the playground about how to control kick in soccer and each time he responds in a judgmental passive aggressive way. This type of response shows up again at his parent teacher conference. When he gets home his parents talk to him about how to accept a compliment, the difference between mean and constructive feedback and how to use constructive feedback to grow.


I think this book is one of the better books from the 'BEST ME I Can Be' series and would recommend it. It would be great to pair this book with a picture book that covers how to make polite conversation/use mindful words as well as other picture books about how to use feedback.

[Stefanie Burns · Rating 4 out of 5]

The main character doesn’t know what to say when he gets compliments or feedback. The words jumble in his head and nothing comes out. After a Parent Teacher Conference, his parents discuss what compliments and feedback are and how they can help you. It’s a good book to start discussions on feedback and accepting criticism. One thing I really did not like was that the one character was named Norma the Booger Picker and the book never discussed how that was mean. The book ends with some tips about discussing compliments and criticism with kids.

[Judy Desetti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this one. Definitely one to use with students to teach about listening to people and considering their comments. Saying thanks to compliments and listening to people when they give suggestions about improvements. A fantastic book for teaching about behaviors. Definitely will purchase this one.

[Joyce Yattoni · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this book. I read it to students before I give back their first major writing project. I always give the feedback rubric back first without a “grade”. Trying to get students to focus more on the skill vs. grade. I find ms students quite uncomfortable with feedback in general so this read aloud is a lighthearted way of telling them, feedback is good.

[Viviane Elbee]

This book discusses how to handle feedback.
It discusses how to handle compliments (smile and say thanks).
It also talks about how to handle constructive criticism.
This is a straight forward lesson-teaching book that some parents might wish to use with their kids.

[SB · Rating 5 out of 5]

Should be required annual reading from age three+ (or just anyone having a bad day) along with the rest of the books in this series.

[Alissa Peanasky · Rating 3 out of 5]

This talked about accepting compliments and accepting feedback. I feel like those are 2 very different topics.

[Christina · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like the idea but i felt like some of this played into stereotypes and being nice instead of hearing feedback.

[Pinky · Rating 3 out of 5]

RJ learns how to take positive and negative feedback.

[Jackie Zimmermann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not Cook's best, but it has a solid message.

[Scholastic Squid · Rating 3 out of 5]

Useful book but I think the execution was a little odd at times. The back page was helpful with tips and tricks.

[PottWab Regional Library]

SM

[Sheila · Rating 2 out of 5]

Julia Cook has written some wonderful, really useful and fun books for kids. As a teacher of kids who can often be perfectionists, I was looking forward to seeing how this book could be used to help them accept constructive feedback. Well, the last few pages were okay, but the first several - not so much. Main character (RJ) begins by saying he doesn't know what to say back when people say something to him. Whether people say nice things or mean things to RJ, he responds like this: "When his/her words went into my head, I started to think about what he had said. I had no idea what to say back to him, and then all my words just started to swim/blur." After which, he replies with a discount of the compliment or an angry retort to a criticism. We don't know what RJ is thinking in order to bring about his response or why he doesn't agree with the compliment he is given. Fuzzy. No insight that might help kids relate to RJ or start to connect with this character.

Middle of the book: After a parent-teacher conference that RJ also attended, his parents explain to him that compliments should be graciously accepted with a smile and a thank you. Then they explain that feedback is a good thing; it helps you grow; and that growing from feedback isn't always comfortable. They say, "The way you handle feedback will make a difference in how other people treat you. ... Keep in mind, RJ, most feedback is just information." They go on to say that he should think about this information and use it to improve himself.

END: The very next day he goes to school and responds positively to all the feedback he has been given previously in the book and has a great day. A bit simplistic a solution for a process that would take most kids/people a while (with ups and downs along the way) to incorporate into their lives successfully.

So, my final analysis is that I could use this, using the parents' "teaching" section as the MAIN focus and really discussing what their advice meant and how it applies to my students. It's usable, but not one that I would purchase myself to always have on hand. However, these 3 of her books I would definitely buy: I Can't Believe you SAID That, Making Friends is an Art, But It's Not My Fault!

[Kerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of kids have difficulty knowing how to deal with feedback, whether it is a compliment or constructive criticism. This story sets some rules around dealing with these two aspects of feedback. As always, RJ is the star of the story. There are tips for parents and teachers and easy to follow rules. Great pics too.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A children's book of didactic scenarios where a boy learns the wrong, and eventually right, way to respond to both compliments and constructive criticism. Important read for highly sensitive children who feel their confidence shattered by any reprimand or correction. What is better than the book itself is the dialogue ignited by RJ's story.

[Cheyenne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book! I need to read this one to my students and Tommy.

[Mary Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

good message, but a little wordy

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Normally I’m a big fan of these books by Ms Cook but this one was harder for us to read in one session. Good message but boring read.