What do you think?
Rate this book
BEST ME I Can Be! #4
Teamwork Isn't My Thing, and I Don't Like to Share
RJ’s having another bad day.
His teacher wants him to work with bossy Bernice, messy Frankie, and Norma (who just sits and picks her nose) on a report about Egyptian mummies. After a frustrating school day with his “team,” RJ goes home to find only one cookie left in the jar - and his mom makes him share it with his sister! With the help of his coach, RJ learns that working as a team and sharing are skills needed not just on the soccer field, but in school and at home too!
Together Everyone Achieves More! Share this story with kids in grades K though 6 before assigning the next group project! Strengthen social and emotional learning and help kids learn to interact with each other in positive and constructive ways. Four simple steps each for using the social skills of teamwork and sharing are presented in rhyme so they are easy for listeners to recall when needed.
This is the fourth storybook in Julia Cook’s BEST ME I Can Be! series which teaches children that social skills can make home life happier and school more successful. Tips for parents and educators to effectively teach working as a team, sharing with others, and showing graciousness are included at the end of the picture book.
The series also
His teacher wants him to work with bossy Bernice, messy Frankie, and Norma (who just sits and picks her nose) on a report about Egyptian mummies. After a frustrating school day with his “team,” RJ goes home to find only one cookie left in the jar - and his mom makes him share it with his sister! With the help of his coach, RJ learns that working as a team and sharing are skills needed not just on the soccer field, but in school and at home too!
Together Everyone Achieves More! Share this story with kids in grades K though 6 before assigning the next group project! Strengthen social and emotional learning and help kids learn to interact with each other in positive and constructive ways. Four simple steps each for using the social skills of teamwork and sharing are presented in rhyme so they are easy for listeners to recall when needed.
This is the fourth storybook in Julia Cook’s BEST ME I Can Be! series which teaches children that social skills can make home life happier and school more successful. Tips for parents and educators to effectively teach working as a team, sharing with others, and showing graciousness are included at the end of the picture book.
The series also
31 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2012
12 people are currently reading
149 people want to read
About the author
Julia Cook
159 books195 followers"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”.
~ 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”.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
September 12, 2019
Is it cheating to post the books I read to my class?
If so. Count me a cheater.
If so. Count me a cheater.
January 15, 2021
کتابی برای آموزش و چرایی کار گروهی
عنوان فارسی: از کار گروهی متنفرم
انتشارات بروج
عنوان فارسی: از کار گروهی متنفرم
انتشارات بروج
January 9, 2019
RJ thinks working in a team just ends in people being mean and gives the example of the last time he was part of a group assignment that ended in fights, name calling, tears and little to show for it. RJ then relays 'yesterdays' failed sharing incident in which there was one cookie he had to share with his sister so he broke a little bit off for his sister but was told since he broke the cookie his sister should get first pick. The book gets a little confusing here as info about who picks first is relayed between characters but RJ ends up having to break more off the larger piece to give to his sister, ending in RJ having a smaller serve.
The book then catches up with RJs present with him talking to his coach after soccer practice about why he doesn't like working in teams (kids get mad, rather work by self, doesn't need help). RJs coach shows him 3 things to do when he needs to work in a team. The coach then uses RJs soccer team as a simile for school group assignments and encourages RJ to behave towards his class members as his does towards his soccer team mates.
The coach then tackles RJs dislike of sharing by telling RJ sharing makes your life easier by making others happier and more likely to share also. RJ is told 4 steps to sharing and is reminded he shares well during soccer practice.
The next morning RJ shares the last of the cereal with his sister. She gives him the larger serve to say thank you for sharing. Later at school RJ shares with his group what he learnt from his coach about working in a team and everyone decides to start over.
Everybody picks a job they can do well and RJ supports a team member to do something they are not good at. This part of the book is really well written as the personal issues each team member has during the first unsuccessful group session are addressed using the steps given to RJ by his coach. This transforms the work group from an unpleasant place to be into a successful team showing you can work well with anyone.
While the switch between how to work in a team and learning to share is done quiet seamlessly as far as plot and context the 'learning to share story' is completely unconnected to working within a team and waters down the great teamwork model within the book.
The book then catches up with RJs present with him talking to his coach after soccer practice about why he doesn't like working in teams (kids get mad, rather work by self, doesn't need help). RJs coach shows him 3 things to do when he needs to work in a team. The coach then uses RJs soccer team as a simile for school group assignments and encourages RJ to behave towards his class members as his does towards his soccer team mates.
The coach then tackles RJs dislike of sharing by telling RJ sharing makes your life easier by making others happier and more likely to share also. RJ is told 4 steps to sharing and is reminded he shares well during soccer practice.
The next morning RJ shares the last of the cereal with his sister. She gives him the larger serve to say thank you for sharing. Later at school RJ shares with his group what he learnt from his coach about working in a team and everyone decides to start over.
