Catherine NewmanWhat Can I Say?: A Kid's Guide to Super-Useful Social Skills to Help You Get Along and Express Yourself; Speak Up, Speak Out, Talk about Hard Things, and Be a Good Friend

I love this book!I love the way it looks! Great colors. Fun, appealing illustrations.I love the way it feels in my hands (is that too weird?) Flexible but sturdy cover. Smooth paper.Most of all I love the easy to follow steps that will help kids of all ages and social style interact with others in a kind, polite, respectful way while still being true to their own feelings and needs.This will be super helpful for younger children through middle school and it would be great for teens and those going off to college. I mean, things like "how to comfort someone," "how to express empathy," and "how to break up with someone," are useful at any age.

My 10-year-old is totally engaged with this book. She said she's finding it helpful for many everyday situations and scenarios she expects to encounter. She loves the colorful graphics, and she appreciates the author's age-appropriate humor. She reads aloud the little "nerd facts" sprinkled throughout the book. I took a look myself and am impressed. The author dispenses wise advice and helpful scripts for sticky situations while helping kids stay true to themselves. Often there's more than one right answer, which is refreshing. Many of the lessons here--"how to listen,""how to compromise," "how to apologize," "how to be an ally"--are ones any reader can use for life. Happy we purchased this one!

Once again, Catherine Newman and Debbie Fong present incredibly useful, inclusive content with humor, honesty, and vulnerability. This book is a treasure chest, full of specific and easily applied examples of how to show up for yourself and your entire community, how to survive awkwardness, and how to actually make the world a better place for everyone one interaction at a time. I started the book when my 11 yo gave me the quizzes (so funny and always on point), and have now read it cover to cover. I feel not only more prepared but also inspired “to people” than I have in a long time!

I like that the book has clear instructions. It gives me a chance to talk with my kid.

My eleven year old was the first to grab this book when it arrived, and has scolded me several times for losing her page when i pick it up. It's advice for what to do in situations that might seem easy, like running into someone you recognize in public. But so many kids (and adults, TBH) struggle and end up literally hiding to avoid such interactions. Catherine is hilarious and extraordinarily empathetic in her advice. I ordered a stack of additional copies to give out for all the sweet, awkward middle schoolers in my life. I hope they'll also be read by all the sweet, awkward teens and adults who love them.

I love the illustrations and the idea of this book to help my AuDHD son with basic communication. However, he doesn’t need a book that focuses so much around romantic relationships and LGBTQIA+ issues at his age. Maybe that is what some families are looking for? I wish I had read reviews first! Lesson learned.

I loved this book! Cute art; accessible design; warm and funny writing; kind, humanistic view of the world and all who populate it. I have a 17-year-old—a bit older than the book's official target audience of middle-grade readers—who is autistic...and YAY, WHAT a helpful resource! Easy to read and understand for those who often miss social cues and WANT to connect. I've recommended it to tons of other folks with autism and their loved ones as well as to all my family members with grade-schoolers/tweens. SO GOOD. If everyone read What Can I Say, we'd live in a much sweeter, safer, more communicative world.

I love this book! I wish it had been around when I was this age, and when I was describing it to a friend she said the same thing. I think my socially awkward kid would have really benefited from this book when he was younger. As I was explaining the premise to my 16 and 19 year olds and saying I wish it had existed when they were younger, they both told me that they thought it still might be helpful for them now, so I bought it, and they were right! Catherine Newman’s work has helped me through every stage of parenting, and this book is no exception. Highly recommend!