I Just Want to Do It My Way! My Story about Staying on Task and Asking for Help

BEST ME I Can Be! #5

by Julia Cook, Kelsey De Weerd (Illustrator)

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. With support from his mom and dad, RJ learns how to ask for help and stay on task. By learning how to do things the right way the first time, RJ discovers he no longer has to do his work over and over and over again.


Share this story with children who have difficulty staying focused long enough to complete assignments or who insist they have a better way to do things! Kids in grades K through 6 will learn strategies to tackle a task, ignore distractions, and ask a teacher or other adult for help to get the job done to completion.


This storybook is the fifth in Julia Cook’s BEST ME I Can Be! series which teaches children that social skills can make home life happier and school more successful. Tips for parents and educators on how to teach kids self-control, patience, how to ask for help, and staying focused included at the end of the picture book.


The series also

Genres: Childrens, Picture Books, Fiction, School, Parenting

31 pages, Paperback

First published January 22, 2012

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

[Théo d'Or]

A short collection of memories of Frank Sinatra Jr. When I'II write mine, I'II do it MY way.

[Kerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I laughed loudly and often as I read this story for the first time. I am a fan of R.J. but I have to say I think I like this story about R.J. the most. I cracked up about Norma the Nose Picker and Rodney who could burp the alphabet - the kids I work with will love them. I can hear the eeewwwwwww's already. But the message about paying attention, asking for help and getting things finished is strong all the way through. Loved it.

[Elizabeth Day · Rating 4 out of 5]

Visiting my dad’s school for practicum and we read this book. It was a good story that followed an arc and used good vocabulary. I liked that most of it was non-rhyming and some of it was rhyming. This is weird, but I feel like the title was only minorly relevant to the story. Either way, it was a good story to help the kids learn to focus on their tasks. We referred to it mant times during the day and it really helped the kids.
(G rating)

[معصومه توکلی · Rating 2 out of 5]

عنوان ترجمهٔ فارسی: دلم می‌خواهد هر کاری دوست دارم بکنم!

[Reyhaneh br]

مامان پرسید: «نمی‌خواهی یا نمی‌توانی؟»
«هر دو!»


ترجمه: سینا امینی
نشر: نردبان

[Atiyeh]

I Just Want to Do It My Way! is a delightful and insightful children's book by Julia Cook, part of her BEST ME I Can Be! series. Aimed at children in grades K through 6, this story follows RJ, a young boy who struggles with staying on task and often insists on doing things his way. Through RJ's experiences, the book teaches valuable lessons about focus, responsibility, and the importance of asking for help when needed.

Story Overview

In the narrative, RJ faces challenges in completing his assignments, particularly in math class. He often blames his classmates, like Norma "the booger picker" and Rodney "the alphabet burper," for distracting him. With guidance from his parents, RJ learns strategies to stay focused, ignore distractions, and seek assistance when necessary. By adopting these approaches, he discovers that completing tasks correctly the first time reduces the need for rework and leads to greater satisfaction.

Themes and Educational Value

The book effectively addresses common issues children face, such as maintaining attention and seeking help. It provides practical strategies for tackling tasks, managing distractions, and understanding the value of asking for assistance. These lessons are crucial for developing self-regulation and problem-solving skills in young readers.

Illustrations

Kelsey De Weerd's illustrations complement the story beautifully, capturing the emotions and challenges RJ faces. The expressive artwork enhances the narrative, making it more engaging for children and helping them connect with the story's themes.

Reception

Educators and parents have praised the book for its relatable content and practical advice. It is considered a valuable resource for teaching children about focus, responsibility, and the importance of seeking help when needed. The book's inclusion in the BEST ME I Can Be! series underscores its alignment with social skills development and character education.

Conclusion

I Just Want to Do It My Way! is a highly recommended read for children facing challenges with focus and task completion. Its engaging story, practical lessons, and supportive illustrations make it an excellent tool for parents, educators, and caregivers aiming to instil important life skills in young readers.

[Felicia Gist · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about a little boy named RJ - he likes doing things his own way. RJ needed help with his assignments, and he didn't know how to ask for it. He had a hard time completing his assignments because he didn't like the subject or he wasn't interested in doing his work at the present time - he wanted to do things his way. Children are sometimes easily distracted, so teaching them tools to focus and stay on task will help them in class. If things aren't working out, we may have to change our routines or tweet it a little. RJ was behind on turning his assignments in, but he learned that he couldn't always do things his way so he decided to change his behavior and complete and turn his work in on time.

[Sara Bushaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had an amazing theme, which really addressed a problem in todays society. This book teaches the reader that you can't always do/get something you want, or do it the way you want. With the help of RJS parents and teachers, he realizes his way of doing things is not always correct. Rather his way may make things harder than they need to be, he just needs to be open/listen to other ideas.

[Zahra tavakoli · Rating 2 out of 5]

داستانی دربارهٔ پسری به نام آرجی که در کارهایش بی‌نظم است و از درس عقب مانده ولی با کمک والدین و معلمش می‌تواند این مشکلات را حل کند.
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.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

RJ doesn’t turn in his math homework because he gets drawn off task by others and doesn’t like to ask the teacher for help. But with the help of his teacher and his parents, RJ is able to change his ways.

[Jorge Pigeon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think my mom enjoyed this book more than me. It started out with her liking RJ's quirky habits. But then it got serious for her because it went in how & when to ask for help, something she struggles with. As a fantastic pigeon I will always continue to do things my way!

[SB · Rating 5 out of 5]

Should be required annual reading for children and parents from age three up along with the rest of the books in this series.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

RJ learns how much easier life is when he focuses on his math assignments and asks his teacher for help.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

With parent help, a child stays on task.

[Lara Bate · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book to teach children how to ask for help and stay on task to get their work done.

[Lisa]

I

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great message, but pretty juvenile read. Too young for our 5th graders.

[Theo P · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is the best book of them all! RJ figured out so much stuff! There was so much learning that I give it FIVE STARS! (Well, I would have given it 4.6 stars, but I had to round it up to 5.)

[Briana · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like what this book attempts to do by explaining why some kids avoid homework and independent work. it just seemed like it was trying to teach too much in one storyline. Social skills group might get a little lost without several rereads.

[Pinky · Rating 3 out of 5]

RJ learns how to stay on task for his math quiz.

[Mary Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was my introduction to Julia Cook's "Best Me I Can Be!" series, and I'll backtrack to read the four earlier books. Our local library can't keep them on the shelf!

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book for a young boy that has trouble completing work at school and staying on task!

[mRose · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a bit repetitive but for my ADD son this was helpful. He really liked it and thus the rating. As a non-ADD parent, it was overdone lol. But it's not for me, huh?

[Shannon Stava]

Great