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Don't Be Afraid to Drop: A Picture Book About Growth Mindset and Trying Something New Paperback – Picture Book, January 7, 2021
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Give Kids the Courage to Face New Experiences
What happens when one little raindrop finds the courage to let go?
Way up in the sky, Hopp the raindrop is scared of change. Hopp loves playing with his friends, riding on clouds, and being happy with his safe, predictable life. But he soon learns that staying where he is limits the impact he can have on those around him.
"You have so many gifts to share with the world,
so many dreams to live.
Take a chance little man, let go of this cloud.
Discover the ways you can give."
Don't Be Afraid to Drop is a book for anyone who is at a transitional point in their life. From the kindergartener heading to school, to an adult nearing retirement, and everyone in between, this creative analogy provides all who read it with a positive perspective on change, taking risks, and giving back. There's so much good that can happen when we step beyond our comfort zones and try something new!
- Reading age5 - 10 years
- Print length32 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- Grade levelKindergarten and up
- Dimensions7.8 x 0.2 x 8.9 inches
- PublisherNational Center for Youth Issues
- Publication dateJanuary 7, 2021
- ISBN-101931636605
- ISBN-13978-1931636605
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.
Frequently bought together
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Bubble Gum Brain
Ready, Get Mindset...GROW! Meet Bubble Gum Brain and Brick Brain: two kids with two VERY different mindsets. This creative story teaches children (and adults) the valuable lesson that becoming is better than being, which can open the door to a whole new world of possibilities!
Don't Be Afraid to Drop
Hopp the raindrop is scared of change and is happy with his safe, predictable life. But he soon learns that staying where he is limits the impact he can have on those around him. Don’t Be Afraid to Drop is a book for anyone who is at a transitional point in their life that teaches kids about growth mindset and trying new things.
Failure Friday
When Emma finds out she made the school running club, she's excited...and nervous. She soon learns that she isn't very fast and thinks about quitting, until her teacher invites a guest to talk about failure. Emma is surprised to learn that failure isn't something to fear - it's actually something to celebrate on the road to success.
National Center for Youth Issues - Book Publisher
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Editorial Reviews
Review
I love everything Julia Cook writes, she has such talent in telling stories about social emotional issues while teaching lessons to parents and children. As a School Psychologist, I've read this book with preschoolers to 5th graders, and they have loved it. I'd recommend it to parents as well, who are looking to facilitate conversations about change. --Melissa Griffeth - School Psychologist, Instagram @thecalmingcornerschoolpsych
Hopp the raindrop is too worried to drop. It is something new and unfamiliar. This means change and he is afraid to leave the comfort of his home, family, and friends. Our students will be able to relate to Hopp's feelings and many will be able to recall a time they felt the same way. I can imagine lots of different conversations where students are sharing their feelings about change and the ways they handled their fear and were successful. So many great teachable moments here for individual, small group or classroom counseling lessons! --Jennie Maddox - School Counselor
About the Author
Julia Cook, M.S. is a national award-winning children's author, counselor, and parenting expert. She has presented in thousands of schools nationally and internationally, regularly speaks at education and counseling conferences, and has published children's books on a wide range of character and social development topics. The goal behind Cook's work is to actively involve young people in fun, memorable stories and teach them to become lifelong problem solvers. Inspiration for her books comes from working with children and carefully listening to counselors, parents, and teachers, in order to stay on top of needs in the classroom and at home. Cook has the innate ability to enter the worldview of a child through storybooks, giving children both the "what to say" and the "how to say it."
Product details
- Publisher : National Center for Youth Issues; Illustrated edition (January 7, 2021)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 32 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1931636605
- ISBN-13 : 978-1931636605
- Reading age : 5 - 10 years
- Grade level : Kindergarten and up
- Item Weight : 3.21 ounces
- Dimensions : 7.8 x 0.2 x 8.9 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #301,919 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #196 in School-Age Children Parenting
- #1,055 in Children's New Experiences Books
- #2,046 in Children's Self-Esteem Books
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
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Julia Cook, M.S.
