Review: Be Positive! by Cheri J. Meiners

SUMMARY FROM NETGALLEY.COM:

A sense of optimism is a key ingredient to success in life. Guide young children to develop a positive attitude and discover how the choices they make can lead to feeling happy and capable. This friendly, encouraging book on having a positive attitude introduces preschool and primary-age children to ways of thinking and acting that will help them feel good about themselves and their lives, stay on course when things don’t go their way, and contribute to other people’s happiness, too.
Being the Best Me! is a one-of-a-kind character-development series. Each book in the series helps children learn, understand, and develop attitudes and character traits that strengthen self-confidence and a sense of purpose. Children will relate to the engaging illustrations, real-life situations, and easy-to-understand examples. Each book focuses on specific attitudes or character traits—such as optimism, courage, resilience, imagination, personal power, decision-making, or work ethics. Also included are discussion questions, games, activities, and additional information adults can use to reinforce the concepts children are learning. Filled with diversity, these read-aloud books will be welcome in school, home, and childcare settings.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Cheri J. Meiners, M.Ed., has her master’s degree in elementary education and gifted education. A former first-grade teacher, she has taught education classes at Utah State University and has supervised student teachers. Cheri and her husband, David, have six children and two grandchildren. They live in Laurel, Maryland.
ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR:
Elizabeth Allen is an artist and professional illustrator of children’s picture books as well as a former songwriter and jazz musician. She has exhibited her art in galleries in the Midwest and on the East Coast. Elizabeth lives on a river running through a forest near St. Paul, Minnesota. 

MY TAKE:
I'm always on the lookout for great books that teach good values.

In Be Positive!, the boy in the story details the positive things he does each day.

It's not a rhyming book, but that's okay because it's tough to come up with rhymes for all the positive examples given. The illustration style isn't really my cup of tea, but I did like the coloring and rendering.

The last part of the book contains additional material like ways to reinforce the ideas in the book, discussion questions, as well as optimism activities and games for kids to try.

Thanks to NetGalley and Free Spirit Publishing for the e-ARC. Publication date of Be Positive! is on September 1, 2013.

THE GOOD:

1. It has a positive message.
2. There are activities at the back which kids can try.
3. Kids can discuss the book with their parents.

THE BAD:

1. The illustration style might not appeal to some.

FAVORITE QUOTE/S:

And when there is rain, wind, or snow,
I can find the positive in that, too!

READ IT IF:

1. You want to teach your child to be positive.
2. You want your child to read books with positive messages.
3. You like books you can discuss with your child.

RATING:


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