Everyone Matters: A First Look at Respect for Others by Pat Thomas

Summary: 
Children learn that having respect means treating everyone fairly. But there are some types of respect that each person must earn for themselves--by keeping promises, by being honest in what they say and do, and being polite and respectful to others. Most important of all, boys and girls learn that people who are different deserve just as much respect as close friends. This new title in Barron's growing series of A First Look at . . . books is written especially for preschool and early-grades children. Books in this series feature sensitively written stories that encourage boys and girls to explore their feelings, face new challenges in their lives, and talk to trusted elders about how to deal with things that bother them. The books feature child-friendly color illustrations on every page. An advice to parents section appears at the end of each book.

Activities:

Designate a special "Respect Week" and have students give sincere compliments to their classmates. Encourage them to keep a weekly journal of their behavior. The journal entries should include who they complimented, what they said, and the person's reaction to their compliment.


Talk about why respect is important. Ask students to answer questions like how do they show their classmates respect? How can they respect their teacher? How can they show their parents respect?



About the Author: 
Pat is a trained psychotherapist, naturopath and journalist. After working as a journalist and broadcaster in the USA, she now works in the field of child development and writes for various publications including 'Practical Parenting'.

Personal Response: 
I think this book is good for younger children. Respect is something important for all young children to learn, especially in a classroom setting.

Citation: 
Thomas, P., & Harker, L. (2010). Everyone matters, a first look at respect for others. Lafayette, LA:   Barrons Juveniles.