How to Say You're Sorry

by Stephanie Calmenson, Shannon McNeill (Illustrator)

What do you do when you hurt your friend’s feelings? In this gently instructive companion picture book to How to Cheer Up a Friend, an elephant learns how to say “I’m sorry.”

If you upset your friend, do you hide behind a tree, thinking, please, please forget it was me? Do you run away, fast and far? Or can you be brave enough to stay where you are and work things out?

An elephant learns that being a good friend means thinking about what he did wrong, putting himself in his friend’s shoes, and sincerely saying two magic I’m sorry. And then, when his friend is ready, playing together once again.

Genres: Picture Books

32 pages, Hardcover

Published March 17, 2026

About the author

Stephanie Calmenson's many popular titles include concept books, funny school stories, poetry collections, books about dogs and, with Magic School Bus author Joanna Cole, anthologies and beginning reader chapter books.

Stephanie's books have been called "marvelous" (PW), "lyrical" (SLJ), "hilarious" (SLJ), "sweet, funny, and right on the mark" (Booklist).

Before turning to writing, Stephanie was a teacher, a children's book editor, and Editorial Director of Parents Magazine's Read-Aloud Book Club.

Website: my link text

Reviews

[Marissa Maggard · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had super cute illustrations. I loved the message of this book. Sometimes kids need a reminder on why apologies are important.