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.

A picture book with test-taking strategies to help the anxious student.

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!

Help Children with Worry and Anxiety

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.

Teach Kids About Being Dishonest and the Value of Telling the Truth

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.

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

Teaching children the concepts of personal space.

Louis is back! And this time, he's learning all about personal space. When Louis, the world's self-proclaimed space expert, is invited to Personal Space Camp by the school principal, he soon learns that personal space really isn't about lunar landings, Saturn's rings, or space ice cream.

Written with style, wit, and rhythm, Personal Space Camp addresses the complex issue of respect for another person's physical boundaries. Told from Louis' perspective, this story is a must have resource for parents, teachers, and counselors who want to communicate the idea of personal space in a manner that connects with kids.

Try something new and learn from your mistakes.

BECOMING is better than BEING.

I have Bubble Gum Brain. I like to chew on my thoughts, flex, bend and stretch my brain, and expand the way I think! I make great mistakes that help me learn.

I have Brick Brain. With me, things are the way they are...and they're probably not going to change much. I am the way I am...and that's just how it is.

Meet Bubble Gum Brain and Brick Brain: two kids with two VERY different mindsets. Bubble Gum Brain likes to have fun adventures, learn new things, and doesn't worry about making great mistakes. Brick Brain is convinced that things are just fine the way they are and there's not much he can do to change them, so why try?

When Bubble Gum Brain shows Brick Brain how to peel off his wrapper, Brick Brain begins to realize just how much more fun school...and life... can be!

This creative story teaches children (and adults) the valuable lesson that becoming is better than being, which can open the door to a whole new world of possibilities!

Ready, Get Mindset...GROW!!

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!

This is the heartwarming and illuminating story of Zak, a young boy living with autism who wants you to understand how he experiences the sights and sounds of the world around him.

Zak knows he's not quite like his siblings and classmates. Bright lights and big crowds send him into freak-out mode. Hugs make him uncomfortable, too. His atypical behaviors, from flapping his arms to spinning his body, seem so out of place. But for Zak, that's just how he copes.

Despite some peculiar behaviors, Zak's desires and disappointments are as ordinary as any child's. He loves watches; he hates being excluded. As Zak embraces life the only way he knows how, he teaches those around him important lessons about fairness, patience, curiosity and independence.

From the pen of award-winning author Julia Cook, Uniquely Wired is written for K through 6th grade students and all those who live, work, play or go to school with children on the autism spectrum or those who have other special needs.

Tips for understanding children who are uniquely wired are included at the end of the story.

Winner of the Mom's Choice Award

RJ's way of doing things isn't working out for him, especially in math class. His teacher is upset because so many of his assignments are missing or incomplete. RJ blames Norma the booger picker and Rodney the alphabet burper for distracting him during class. The fifth and final book in Julia Cook's award-winning series, Best Me I Can Be!

Follow RJ as he learns he can save himself a lot of grief if he stays on task and does things the right way!

Kids can relate to RJ as he learns to use his social skills and make positive behavior choices. Great for parents, teachers, and school counselors to teach important social skills and manners.

Praise for I Just Want to Do it My Way!

Great Tips to Help Our Children Succeed

"Julia never fails to give us language and tips to help our kids experience success. I Just Want to Do It My Way! and the character of RJ allows our kids to truly connect and reflect. RJ’s situation gives important strategies and hope to kids, educators and parents, and teaches us that social struggles can be resolved if we make small changes. This book is another tool to help our kids learn that finishing their work feels great, and they can make any situation positive if they try!" - Sarah Stine, Educator, The Cloverleaf School of Atlanta

Great author, great book!
"Julia Cook writes the best kids books ever!!! All the books in this set are so fantastic with a "moral" so the kids actually learn the consequences of their actions and alternatives they could take. My 10 year old loves reading them. He's a little behind on reading and has a few behavior issues and these are perfect for him---and most of the other kids in his class! Great stories, great illustrations. Thank you Julia; I hope you keep them coming!" - Janet B.

A Picture 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!

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.