I Just Don't Like the Sound of NO: Story for kids ages 5-8 about Accepting NO for an Answer

BEST ME I Can Be! #2

by Julia Cook, Kelsey De Weerd (Illustrator)

I Just Dont Like the Sound of No! My Story About Accepting No for an Answer and Disagreeing the Right Way! by Julia Cook. Published by Boys Town Press,2011, Paperback

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Counselling, School, Parenting, Pre K, Psychology

31 pages, Paperback

First published September 11, 2011

About the author

"In order to teach children, you must enter their view of the world."
~ Julia Cook

JULIA COOK, M.S. is a national award winning children’s author, counselor and parenting expert. She has presented in thousands of schools across the country and abroad, regularly speaks at national education and counseling conferences, and has published children’s books on a wide range of character and social development topics. The goal behind Cook’s work is to actively involve young people in fun, memorable stories and teach them to become lifelong problem solvers. Inspiration for her books comes from working with children and carefully listening to counselors, parents, and teachers, in order to stay on top of needs in the classroom and at home. Cook has the innate ability to enter the worldview of a child through storybooks, giving children both the “what to say” and the “how to say it”.

Reviews

[Maggie Mattmiller · Rating 5 out of 5]

GREAT book for teaching kids how to accept no, and also how to politely disagree! Highly recommend for home or classroom!

[Sadia Mansoor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love...love the book on how to teach a child patience, acceptance, tolerance and good behavior!
Recommended to all parents, teachers and educationalists!

Read this book here... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFlYf...

[Jena Cruse · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The cringe book” as one of my 5th graders called it. It does say for ages 4-6 but was still for sure applicable for that friend :)

[Kylie2018 · Rating 2 out of 5]

From his dad at the grocery story, his mum at home and his teacher at school, when RJ hears 'No' his response is always "how about maybe?". So his teacher suggests he join the 'Say Yes To No Club' (which is a whole class behaviour program run by the teacher). To become a member he must 1. accept no for an answer and 2. disagree the right way. If RJ learns to do both these things at school and home he can become an official member and go in the draw to win weekly prizes. Rj decides to do it. Later that day RJ accepts 'no' to extra recess from his teacher and 'no' to ice cream before dinner from his mum even though he is hungry. Before bed he asks him mum why he wasn't allowed ice cream even though he was hungry therefor disagreeing with his mum but still waiting to talk to her about it once he felt calm. From this RJ successfully becomes a member of the 'Say Yes To No Club' and wins his first weekly prize.

I felt a little uneasy reading this book to my boys as the motivation to 'accept no' was reliant on a class behaviour program which, while it could be adopted for the home, relies to much on extrinsic motivators. I would prefer to have seen the book explore others feelings, bigger picture (why no) and showing how accepting no in these circumstances helps groups work as a team, usually for a greater good as motivators. This book was a bit of a let down as I usually enjoy the books from the 'BEST ME I can be' series

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

We had a little incident in our classroom where I had asked a student not to take something out at recess. He put it back and then when I wasn't looking, snuck it out to play with anyway.

Luckily, we have a brilliant and resourceful librarian. I asked her if she had any books on this kind of situation and she came up with this one. I had the student take the book and read it and answer some questions:

What is this book about?
What is the lesson we learn in the book?
Why do you think I picked this book for you to read?

He and I then talked about what he had done and how relationships are strengthened when we are respectful towards one another.

Today I read the book to our class and we talked about it again. It was an opportunity to reinforce the lesson with the one student and to teach everyone else as well (without singling out this child, of course!)

[Lydia · Rating 2 out of 5]

The text focuses on giving children patience after someone has told them "no." I like the ideas of vary then answers that the young boy gives in the book. While "No" is certainly a response that is needed at times, it's helpful to provide young children with an explanation of why vs. simply saying no.

[Kerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of special needs children have difficulty accepting 'no' to their requests, in fact so do many children. This book is a great way to approach the subject with a young child. Ms. Cook outlines the right way to accept disappointment and to enter a discussion of why rather than arguing. The pictures are adorable and so is R.J. who features in number of Julia Cook's stories.

[Laura Filtness · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this book to use for a K student this year who had melt downs every time he heard the word "No." By the end of the year he would challenge me to say "no" just so he could show off his self control. Since my little ones have the hardest time with the word, I had to edit some of it.

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think the book goes too far in the direction of accepting no for an answer. Good premise, but it doesn't feel right to me.

[Briana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Main character RJ doesn't like the sound of NO so he has to work on it with help from school. Very focused and strategic social story!

