Being Mean

by Joy Berry

Help Me Be Good About Being Mean defines cruel behavior and its damaging effects and encourages children to avoid being cruel to others. Companion CD includes songs and read-along with Joy.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Self Help, Nonfiction, Parenting

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1988

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

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being Mean gives young children examples of what it looks like when they are mean to another person or hurt their feelings or destroy their things. It covers the underlying feelings and gives suggestions of how to handle those feelings of hurt and frustration. I like using Being Mean to start a class discussion with preschool age groups of children to get them to give examples how to react when someone is mean and how to help them change to more appropriate behaviors. I have owned this book for a number of years and enjoyed using it to start positive discussions to help children with their feelings.

[Talea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book on helping children learn ways of dealing with being mean. It tells children how to recognize when they are being mean, healthy coping skills to resolve the issue, and how to cope when someone is being mean to them.

[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.

[Melissa Namba · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again another great book for adults. Goes into the reasons why someone might be mean and explains why you shouldn't be mean back.

[Kylie Abecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book to read to children following an upset (argument or disagreement caused by one or both children being mean).

[Spencer · Rating 3 out of 5]

2021
Gift from Harper's grandmother

[Kristen Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book entitled, "Being Mean" is a great book for children appropriate for children grades 2nd- 5th. The book is an informative book that informs young children why some peers can be mean to others. The book highlights that some people are mean because they simply do not know how to express themselves, they have been hurt, or even they simply want attention. In today's society children need to know how to identify bullying and how to go about dealing with it. The book expresses to children how one should react when another is being mean. I especially like the book because it is intended to help children understand why people are sometimes mean, and how students can avoid being mean to others. I would use this book in the classroom as a read aloud especially if I notice a form of bullying. I would also challenge students to write and express their feelings about the book in a writers notebook about what they felt about the book entitled "Being Mean".

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

My daughter wanted me to read it again right away. I hope it was because she was learning how NOT to be mean and not picking up mean-kid tips.

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

teaches children about their behavior and solutions for anger management

[Dianelys · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book for kids.

[Colin Sage · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joy Berry is the best.

[Kylie Abecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book to read to children following an upset (argument or disagreement caused by one or both children being mean).