Hot Issues, Cool Choices: Facing Bullies, Peer Pressure, ... (ISBN 1591025699)

A Most Important Book for Today's Children - American Author's Association Review:
Humphrey continues with her series on childhood ethics and behavior with this easy-to-read offering. The author boldly tackles one of the most frightening subjects of today's adolescents since Columbine--bullying and its consequences. Humphrey follows the same format as her previous titles in the series, but with slight modifications that make it more appealing to an older reading audience. Vignettes are used to establish circumstances where moral and ethical dilemmas are raised. These are then followed by a number of questions that make the reader/listener to think about decisions and whether they are right or wrong inherently. This book, however, is more driven toward addressing decisions and behaviors that lead to, or in reaction to, bullying. The topics raised include Compassion, Empathy, Exploitation, and Social Manipulation. This is a book that teaches children though parables how and why they should avoid becoming bullies as well as how to react to the bullies they will undoubtedly meet. These lessons are presented well and make this book all too important in these times. Karl L. Kruger for The American Author Association

THE REAL DEAL!:
The title says it all! Kids today have it tough. They are constantly faced with peer pressure, bullying, and harassment, yet so many of them do not know how to handle such situations. So here's what we have. Real stories with real social problems, but Sandra doesn't stop there. She writes in such a way that kids can understand and relate to these stories. The best part is that at the end of each story, Sandra offers excellent critical-thinking questions that kids can use to discuss not only the story, but give them a way in which to use it in their own lives. Excellent for raising self-esteem and establishing good social values. This is a perfect book for kids, parents and teachers to use as a solution to this never-ending problem. As a teacher, I would highly recommend this book to kids ad parents, but especially to teachers to use within their classrooms, as so much of these situations do take place in the school environment. BRAVA SANDRA!

Real Dilemmas:
"Hot Issues, Cool Choices" is a collection of hypothetical stories about kids at one Emerson Elementary School. The stories are meant to illustrate problems children face in dealing with peers, and each story has a different theme. Here are some of the stories: Angelina and Me (Compassion, Respect for Others) Musical Chairs (Exclusion, Peer Pressure) Promises, Promises (Social Manipulation) Short, Shorter, Shortest (Physical Aggression) At the end of every story there are some bullet points for "More to Think About" and "Trading Places" to get readers to think about the story's implications. Musical chairs is a good story to use as an example of what's in this neat little book. Nikki has wanted be in Caitlin's group, the "popular group," for a long time, and suddenly she is. Unfortunately, Caitlin has many rules for the group members, about what to wear, how to do hair, and especially who they can sit with at lunch. One day at lunch, because Taylor didn't wear her hair "right," Caitlin tells her there's no room, and to sit somewhere else. Nikki feels sorry for Taylor and wants to join her, but knows that if she does, she will be out of the "popular group." The "More to Think About" has -What do you think Nikki should do? Why? -How do you feel about Caitlin? -How do you feel abou Caitlin's group? -Would you want to be in her group? Why or why not? And in "Trading Places" is -How do you think Taylor feels? Humphrey gives real ethical dilemmas which are very difficult, and require thought and experience to work through. Children, parents, and educators should read this. Incidentally, I think even adults who don't currently have children or are involved in education can profit from reading this. As the author notes, bullying is a serious problem in schools, and there are kids who don't want to even get out of bed in the morning, because they know what going to school means. Hopefully this book will have an impact.

Hot Issues, Cool Choices:
Unfortunately, bullying and peer pressure are a part of every kid's life. Sometimes, we are the one feeling like we just don't fit in and sometimes we are the one trying to get others to be just like us. Often, we don't even realize that we are hurting someone else until it's too late. Hot Issues, Cool Choices is an excellent resource for school or other kids programs. The book contains scenarios where the main characters must make choices. Afterwards, kids are encouraged to question the actions of the characters. Did they make the right choice? What would you do? It is these questions that will get kids really thinking. Then, not only do they know that they have choices but that that how they react in such situations can really make a difference.

A Mom's Choice Awards Recipient!:
The Mom's Choice Awards® honors excellence in family-friendly media, products and services. An esteemed panel of judges includes education, media and other experts as well as parents, children, librarians, performing artists, producers, medical and business professionals, authors, scientists and others. A sampling of the panel members includes: Dr. Twila C. Liggett, Ten-time Emmy-winner, professor and founder of Reading Rainbow; Julie Aigner-Clark, Creator of Baby Einstein and The Safe Side Project; Jodee Blanco, New York Times Best-Selling Author; LeAnn Thieman, Motivational speaker and coauthor of seven Chicken Soup For The Soul books; Tara Paterson, Certified Parent Coach, and founder of The Just For Mom Foundation(tm) and the Mom's Choice Awards®. Parents and educators look for the Mom's Choice Awards® seal in selecting quality materials and products for children and families. This book has been honored by this distinguished award.