Patti Kelley Criswell

This primer from the folks at AmericanGirl does exactly what the title/subtitle say -- gives girls the tools on how to communicate effectively and compassionately in a variety of situations, ranging from a friend who loses a loved one to speaking with an adult who upset you to asking a parent for special permission to standing up to a teasing classmate.

The book is a mix of specific words that can be said in a very precise situation (e.g., If a quiet boy in your class throws up and classmates make fun of him, and then the teacher asks you to walk him to the office: "Don't feel bad. It could happen to anyone. It's not a big deal. Really.") and general advice, such as being confident, not mumbling, asking discussion-starting questions, and watching others' faces for warning signs on how to proceed in a difficult conversation. While I didn't always 100% agree with the very specific wordings, the general advice was definitely useful. These are lessons that not only do children need to hear, but honestly some adults may need reminders on these as well! Being polite and considerate go a long way in any interaction.

Knowing What to Say is peppered with brightly colored speech bubbles, illustrations featuring a fairly diverse set of girls, and unmissable pull-outs termed "BIG IMPORTANT POINT" (these contain tips like reporting sustained bullying and harassment). The overall effect is of an easily accessible book that is fun to read -- it draws the eye in much more than straight text with no break. I'd definitely recommend for young girls who are shy at finding their own voice or those who might need like a little smoothing of rough edges. And although the book has a target audience of girls, boys could benefit from reading it as well.… (more)