Forgive and Let Go!: A book about forgiveness

by Cheri J. Meiners, Elizabeth Allen (Illustrator)

For young children, learning to forgive—when they’ve been let down or had their feelings are hurt—can take time. Help children develop their forgiveness skills and learn how to accept an apology and move on without holding grudges. At the same time, encourage children to let go of disappointment and to accept when things don’t go the way they hope. Back matter includes advice for teaching forgiveness at home, at school, and in childcare.

Being the Best Me!® Series
From the author of the popular Learning to Get Along® books comes a one-of-a-kind character-development series. Each of the first six books in the Being the Best Me! series helps children learn, understand, and develop attitudes and positive character traits that strengthen self-confidence and a sense of purpose. Each book focuses on a specific attitude or character trait—optimism, self-esteem, assertiveness, resilience, integrity, and forgiveness. Also included are discussion questions, games, activities, and additional information for adults. Filled with diversity, these social story books will be welcome in school, home, and childcare settings.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

40 pages, Paperback

First published May 15, 2015

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

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Because my son has a hard time with saying sorry and is known to hold a grudge the second I saw this one on *Netgalley I knew I had to request it.


Forgive and Let Go shows situations where children may become angry because of something another person does. It emphasizes that saying your sorry is important learning to forgive people for making mistakes even if they fail to apologize.

I appreciated this book for the message it was teaching. I love that it validated children's feelings when others do things that hurt/bother them. But it also taught that you have to let things go and forgive others. The pictures did a good job representing the different situations that were brought up.

I might have to read this to my son a few more times to help reinforce the message to him but he seemed to understand what the book was trying to say. I think though we will still have a hard time getting him to say he is sorry.

I would say this was a 4 out of 5 stars.






*I received a free copy of this ebook from Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion
**This book was read with my special needs son who is severely learning disabled. The review reflects not only my opinion but his as well

[Theediscerning · Rating 4 out of 5]

The voice-over of a child who monologues with us his attitude to forgiveness – that he can let it slide if someone knocks into him, or is rude and then apologises – or even clobbers him with a baseball pitch and doesn't say anything about it. The artwork is fine, but still on a level suited to this being for a young audience, and while the child's voice is a touch too goody-goody and unrealistic, perhaps, it's only what we ought to have these books aspiring to, and refrains from going over the top.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strategies for forgiving and letting go in different scenarios. Tools and tips for working with kids on this subject are found in the back.

[D Fichera · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good way to discuss forgiving in several situations and who you could talk to.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid 3.5. As an elementary school counselor, I was looking for a book at my library that discussed forgiveness, and this was helpful. I can definitely see myself using this in my work.

[Autumn · Rating 4 out of 5]

We received this book via NetGalley to give an honest review.

I requested this book because when I read the title I thought K might need to read this book or at least have it read to him. He is at the age that he either doesn't like to forget what someone has done to him or he doesn't want to forgive them and he holds a grudge. Which I don't want him to do.
With Forgive and Forget I enjoyed how it showed in the pictures different things that could happen to you but then it described that if this happens YOU can choose to forgive or let things go. One example that happens in our home is my daughter who is 2 tears up her brother's legos which he gets very upset about and wants to retaliate. I have to remind him that he can put them back together it is not a big deal. And in the book we see a picture of a brother knocking down some blocks and instead of getting upset he realizes that there is no need as the problem is not very important. And with that I had to let K know you see there is no need to get upset over something so little.

I thought it was great that there were different situations within the story and what you can do to make them not so big and how to work them out. This is a good book to read to young kids that understand what is going on around them with their feelings and actions towards others. I have noticed a slight change with how K approaches things that happen to him. He isn't quick to lash out with anger, so maybe this book did get through to him.

[Emmaline MacBeath · Rating 5 out of 5]

SUMMARY: This book is told in first person by a boy who is learning how to control his anger and frustration and how to forgive others. When someone does something wrong against him, he speaks to that person when he can and tells them how he feels. Even when the other person does not apologize for a wrong, he is learning how to forgive because it makes himself feel better.

ILLUSTRATIONS: The illustrations appear to be digitally created. They are colorful and full of expression and life. There are a variety of children of different races represented.

