DownloadThe Portobello Bookshop Gift Guide 2024

Don't Squeal Unless It's a Big Deal

A Tale of Tattletales

Jeanie Franz Ransom author Jackie Urbanovic illustrator

Format:Hardback

Publisher:American Psychological Association

Published:15th Aug '05

Currently unavailable, our supplier has not provided us a restock date

Don't Squeal Unless It's a Big Deal cover

iParenting Media Award Winner!

In this highly entertaining story for young children, kids will learn when "squealing" on your fellow classmate is appropriate and when it is merely tattling!

There were nineteen students in Mrs. McNeal's class. And nineteen tattletales. Set in a school classroom, the "kids" in the class—really, feisty piglets—constantly tattle on each other, creating an air of frustration and distrust. As the story unfolds, the teacher, rather than strictly policing the situation, addresses underlying feelings and encourages mutual problem solving.

Although most kids' problems are kid-sized ones that they can work out themselves, tattling is a fact of life for young children. Their ability to solve problems on their own is just developing, and they often feel they can't manage a situation without help from an adult. As every teacher and parent knows, kids also tattle on their classmates and siblings because they want to look like the "good child," or be appreciated as helpful, or even just get some attention. And of course, kids sometimes tattle as a means of getting back at another child, especially a bigger brother or sister.

With warmth and humor, this story for young grade-schoolers offers easy guidelines so that kids know when to talk to each other, and when to call in the grown-ups. A Note to Teachers and Parents is also included.

iParenting Media Award Winner

"I have scoured the EARTH for SOLID books on tattling. I say solid because I am not a fan of books that make kids feel bad for tattling. Not cool. Don't Squeal Unless It's a Big Deal is definitely a favorite. I work really hard on helping students see the difference between small problems ('Laura looked at me!') and big problems ('Laura punched me!'). Hint: make sure to incorporate lessons on how to problem solve with tattling lessons. If they truly don't know how to solve a problem - then of course they'll tattle! I seriously notice a decrease in tattling when the kids feel educated and AWARE of their behavior."—Books That Heal Kids

"The brightly colored cartoons are on target and add a touch of humor..."—School Library Journal

ISBN: 9781591472391

Dimensions: unknown

Weight: unknown

32 pages