Eileen Kennedy-Moore:
WHAT ABOUT ME? Twelve Ways to Get Your Parents’ Attention (Without Hitting Your Sister)
It’s often hard for young children to share mom and dad’s attention. Even in the most loving home, older siblings tend to hear comments like: “Be quiet or you’ll wake your sister.” “We’ll do that later-I have to feed the baby now.” Or “Let your brother play, too.” They may feel jealous or frustrated, and they may even lash out by screaming, hitting, or snatching.
When my son was a frisky four-year old, with an older sister and a baby sister, he often got into trouble for hitting. As a mom and a psychologist, I know that one of the best ways to handle misbehavior is to teach kids positive ways to ask for what they need. So I made a little booklet out of index cards for my son, with simple drawings showing kind, helpful, and creative ways he could get my attention. He loved it! He eagerly used all of the strategies, one after another. This booklet-which definitely enhanced the peace in our home-became the basis for my award-winning children’s book.
WHAT ABOUT ME? actually works on two levels: For kids, it’s a “how-to” book that compassionately teaches them practical strategies for coping with jealousy or feeling left out. For parents, it’s a gentle reminder to catch our children “being good.”
Illustrator Mits Katayama is a Japanese gentleman in his 70s who lives in the Seattle area. His paintings are vibrant and colorful, and do a wonderful job of capturing the children’s expressions. He also injects humor through the antics of the family pets.
WHAT ABOUT ME? Twelve Ways to Get Your Parents’ Attention (Without Hitting Your Sister)
Illustrated by Mits Katayama
Parenting Press, 2005
Ages 3-8
picture book, 32 pages
$14.95)
BIO:
Eileen Kennedy-Moore, PhD, is an author, psychologist, and mother of four lively children. She has a private practice in Princeton, NJ. Dr. Kennedy-Moore’s work focuses on Helping Children Get Along ™, and she’s a frequent speaker at schools, conferences, and community events. Her website is www.eileenkennedymoore.com.
What people are saying about WHAT ABOUT ME?:
“I loved this book as it teaches parents and children alike that communication is the key to a healthy relationship.” –Nanny Deb from Nanny 911
“A charming, rhyming invitation to children to consider new ways to become helpful members of the family team.” –Adele Faber & Elaine Mazlish, authors of ‘How To Talk So Kids Will Listen’
“A pure joy–and also quite instructional without seeming to be so.” –Edward Hallowell, MD, author of Delivered from Distraction
“This book will help a child learn empathy. We are happy to recommend it.” –Dr. William and Martha Sears, co-authors of The Discipline Book
“Katayama draws childhood in warm, bright hues. The way we think it is supposed to be remembered. The way we want our own children to remember their time of innocence.” –News Tribune, Tacoma, WA
“A fun book with a serious message for kids… a book to read over and over… It’s a must-have.” –Parents and Kids, Boston, MA
AWARDS for WHAT ABOUT ME?
Winner 2006 NAPPA, National Parenting Publications Award, pre/K Honors
https://nappa.parenthood.com/
Winner of a Smart Play/Smart Toy Award for 2006
from the San Francisco-based Institute for Childhood Resources, and its founder, ‘Dr. Toy’ Stevanne Auerbach. https://www.drtoy.com/awards/4999.html
Semi-finalist in the 10th annual IPPY, Independent Publisher Book Awards.
sponsored by Independent Publisher magazine.
Also by Dr. Kennedy-Moore and Natalie Madorsky Elman
THE UNWRITTEN RULES OF FRIENDSHIP: Simple Strategies to Help Your Child Make Friends
Little, Brown, 2003
For parents
Nonfiction, 352 pages
$14.95
Whether your child is having trouble resolving an argument with a friend or even making a friend in the first place, whether your child is painfully shy or a bit rambunctious, THE UNWRITTEN RULES OF FRIENDSHIP gives you the tools you need to nurture your child’s social well-being.
This warm and insightful book provides a sympathetic understanding of kids who struggle socially. It describes nine typical children who have trouble getting along with their peers, such as The Born Leader, The Little Adult, The Shy Child, and The Short-Fused Child. With clarity and compassion, it spells out practical strategies for helping these children learn the social guidelines that they haven’t managed to pick up on their own. THE UNWRITTEN RULES OF FRIENDSHIP offers parents do-able solutions to use at home and to suggest at school.
“This book is saturated with really good advice for parents and, at least indirectly, for children themselves. It will be of enormous benefit to those kids struggling to master crucial interpersonal skills.” –Mel Levine, MD, author of A Mind at a Time