With millions of books in print, Julia Cook is a former school counselor and teacher who never dreamed she could evolve into a national award-winning children’s author, parenting expert, and inspirational speaker. She now travels the world encouraging students and educators to become lifelong problem solvers. “There are so many ideas out there that need to be shared!” says Julia, who takes top research and creatively translates it into “kid language” that is both entertaining and engaging. Julia has the innate ability to enter the worldview of a child through picture books, giving children both the “what to say” and the “how to say it.”
Several years ago, Julia was searching for an effective story to teach children about the differences between tattling and telling. When she couldn’t find the right resource, she decided to write her own book – A Bad Case of Tattle Tongue. Over a decade later, she has published bestselling books with the National Center for Youth Issues, Boys Town Press, and the CDC. Cook’s ultimate goal: make a positive difference in the lives of people both young and old by teaching lifelong problem-solving skills.
Julia has been endorsed by organizations including the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Safe and Sound (a Sandy Hook initiative,) Childwatch of North America, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Childhelp, Darkness to Light, USA Volleyball, and The Alaska Department of Education. Cook’s research-based books have been referenced in outlets including Parent’s Magazine, The New Yorker, The Chicago Tribune, Military Spouse, Care.com, Yahoo.com, Drlaura.com, and Babyzone.com. She has also been featured on Hallmark Home and Family, CNN’s HLN News, and numerous metropolitan networks. She is the recipient of several book awards including The Association of Educational Publisher’s Distinguished Achievement Award, the National Parenting Seal of Approval, and The Mom’s Choice Award.
Julia frequently delivers entertaining and engaging keynote addresses at counseling, business and leadership, and character development conferences and has presented in thousands of schools both nationwide and internationally.
Bestselling Titles Include: My Mouth is a Volcano! (interrupting), Bubble Gum Brain (growth mindset), A Flicker of Hope (depression and youth suicide), Uniquely Wired (autism), Jumping Into Kindergarten (kindergarten preparation), The Judgmental Flower (appreciating differences/ building relationships), Foster Care (emotions related to being in foster care), But It’s Just a Game! (gaming addiction), Wilma Jean the Worry Machine (anxiety), But It’s Not My Fault! (assuming responsibility), Soda Pop Head (anger control), and I Can’t Believe You Said That! (using social filters).
Customer reviews
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Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find the book's message valuable and easy to understand. They appreciate the well-done illustrations and find it suitable for all ages. The topic helps readers remember to try new things.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers enjoy the book's message. They find it easy to read, with a valuable lesson and well-illustrated story that helps children conquer their fears. The topic is appreciated and helps them remember to give things a try.
"Good book with a good message. Our guidance counselor shared this book with our students as a way to tell them she was moving...." Read more
"...be afraid to drop!" It's become a buzzword and it helps him remember to give things a try." Read more
"...Great message and easy to read! Must book for anyone who struggles with stepping out into the unknown!" Read more
"...We bought this book because it has a valuable lesson. It is fun and well illustrated...." Read more
Customers appreciate the illustrations. They say the message is beautiful, and well-done.
"The artwork in this is beautiful. Such an improvement over the last edition. Love the happy faces and joy throughout. So well done...." Read more
"...to my clients to work on rhyming (as I had hoped I could), the message is beautiful: don't be afraid of change...." Read more
"Loved the illustrations in the book done by AnnaLaura Sullivan. The illustrations made the story so clear and easy to understand." Read more
"...It is fun and well illustrated...." Read more
Customers find the book suitable for all ages. They say it's a great story for anyone who needs encouragement.
"This story is perfect for all ages! I read it to my 2nd graders throughout the year with no complaints("You read that already!")...." Read more
"Delightful! Great story for anyone at any age who needs encouragement to face unknown changes in their lives." Read more
"Great book for young and old..." Read more
Reviews with images
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Great illustration and story for school children to conquer their fears.
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on June 19, 2021Good book with a good message. Our guidance counselor shared this book with our students as a way to tell them she was moving. As I listened to story, it helped me to finalize that it was time for me to retire!
