Teaching children how to manage their thoughts and words without interrupting.

Louis always interrupts! All of his thoughts are very important to him, and when he has something to say, his words rumble and grumble in his tummy, they wiggle and jiggle on his tongue and then they push on his teeth, right before he ERUPTS (or interrupts). His mouth is a volcano! But when others begin to interrupt Louis, he learns how to respectfully wait for his turn to talk.

My Mouth Is A Volcano takes an empathetic approach to the habit of interrupting and teaches children a witty technique to help them manage their rambunctious thoughts and words. Told from Louis' perspective, this story provides parents, teachers, and counselors with an entertaining way to teach children the value of respecting others by listening and waiting for their turn to speak.

Elementary school kids will identify with Noodle as he makes one excuse after another for his behavior and choices that lead to unwanted consequences. It just isn’t his fault that his brother’s game ran late, and he didn’t finish his homework. Or that his mom forgot to remind him to turn in his library book. By learning to accept responsibility he finds instead how to use mistakes as opportunities for problem-solving and to turn negatives into positives.

This first book in the new Responsible Me! Series, follows Noodle through a very rough day at school.

Kids of all ages can see themselves in Noodle and are able to relate to his thoughts, feelings, and emotions and he learns about taking responsibility for his actions.

Customer Review:

Most of Julia Cook's books state they are for 4-10 year old children. As the grandparent of a young teen with Asperger's, I'm here to say her books are usually the only way we can help him to understand whatever the current or new problem might be. We can talk about what he needs to say or do, but it seldom connects, as he will tune out and shut down during a parental lecture. These books have been a godsend. Speaking out of turn and/or interrupting... yep, there's one for that.Tattling, teasing, personal space, choices, responsibility, meltdowns, anxiety, worry, frustration, grief, attitude adjustment - one for each of those too. She has written so many wonderful, easy to read and comprehend, short books on social skills - the one trait so many Aspies share - I think we have purchased them all. Maybe she'll write a few books to help older teens and younger adults refine their social skills ... I'd buy them! - Vicki Cobb

A Book that Helps Kids Learn the Difference Between Tattling and Telling

No one likes "Josh the Tattler" because he tattles way too much. He tattles on his classmates, his brother, and even his dog! But one night Josh wakes up to find that his tongue is very long, yellow, covered in bright purple spots, and Itchy, Itchy, Scratchy, Scratchy...

Will a bad case of Tattle Tongue teach him a lesson?

A Bad Case of Tattle Tongue gives teachers and counselors a humorous, cleverly creative way to address the time-consuming tattling-related issues that often sap classroom energy and thwart teaching opportunities. Parents who "battle the tattle" at home, on the playground, in the grocery store, or anywhere else can use this book to both entertain and enlighten their children about "The Tattle Rules." Every adult who desires to help children understand the differences between tattling and the need to warn others about important matters needs this book!

Bertha Billingsworth (BB for short) is basically a happy person...until she has to take a test. To her, the word test stands for Terrible Every Single Time, because that's how she does on them...TERRIBLE!

"Whenever I see or hear the word test...

The hair on the back of my neck stands up.
My face turns as red as a beet.
I start to sweat, my stomach aches,
and I can't control my feet!

What if I get every answer wrong?
And I don't get any right.
I just know I'll get a bad grade on this test,
so I don't even want to try!"

BB's teacher comes to the rescue by inviting her to become a member of the Anti-Test Anxiety Society. She tells BB that TEST stands for Think Each Situation Through! She also ends up teaching BB the Dynamic Dozen (12 amazing test taking strategies), and convinces her to use her "GET TO" brain instead of her "HAVE TO" brain. Now when BB takes a test, she is calm and focused and thanks to her teacher, the Terrible now stands for Terrific!

"There goes Lester. Watch him fester.
His ears start to fizz. He gets mad as a griz.
His face turns red. He's a Soda Pop Head.
You just never know when Lester will blow.
His cap will go flying. If it hits you, you'll be crying,
so you'd better stay away from Lester today!"

His real name is Lester, but everyone calls him "Soda Pop Head." Most of the time he's pretty happy, but when things seem to be unfair his ears gets hot, his face turns red and he blows his top! Lester's dad comes to his rescue by teaching him a few techniques to "loosen the top" and cool down before his fizz takes control.

Soda Pop Head will help your child control his/her anger while helping them manage stress. It's a must for the home or classroom.

Meet Ricky! A cute little boy that just can't seem to figure out that stealing is wrong:

When I see something that I really want,
I think, "Hey, that could be mine!"
So I look both ways, reach out my hand,
and take it at just the right time.

If I ever get caught, I just pretend
that it wasn't me that took it.
A quick little lie is just what I need,
and lying helps me get through it!

Taking things that I want to have
at times can be very tricky.
But there's no way that I can help myself,
because all of my fingers are sticky!

Ricky learns first-hand what it feels like to have something stolen from him. Then he uses the "GOOD" inside of himself to overtake the "BAD" and returns the items that he took from others.

Finally, a book that confronts the issue of stealing and offers a strategy to curb the desire to steal! Through a fun and whimsical story, children will learn the concept of ownership and how it feels when someone doesn't respect what is yours. This book uses empathy in a powerful way to teach children that stealing is wrong.

A storm is brewing... Whenever Levi doesn't like the truth, he kinda, sorta makes up other stuff to say. One day his mother explains to him that telling lies will damage the trust of his friends and make him very sad.

Whenever you tell a lie, your inside sun goes away.
Then a lying cloud forms, and glooms up your day.
Each time you tell a lie, another cloud starts to form,
and before you can stop it from happening, your insides start to storm.