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book and can see the benefit of using it with certain clients. I will definitely be using it with my own kids one day if necessary.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Learning to accept “no” and to appropriately disagree.

[Maddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a social skills book about a little boy who constantly says how he hates the word no, and argues every time someone tries to tell him it. He complains and complains and keeps hearing that same ol' word he hates so much! He can't understand why so many people use it, and when he says he hates the word no, the people around him seem to say it more and firmer! One day his teacher tells him about acceptance. I do not like it, but I will do it starts by simply responding with "Okay." Soon the boy finds that when he's agreeable and accepts when someone says no, he only has to hear that dreadful word once. Then later, after all this practice, he hardly hears the word no, and when he does, he starts to understand why instead.

[Maureen M]

This book is classified as fictional however, the scenario is realistic. The books targeted audience is children aged 3-7 years old. This is a very humorous story about the impact of ones’ actions. The illustrations humorously depict the somewhat exaggerated consequences of one’s actions. The CONTENT focuses on the following S/E skills and concepts. Self-Control and Self-Regulation. I would use this book during large group circle time to have a conversation about the word “No” discuss, give and gather their thoughts about hearing the word No and suggestions about proper ways to conduct themselves when they get that as a response from their peers, parents or other relatives.

[Andrés · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really like the first person perspective here. I felt like I was going through the day with RJ. The text feels didactic and very heavy-handed, e.g. "Becoming a Say Yes to No Expert really paid off for me." "'Say okay to the person, he's running the show...You can ask him why later, this is how you should be.", but it may help young elementary school teachers consider different ways to handle no from the authority figures in their lives. There's obviously a downside to always accepting "no" easily: over-compliance and lack of resilience / pride. So, the reader needs to judge if this book has the right message at the right development stage of your audience.

[Alissa Peanasky · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this would be a challenging concept for a lot of students. Learning how to disagree is important, but expecting them to wait hours to find out the reasoning why seems unreasonable. I love the concept of accepting no, but I think steps to help kids move on right away, and I don't think it's wrong to have adults explain their reasoning to students, and it can sometimes help prevent unexpected behaviors.

[Madison Shiflett · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book tells of a young boy, RJ, who doesn't like to be told no. Throughout the book he is learning to accept no for an answer. He even joins a club, to get better about listening to someone saying no. I think that this would be a great book to show young readers when they are having difficulties taking no for an answer or listening to directions. It would show them how appreciative others will be when you listen without arguing. Overall, I thought that this was a great book!

[Lauri Meyers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Neurodivergent child struggles to accept no for an answer, fighting, pushing, begging, and challenging. His teacher creates the "Say yes to no" club and explains the rules. Say okay, even if you disagree. Wait until later to ask the person why not. Be the best you can be. Accurate dialectical behavioral therapy approach, though the book may feel too didactic to children readers.

[Zahra tavakoli · Rating 2 out of 5]

داستانی دربارهٔ پسری به نام آرجی که تحمل مخالفت دیگران با خواسته‌هایش را ندارد. والدین آرجی و معلمش به او کمک می‌کنند تا این اخلاق خود را کنار بگذارد.
تصویرگری کتاب خیلی ضعیف است و در کنار مستقیم‌گویی‌های نویسنده، کیفیت کتاب را پایین آورده است. اما ممکن است برای بعضی بچه‌ها جالب و مفید باشد. به نظرم مناسب بالای پنج شش سال.

[Coco Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a good story that my 8 year old really enjoyed! Discusses how kids don't like being told no, but shows them how to accept no as an answer and the best way to respond when someone does say no.

[Peaches & Sunshine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great illustrations, examples of daily “no” responses, and storyline that shows some benefit to learning how to accept someone else’s “no.” This author does a good job teaching positive social-emotional behaviors (manners and considering others) in an approachable and rewarding way.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

great way to discuss with kids how to disagree and what other options are available other than "no".

[SB · Rating 5 out of 5]

Should be required annual reading from age three+ along with the rest of the books in this series.

[Brooke Holzbaur]

This book is a good way to teach children it's okay to hear no. This offers what to do when we don't like something.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this book of Cook's series, RJ learns how to accept it when someone tells him no. He learns to find ways to interact without arguing or yelling.

[Grade 3A · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's actually realy nice you have to read it . (Celena)

[Taleshjoo · Rating 3 out of 5]

از نظر انتقال مفهوم کتاب خوبی است..
اما چندان لذت بخش ممجوجان نیست..

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super helpful for kids to learn about listening.

[Launna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good, just what it sounds like.

[Pinky · Rating 3 out of 5]

RJ becomes part of the Yes to No club and gets his smelly markers.