New Releases by Elizabeth Verdick

Children learn boundaries and safety when using screens, and fun things to do when screens are off. As important as screens are in our lives, we all need to unplug, especially children. This reassuring picture book offers children and families a starting point for limiting screen time and making the most of the time you have with your screens and without. While screens can be helpful and fun, they are not intended for use all the time. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends consistent limits on screen time for children, and adults should take steps to ensure online safety for kids. With straightforward suggestions, children will learn valuable information about online safety, setting healthy screen-time boundaries, and the importance of screen-free time. With her trademark mix of empathy and encouragement, author Elizabeth Verdick offers appealing and healthy alternatives to using screens, as well as ways to stay safe and happy when online. Illustrator Marieka Heinlen’s active and vibrant illustrations of young children interacting with their caregivers and families bring the activities and suggestions for screen-free fun to life. A section for adults at the end of the book includes information on the effects of too much screen time and suggestions for establishing screen-time boundaries. Best Behavior® Series Simple words and lively full-color illustrations guide children to choose positive behaviors. Select titles are available in two versions: a durable board book for ages 1–4 and an expanded paperback for ages 4–7. Bilingual board book and paperback editions of select titles also are available. Kids, parents, and teachers love these award-winning books. All include helpful tips for teachers, caregivers, and parents.

Help autistic kids understand their unique gifts and needs and learn strategies for daily living in a neurotypical world. This positive, straightforward reference book offers kids with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) their own comprehensive resource for both understanding their condition and finding tools to cope with the challenges they face every day. Freshly updated, the content reflects changes in the understanding of ASD since the book was first released, including clarification that Asperger''s syndrome is no longer a specific diagnosis and what this means for readers. The book also features new stories of young people with autism and an added chapter, "Tech Talk." Some children with ASD are gifted; others struggle academically. Some are more introverted, while others want to be social. Some get “stuck” on things, have intense interests, or experience repeated motor movements like flapping or pacing (“stims”). The Survival Guide for Kids with Autism Spectrum Disorder covers all of these areas, with an emphasis on helping children gain new self-understanding and self-acceptance. Meant to be read with a parent, the book addresses questions (“What is ASD?” “Why me?”) and provides strategies for communicating, staying safe and smart online, making and keeping friends, and succeeding in school. Body and brain basics highlight symptom management, exercise, diet, hygiene, relaxation, sleep, and toileting. Emphasis is placed on helping kids handle intense emotions and behaviors and get support from family and their team of helpers when needed. The book includes stories from real kids, fact boxes, helpful checklists, and resources. Sections for parents offer additional information. Survival Guides for Kids Helping Kids Help Themselves® Straightforward, friendly, and loaded with practical advice, the Free Spirit Survival Guides for Kids give kids the tools they need to not only survive, but thrive. With plenty of realistic examples and bright illustrations, they are accessible, encouraging, kid-friendly, and even life-changing.

New English-Spanish bilingual edition gives young children strategies to ease anxieties and worries and feel better again. Everyone feels worried or anxious at times, and young children are no exception. Friendly and supportive, this bilingual English-Spanish book explains what worries are and how it feels to be worried, assuring children that lots of kids—and grown-ups too—feel worried. Children learn that there are many ways to help their worries go away: “Guess what? You are bigger than your worries. You can learn to make your worries smaller and smaller and smaller.” Talking about worries, moving around, keeping hands busy, breathing deeply, getting a big hug, and thinking good thoughts are all ways for children to cope with worries. A special section for adults in both languages offers activities and discussion starters for home, school, and child care. Best Behavior® Bilingual Series The Best Behavior® bilingual series uses simple words in English and Spanish and delightful full-color illustrations to guide children to choose peaceful, positive behaviors. Select titles are available in two versions: a durable board book for ages baby to preschool and a longer, more in-depth paperback for ages four to seven. Kids, parents, and teachers love these award-winning books. All include helpful tips and ideas for parents and caregivers.