This book is a great resource to help children understand not only the consequences of telling a lie, but also how one lie can often lead to telling several more. It will help parents and teachers understand that lying can be a normal and sometimes healthy response for a child and offers tools to help guide children toward truthfulness.

Banish rude and insensitive comments at home and school by teaching kids in grades K-6 how to use a social filter.

RJ is a youngster who always says what he thinks no matter how it sounds or makes others feel. RJ doesn’t realize his words are sometimes insensitive. He thinks he’s just speaking the truth and offering feedback.

With help from his parents, he learns he doesn’t have to verbalize every thought that pops into his head. In fact, sometimes the less said the better! Join RJ as he discovers the value of thinking before speaking and realizes that with practice he can use a little self control to think before he speaks. He can give positive feedback, or none at all. If RJ can use his social filter, he won't offend or hurt the feelings of others with careless comments.

This book is the seventh in Julia Cook’s BEST ME I Can Be! series which teaches children social skills that can make home life happier and school more successful. The skills are part of the Boys Town Education Model that has improved student behavior and classroom climates in hundreds of schools across the country.

With RJ's help, K-6 readers will learn how to evaluate social situations and choose appropriate words to say. I Can't Believe You Said That! is an amusing tale with a message that teachers and parents will appreciate. The book also includes tips for developing your child's social filter.

Control your wiggles and be the BOSS of your ants.

In I Have Ants in My Pants, Julia Cook helps normalize the feeling many kids have when they struggle to control their wiggles and provides strategies for improving impulse control.

Some children just can't sit still no matter how hard they try. And Louis is no exception. He accidentally kicks his friend during story time. He can't stand still in the lunch line. And he wiggles in his seat at the movie theater.

Everyone keeps telling him he has ants in his pants, but Louis doesn't see any ants! Louis' mom explains that this means he wiggles a lot, and she teaches him a special tool, the Wiggle Dance.

Wiggle and jiggle.
Jump up and down.
Shake your hands
and turn around.

Take a deep breath.
Scrunch up your nose.
Wobble your knees
and wiggle your toes.

With a little practice and a few helpful tools, Louis learns that he can calm his wiggles and become the boss of the ants in his pants!

Learning rules is tough, and following rules is even tougher! Does your child think he is exempt from rules? Or does she have an excuse about why she doesn't need to follow the rules? Noodle sure does!

Noodle is having a rough couple of days. The rules keep getting in the way of his fun! Rules for this and rules for that. There are so many rules - too many rules!

Rules stink!

Noodle struggles because he doesn't think rules actually apply to HIM! Can't he just have a rule-free day? Author Julia Cook's very popular book in the Responsible Me! series will have readers in stitches as Noodle describes all of rules he deals with daily.

Will Noodle's mother and teacher convince him that rules are meant to help, not harm, him?

Whether you are a parent, counselor, therapist, teacher, psychologist, or just someone who spends a lot of time with kids and wants to teach them manners, this book is here to help!

This book makes a great gift for children with behavioral disorders or boys and girls who might feel they are above the law. It's also a great tool for teaching children ages 7 through 10 important values, like how to respect themselves, respect others, and respect property, and that there really are benefits to having rules!

The whole Noodle series of children's books is great for teaching social-emotional learning, and how to manage emotions and regulate behavior.

"My stomach feels like it's tied up in a knot.
My knees lock up, and my face feels hot.
You know what I mean?
I'm Wilma Jean,
The Worry Machine."

Anxiety is a subjective sense of worry, apprehension, and/or fear. It is considered to be the number one health problem in America. Although quite common, anxiety disorders in children are often misdiagnosed and overlooked. Everyone feels fear, worry and apprehension from time to time, but when these feelings prevent a person from doing what he/she wants and/or needs to do, anxiety becomes a disability.

This fun and humorous book addresses the problem of anxiety in a way that relates to children of all ages. It offers creative strategies for parents and teachers to use that can lessen the severity of anxiety. The goal of the book is to give children the tools needed to feel more in control of their anxiety. For those worries that are not in anyone's control (i.e. the weather) a worry hat is introduced. A fun read for Wilmas of all ages!

Includes a note to parents and educators with tips on dealing with an anxious child.

'No' is RJ's least favorite word...and he tries his best to turn every 'No' into "Maybe" or "We'll see." Even though he doesn't have much success, RJ keeps arguing until his teacher suggests he try to join the Say YES to NO Club. If RJ can learn how to accept 'No' for an answer and to disagree appropriately, he can add his name to the club's Star Board.

Author Julia Cook helps Kindergarten through 6 grade readers laugh and learn along with RJ as he understands the benefits of demonstrating these social skills both at home and in school. This book is the second in Julia Cook's BEST ME I Can Be! series which teaches students that socials skills can make home life happier and school more successful.

A great gift for teachers, school counselors, and parents to help put an end to arguing or negotiating with kids by teaching them how to accept "No" for an answer.

Praise for I Just Don't Like the Sound of No!

An Insightful Story

"Julia Cook understands the hearts and minds of children, and their struggles to develop appropriate social responses. Her books tell a story with fun and imagination. Julia makes addressing bad habits an exciting adventure for growing and changing, for becoming emotionally and socially healthy young people!" - Diana Waggoner, Executive Director, The Kim Foundation

Love the Creativity of this Book!

"Julia Cook does it again! She uses her creative ideas to teach kids the skills they need to grow socially. This book teaches all people how to accept “No” for an answer in a non-threatening way. I’m excited to add this to my counseling library. Finally, the Boys Town Social Skill model is being brought to life and all of us will benefit from it." - Laurel Klaassen, M.A., School Counselor