Age: Preschool-2nd grade

Words have power. They can build someone up or tear them down. Neal provides a very straightforward lesson about how words can transform a person for better or worse through two delightful line drawings of a girl and a cat. Simple illustrations full of emotion and feeling are juxtaposed against a stark white background that makes the images pop in a read-aloud setting.

The line repeated 5 times throughout the book is about your heart--"The little bit inside of you that makes you, you!"The repetition is perfect for a younger audience to make the idea stick and to use it throughout a classroom's curriculum.

Truly a sweet addition to any unit on bullying as young children begin to be more expressive through their words.