"This English-Spanish board book highlights the quiet and sleepy moments of baby''s day"--

"Join the babies in this English-Spanish bilingual board book as they explore and enjoy the many foods that help them grow healthy and strong"--

With the newest paperback addition to the Best Behavior® series, children develop strategies to make waiting less frustrating and learn that patience is a virtue. Children are often waiting—for the school bus, their turn on the slide, or their birthday—and waiting can be frustrating! But learning to be patient and developing self-control will equip children with tools for success in school and in social settings. With vivid illustrations and simple strategies, this reassuring book helps children learn to delay gratification and make waiting more fun without relying on electronics. With her trademark mix of empathy and encouragement, author Elizabeth Verdick provides activities and ideas for children—like observing the world around them, inventing new games, and anticipating what’s to come—that can be adapted for any situation. In this addition to the best-selling Best Behavior series, children will learn how to avoid boredom and replace whining words with waiting words: “This will be worth the wait!” A section for adults includes tips and activities to foster patience in children. Best Behavior® Series The Best Behavior® series uses simple words and delightful full-color illustrations to guide children to choose peaceful, positive behaviors. Select titles are available in two versions: a durable board book for ages baby to preschool, and a longer, more in-depth paperback for ages four to seven. Bilingual board books and paperback editions are available for select titles. Kids, parents, and teachers love these award-winning books. All include helpful tips and ideas for parents and caregivers.

"This book for preschool and primary children explains what worries are and how it feels to be worried. It assures children that everyone--even grown-ups--feel worried, and that they can learn to cope. Strategies include talking about worries, breathing deeply, and thinking good thoughts. Includes a section for adults"--

Revised classic provides a humorous take on cliques, exclusion, and real friends—updated to include online clique-tivity.? Clique: It’s a word that’s spelled funny and sounds funny, and (like a vampire) can be a pain in the neck. True friends don’t make you feel left out, but for many kids, navigating social groups is tricky (because it’s cliquey), and they end up feeling excluded. This book uses humor, fun cartoons, and kid-friendly language to explain what cliques are, why being phony is baloney, why true friends don’t exclude others online or in real life, what’s more important than popularity—and how to navigate it all. The updated edition addresses online socializing and social media. The Free Spirit Laugh & Learn® Series Realistic topics, practical advice, silly jokes, fun illustrations, and a kid-centric point of view all add up to one of the most popular series young people turn to for help with school, families, siblings, and more. Kids ages 8–13 can tote these pocket-size guides anywhere and learn to slash stress, give cliques and rude people the boot, get organized, behave becomingly, and, in general, hugely boost their coping skills.

Revised classic provides a humorous take on a nerve-wracking topic—STRESS!—updated to include modern stressors such as technology and social media. Stress can make you feel anxious, awful, and afraid. It can leave you jumpy and jittery, upset and uptight. When kids show signs of stress, they need stress management tools that work. With jokes, fun illustrations, and plenty of authentic examples, this book helps kids understand what stress is—and gives tons of tips to cope. Refreshed to address modern stressors like electronic devices and social media, this updated classic helps kids deal with stress like a seasoned panic mechanic. The Free Spirit Laugh & Learn® Series Realistic topics, practical advice, silly jokes, fun illustrations, and a kid-centric point of view all add up to one of the most popular series young people turn to for help with school, families, siblings, and more. Kids ages 8–13 can tote these pocket-size guides anywhere and learn to slash stress, give cliques and rude people the boot, get organized, behave becomingly, and, in general, hugely boost their coping skills.

Germs Are Not for Sharing/Los gérmenes no son para compartir paperback (ages 4–7): Sneezes, coughs, runny noses, spills, and messes are facts of everyday life with young children. This book teaches kids what germs are, what they do, and why it’s so important to cover them up, block them from spreading, and wash them down the drain. Includes tips for parents and caregivers. A section for adults reinforces the book’s message that crying is a natural, normal response to strong feelings and includes tips and activities in both English and Spanish to help children express and handle their feelings. Best Behavior series Simple words and lively full-color illustrations guide children to choose positive behaviors. Select titles are available in two versions: a durable board book for ages 1–4 and an expanded paperback for ages 4–7. Bilingual board book and paperback editions of all titles also are available. Kids, parents, and teachers love these award-winning books. All include helpful tips for teachers, caregivers, and parents.

