DON'T BEHAVE LIKE YOU LIVE IN A CAVE

An upbeat self-help book for elementary-school students lacking in self-control or having trouble with their social skills. Colorful, shiny pages filled with text boxes, speech bubbles and lists give unimaginative hints like, “treat others the way you’d like to be treated” and “relax” and “think before you speak.” The first half of the book encourages youngsters not to act like “cave boys and girls” (apparently, cave kids were thoughtless, rude, wedgie-delivering folks), but the second half drops this conceit and reads like a traditional self-help volume, complete with lists of goals, rewards charts and behavior contracts. Humorous cartoon illustrations help keep the tone light and nonjudgmental. The advice is sound, but some of the mnemonics (5GG4BB = Five great goals for better behavior) are confusing. It’s hard to imagine a child who will actively choose this, but teachers and parents who are struggling with a child with these issues might be drawn to it. This would be best if used in a therapeutic context where child and teacher, parent or therapist could discuss the contents together. (note to parents and caregivers, index) (Nonfiction. 7-13)