- Reviewed in the United States on January 25, 2021The artwork in this is beautiful. Such an improvement over the last edition. Love the happy faces and joy throughout. So well done. Hope to see more with Cook and Sullivan. Great combination!
5.0 out of 5 starsThe artwork in this is beautiful. Such an improvement over the last edition. Love the happy faces and joy throughout. So well done. Hope to see more with Cook and Sullivan. Great combination!Great illustration and story for school children to conquer their fears.
Reviewed in the United States on January 25, 2021
Images in this review
- Reviewed in the United States on July 3, 2020I love this book. I read it to my sweet kindergarteners on the last day of school. Many qere having anxiety about the end of school and next year etc. With COVID 19 making it impossible for us to do our normal things I found this book to be a great fit.
- Reviewed in the United States on November 21, 2017The art is, disappointingly, sub par (the raindrops are digital with some facial expressions that don't match the text). The rhyming doesn't work-- rhythm is off and some of the words that are supposed to rhyme really just have the same middle vowel sound, are not actual rhyming words. That may not matter to some buyers, but I'm a pediatric speech-language pathologist who works with a lot of children who have phonological awareness trouble. Rhyming is one of the most basic skills in a hierarchy. This book was advertised as having rhyming text; with an eye to feedback, the author should instead describe her work as a book that "matches vowel sounds." Distinguishing vowel sounds is a phonological skill, but rhyming comes first. This book has only a handful of true rhyming pairs, so I cant use it for the purpose I intended. Also with an eye to feedback, if this book is re-written, it would flow better with more consistent meter: some of the text reads jerky-jerky, again, disappointing because it is advertised as a rhyming book (books which have consistent, predictable meter).
On the bright side, while I cannot read this book to my clients to work on rhyming (as I had hoped I could), the message is beautiful: don't be afraid of change. I am using it to help some of the children on my caseload prepare to move to new cities or homes. I am not a counselor, but it is definitely within my scope of practice to use books that help children practice expressive language to process their social pragmatic expectations and mindsets. For that, this little book is lovely for any speech-language therapist, counselor, or family.
- Reviewed in the United States on July 7, 2014This story is perfect for all ages! I read it to my 2nd graders throughout the year with no complaints("You read that already!"). My coworkers have borrowed it to read to their own high school graduates. My favorite Julia Cook book yet!
- Reviewed in the United States on July 3, 2017Another winner by Julia Cook. I bought this for my son who has mild anxiety. When I see him digging his heels in about something new or different that he doesn't want to try, I say "Don't be afraid to drop!" It's become a buzzword and it helps him remember to give things a try.
- Reviewed in the United States on November 27, 2012I really enjoy this book and the message that it sends to adults and children. With its lyrical movement of words gives the book a fun approach to trying new things, accepting changes, the positive attributes each person has to bring to others, and the emotions one might feel with the unknown and change. Great message and easy to read! Must book for anyone who struggles with stepping out into the unknown!
- Reviewed in the United States on April 29, 2021Loved the illustrations in the book done by AnnaLaura Sullivan. The illustrations made the story so clear and easy to understand.
Top reviews from other countries
- PGGReviewed in Canada on July 9, 2018
5.0 out of 5 stars Good Book
Good Book........wish my grandchildren would read books more then they do....too much techy stuff. They don't know the gratification of sitting down with a book.........wondering what will happen next........being excited to pick it back up and see what else is going to happen.....sort of sad I think. But it's still a good book, and I will keep encouraging them pick it up!
- choralsingerReviewed in the United Kingdom on February 28, 2014
4.0 out of 5 stars Julia Cook - Don't be afraid to drop!
I have now bought about half of Julia Cook's books. Beware that as an American counsellor/writer the book does contain some Americanisms, so best shared with a class, rather than children reading the text directly.
- Colleen BurkeReviewed in Canada on February 4, 2016
5.0 out of 5 stars This is a beautiful little story to help children gain courage to come ...
This is a beautiful little story to help children gain courage to come out of their comfort zone. It illustrates a wonderfully positive perspective on change and taking risks in life. I just love this book and highly recommend it!
Colleen