REVIEW: I enjoyed this book very much. It covered the subject of forgiveness from several angles. It discusses the anger felt when someone does something wrong to you and reasons why the boy would want to let go of that anger. It discusses how forgiving others is good for yourself not just the other person. The language is simple for even the youngest learners. And there are four full pages of questions and activities in the back that can be used by teachers and parents alike.

AGE RECOMMENDATION: Advertized for ages 4-8

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book from Free Spirit Publishing through Net Galley for an honest review. My reviews are always 100% honest based on preset criteria.

[Elaine - Splashes Into Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aimed at youngsters aged 4 to 8 years old, this book tries to help children understand that when someone does or says something wrong to them, forgiving them doesn’t change what happened but it can change themselves. It encourages children to choose to be kind to each other and seek the good in others rather than holding grudges or negative attitudes. There are a variety of situations cited and discussed with illustrations that enhance the understanding of events and will also help prompt discussions.

After the children’s portion of the book, there is an adult section containing advice on how to use the book with children and suggesting “Ways to Reinforce the Ideas in Forgive and Let Go!” These could be useful for parents or teachers with strategies to reinforce the message and help embed these attitudes. The world would be a much better place if more children grow up willing to forgive and let go - it is also quite a lot of adults would benefit from, too!


Thanks to the author, publishers and NetGalley, too
for letting me read an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Forgive and Let Go is another installment in the Being the Best Me series. This one gives everyday examples of reasons why a child might get angry, hurt, or frustrated with someone. Perhaps there is an argument over a toy, or a block structure that was carefully built is knocked down; there are so many things that happen in a typical day that could make a child upset. But the book also talks about how to forgive and let the situation and negative feelings go. I like the fact that the child narrator is honest enough to admit sometimes he is the one at fault, and to tell how he might apologize or make up for it. I also like the diversity of the characters in the illustrations.

As with all the books in the series, this one also has several pages of ideas for parents and caregivers to help reinforce the concepts in the book - discussion questions, games and activities. This would be a handy book for preschools, elementary schools, and families.

I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley.

[Sarah - All The Book Blog Names Are Taken · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I've read others in this series and would certainly use this one in my class for Social Skills as well. I like that it really puts the focus on the person who can do the forgiving, and also points out that some people will choose to not apologize, but they can still be forgiven. Even my older ones - 6th graders - need this reminder, especially when they are dealing with younger students. I like that it expresses that forgiveness is something that is done both for you and the other person, and can make you feel better about the situation. The hardest thing for my BD students is just letting something go, not dwelling on it. We might read this one several times. I found some of the accompanying activities helpful also, as they provided great conversations starters and allowed for student to think about the situations for themselves. Nicely done.

[Lindsey Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Forgive and Let Go! follows a child through a few scenarios in which he learns to forgive people for doing something wrong to him (being mean, not sharing, hitting him with a baseball on accident). He explains how forgiveness is healthy for you and good for the other person. A section at the end of the story has recommendations for reading the story to children, questions you can ask, and six activities to reinforce the habits taught in the book. As a social worker, I would use this as a tool for helping teach small children health conflict resolution skills.

NOTE: I received an ARC copy of this book on NetGalley. I received no incentive to read or review this book other than said copy of work. The review below contains my own thoughts and opinions. Special thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the free copy.

[Angel Wilde · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book for the purpose of an honest review from NetGalley.
"Forgive and Let Go" is much more than a children's book. It's a resource and tool that can be used in so many settings. I will definitely be adding it to my Storytime collection. I can see the book being used in therapy, classrooms, parenting and more.
Besides the story itself which gives a child scenarios of why it is so much better to forgive and move on, this book has tips, definitions and exercises in the back.

[Angel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great intro book for learning to forgive and let go. I do feel to get the most from the book, utilizing the activity and reinforcement ideas at the back is very important. Forgiving and apologizing can sometimes be hard, the activities should help with the words to use and how to approach. Beautiful illustrations. This is a fantastic series!! Reviewed through Netgalley for Free Spirit Press for an honest review.

[Chinook · Rating 3 out of 5]

A useful book to help children walk through negative feelings that provides strategies to feel more positive. Lots of helpful guidance questions and activities at the back. I'm not sure I agree with the step regarding imagining a person apologizing.

[Simone · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book because it taught me a lesson.

[♛primadonna♛ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.