Understand and Care

by Cheri J. Meiners

Empathy is key to positive, healthy relationships. This book builds empathy in children. In clear, child-friendly words and illustrations, it helps them to understand that other people have feelings like theirs—and different from theirs. It guides children to show they care by listening to others and respecting their feelings. Includes questions to discuss and empathy games to play. The Learning to Get Along® Series
The Learning to Get Along series helps children learn, understand, and practice basic social and emotional skills. Real-life situations, lots of diversity, and concrete examples make these read-aloud books appropriate for home and childcare settings, schools, and special education settings. Each book ends with a section of discussion questions, games, and activities adults can use to reinforce what children have learned. All titles are available in English-Spanish bilingual editions.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Friendship, Nonfiction

40 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Cheri has her master's degree in elementary education and gifted education. A former first-grade teacher, she has taught education classes at Utah State University and has supervised student teachers. She is the author of the award-winning children's series, 'Learning to Get Along', and the new series, 'Being the Best Me.' Cheri and her husband, David, have six children and three grandchildren.

Reviews

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Text to world connection

This book does a great job at teaching how to understand others and care about them. Although I would recommend this book mostly for preschool- kindergarten, I feel like it would be a good reminder to 1rst-fifth grade students for how we should treat each other. The book also stresses the importance of social cues and how we can use them to get along better. Books like this help make the world a better place by teaching something that I feel might be lacking all over the world today and that is empathy. We are often so worried about ourselves and what is going on in our lives that we might treat others poorly not because of anything that they did wrong but because of how we are feeling ourselves. This book addresses that in a very kid friendly way and also helps students relate to other people's problems by making them think of themselves going through the same problem. This is often difficult for children to do. We can tell children all day long that they shouldn't laugh at someone when they fall down but they will not understand unless they can truly relate to the person who fell down. They can do this either by remembering a time when they fell down themselves or imagining themselves in the same position. This book illustrates these scenarios for small children.

[Onnalee Lach · Rating 3 out of 5]

The main character of this book works on his empathy skills. He tries to understand how other people are feeling based on what they show on the outside. Beyond that, he asks questions to get a better understanding of how they're doing. The boy's end goal is to show that he cares for others by paying attention and thinking about them.

I gave this book three stars. It definitely is great for teaching empathy. Young children sometimes fail to recognize that other people have feelings just like them. This book will definitely help to teach that. The main character shares his understanding of empathy to teach the reader, which is nice about this book. His interactions demonstrate kindness and compassion. The book itself isn't very exciting, but it is worthwhile for its target audience of young children (4-8 years old).

[Suzanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

The whole "Learning to Get Along" series is written for use with young students. Even preschoolers and kindergartners can understand the illustrations and simply stated text. This title is good for covering simple manners and kindness to others.

[Ellie Dietzen · Rating 5 out of 5]

a simple book to show children how easy it is to understand and care when our friends are feeling certain ways. shows how children can think back and reflect on when they felt that way and when they wanted someone to care. great book. uses other races as characters.

[Heidi-Marie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Teaching ways for a child to learn to understand someone else. The writing and pictures make it feel like preschool, even though the pictures portray some school situations. I suppose would work with Kindergarten, but best one-on-one than in a group.

[Amy Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

My son said the book "helps understand how people feel.
How they care about other people
by helping each other. Like if someone fell
down and got hurt they would know how to
help." Great for helping kids with understanding feelings.

[Principle Based Learning]

(recommended by: Ashley B)
Click here for the full article on: More Than Just Fairytales

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of a set of books by Meiners that we have. They are great teaching tools for young children with real life examples and illustrations.
Enjoyed here!

[Alexandra Chauran · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was recommended by my kid's Montessori school teacher. The whole series has great art and simple language. I liked how this demonstrated empathy for a wide range of emotions.

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very good for the same reasons as all the other books in her series. I think I would love to teach a unit using her suggestions in the back of the book.

[Kelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aimed for younger children, this is a great book for teaching empathy & emotions. Plus it has some wonderful activities in the back to accompany it.

[Cheyenne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book to teach kids how to understand and care for others. This is a great series.

[Michelle Cropper · Rating 5 out of 5]

a great kids book to teach your child about other people's feelings