"Bilingual English-Spanish book for children about getting dropped off at childcare or being cared for by a baby-sitter. It teaches transition rituals and self-soothing techniques to help children avoid and manage separation anxiety when saying good-bye. Includes tips for parents and caregivers"--

This friendly, encouraging bilingual English-Spanish book introduces and reinforces where and when to use an "indoor voice" or an "outdoor voice." Vivid illustrations teach children the times and places for an indoor voice, the ways people ask us to quiet our voices, and how to use our words to talk about a problem. Includes a section for parents and caregivers in both languages.

New bilingual title from Free Spirit''s popular Best Behavior® board book series of English-Spanish books for kids. Many young children go through a biting phase. This upbeat, colorful, bilingual English-Spanish board book gives reasons why children might want to bite. Little mouths feel sore when new teeth come in; sometimes kids bite when they''re hungry, tired, cranky, frustrated, angry, bored, distressed, or seeking attention. This book helps prevent toddler biting and teaches positive alternatives: chew a chewy toy, drink a cold drink, get a hug, tell a grown-up. The book also includes helpful tips for parents and caregivers in both English and Spanish.

Es el momento de arreglar. ¿Se acuerdan qué es lo que hacemos? ¡Si! Nos acordamos. Ven y acompaña a estos activos niños a medida que ponen cada cosa en su sitio, arreglan el lugar y ¡tienen tiempo para más DIVERSIÓN!

Simple text and illustrations explain how to use manners.

"This bilingual (English/Spanish) board book helps toddlers learn to manage temper tantrums. Offers toddlers simple tools to release strong feelings, express them, and calm themselves down. Includes tips for parents and caregivers"--

"This bilingual (English/Spanish) board book helps toddlers learn to manage temper tantrums. Offers toddlers simple tools to release strong feelings, express them, and calm themselves down. Includes tips for parents and caregivers"--

"This bilingual (English/Spanish) board book helps toddlers learn to share. Offers toddlers simple choices (take turns, use it together, wait for another time) to make sharing easier, and shows them where to turn for help when sharing is difficult. Includes tips for parents and caregivers"--

Kids need help learning how to manage their anger. Blending solid information and sound advice with humor and lively illustrations, these anger-management tips guide kids to understand that anger is normal and to learn they can express it in healthy ways. The book teaches them how to recognize anger in themselves and others, how to handle situations and emotions (loneliness, guilt, frustration, fear) that lead to or mask anger, and how to deal with the anger they feel. This revised edition addresses children’s exposure to increased societal violence and includes discussion and examples of anger related to texting and social media. Young readers learn that cruelty and violence are not acceptable and there are safer, more positive ways to resolve conflicts. They also discover what to do when people around them are angry, how to get help, and how to locate other resources when they need more support.

Who has the most power to stop and prevent bullying? Teachers? Parents? The Principal of the Universe? No, no, and no way! When it comes to changing bullying behavior, nobody has more power than upstanders--all the people who see bullying or know it’s happening...and decide to do something about it. How strong are upstanders? Stronger than a snarling seventh grader. More powerful than a petty put-down. Able to delete Internet rumors with a single click. When BYstanders choose to act as UPstanders, they are real superheroes!

"This board book explains to toddlers and preschoolers why they should not pick their noses, and helps to guide them toward healthier habits like using a tissue and washing their hands. Includes tips for parents and caregivers for early childhood hygiene"--

Cuando se hora de decirle adiós a los pañales, use este reconfortante y alentador libro para ayudar abrir el camino. Niños pequeños aprenderán el porque y como de usar una bacinilla y tener la confianza en enfrentar esta importante hito. Incluye consejos para padres y nanas.