Everybody picks a job they can do well and RJ supports a team member to do something they are not good at. This part of the book is really well written as the personal issues each team member has during the first unsuccessful group session are addressed using the steps given to RJ by his coach. This transforms the work group from an unpleasant place to be into a successful team showing you can work well with anyone.
While the switch between how to work in a team and learning to share is done quiet seamlessly as far as plot and context the 'learning to share story' is completely unconnected to working within a team and waters down the great teamwork model within the book.
March 25, 2017
Julia Cook is my new favorite author. I love her books. They always revolve around issues that kids will have. In this one, the main character doesn't like working with others and doesn't like sharing. Its a good way to personalize the issues that kids have as well as opening more doorways into expressing feelings.
July 4, 2018
Sharing isn’t Rj’s favorite thing to do and he really has a hard time working in a group at school. There’s too much conflict and he really feels he doesn’t need any help. But his soccer coach explains to RJ why teamwork and sharing is so important, in all parts of life.
Includes tips for parents and educator’s in the back.
Includes tips for parents and educator’s in the back.
January 20, 2020
I liked how this book showed why working as a team can be challenging for people. I didn't like that the language used to describe other kids wasn't always the kindest. I get that the student is the narrator, but I could see that going poorly if a student shared characteristics with one of the characters in the book that the peers may use that as a way to mock.
November 3, 2021
Sharing is a skill that is not just acquired by doing nothing. It takes practice and understanding why we share with those around us. This book is a great story to read to children who don’t like to share. It allows the child to understand that being a team gets us closer to the goal faster.
June 20, 2025
When do kids start doing group projects together? 2nd grade? 3rd? This book, with its length and themes seems to be for an older child. It is repetitive and moralizing, so if the child has patience for this, great.
April 2, 2018
Should be required annual reading from age three up along with the rest of the books in this series.
November 28, 2018
Teaches kids teamwork and sharing with others
December 11, 2018
An elementary level picture book about teamwork and one boys insistance that he can't work with a team. Nice explainations and tips.
February 8, 2022
RJ's soccer coach helps him sharpen his teamwork skills.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 21, 2023
Great message, but pretty juvenile read. Too young for our 5th graders.
Want to read
October 1, 2025SM
March 7, 2017
I really do applaud Julia Cook's efforts to write some good social skills fiction. But this book should have been split into two -- one about sharing and the other about working in groups. This just seems to overreach a bit.
February 13, 2015
Opening-
“Look at the cover of this book, how do you think the characters might be feeling? (Children respond)Yesterday we talked about sportsmanship and if you read the title of this book what do you think it might be about? (Children respond) I want to you to think about how you feel when you have to work in a group or on a team, could someone please share those feelings with the class. (Take volunteer) In this story RJ has a difficult time working on a group project, lets read and see how he solves this problem.”
Opening Moves-
*Ask children to make connections to a previously read text
*Prompt predictions based on the title
*Prompt brief sharing of personal experiences related to the topic or theme
Rationale-
The reason I picked this book for part of my text set is because it shows that teamwork and sportsmanship isn’t just for playing games/sports but can be done anywhere. The plot of the story helps the reader and/or listener be able to apply being a good sport both in and out of the classroom.
“Look at the cover of this book, how do you think the characters might be feeling? (Children respond)Yesterday we talked about sportsmanship and if you read the title of this book what do you think it might be about? (Children respond) I want to you to think about how you feel when you have to work in a group or on a team, could someone please share those feelings with the class. (Take volunteer) In this story RJ has a difficult time working on a group project, lets read and see how he solves this problem.”
Opening Moves-
*Ask children to make connections to a previously read text
*Prompt predictions based on the title
*Prompt brief sharing of personal experiences related to the topic or theme
Rationale-
The reason I picked this book for part of my text set is because it shows that teamwork and sportsmanship isn’t just for playing games/sports but can be done anywhere. The plot of the story helps the reader and/or listener be able to apply being a good sport both in and out of the classroom.
October 7, 2014
From the title I thought this might be a book about how it's ok to not like sharing. That would have made me feel better because I don't like to share and I hate working in a team! But no dice. Just your standard, "I don't like sharing," "But this is why you should," "Ok, I like sharing now," sort of book. But I do like the helpful tips for parents and educators at the end of the book. Maybe I should follow those tips for myself...
May 2, 2013
Another lovely story about R.J. In this one, he learns that working as a team can be fun, productive and useful. A useful resource with the usual helpful tips for parents at the back, and once again lovely pics that are colourful and enticing to young children.
June 29, 2014
Great book about teamwork and sharing, but I think it'd be better as two separate books.
September 21, 2014
good for beginning of year, narrative, connect school to sports
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews