We have a huge love for books in our home. We have several bookshelves and baskets just full of them. Part of this derives from my love for books as a child and the inability to get rid of any of them, and part of it derives from when I was an elementary school teacher and had a large classroom collection for my students. My children of course enjoy having a wide variety of books to choose from, and I like the fact that we are instilling a love for reading at an early age.
When I was contacted by the We Do Listen Foundation to review their Howard B. Wigglebottom books, I just couldn’t resist! I immediately browsed through all of the books they offer and found myself wanting all nine of them! In the end, I chose two hardcover books, Howard B. Wigglebottom Listens to His Heart and Howard B. Wigglebottom and the Monkey on His Back: A Tale About Telling the Truth. Both books are written by Howard Binkow, the CEO of the We Do Listen Foundation.
The We Do Listen Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) Non Profit Corporation that creates entertaining, educational books, animated books, songs, lessons, posters, games and activities to help young children be better listeners, deal with bullies and violence, learn important life lessons and feel good about themselves. Based on the We Do Listen Foundation’s mission to “…enable children to enjoy inner peace and communicate in a more effective way,” I knew that the books we would receive would carry important messages that all three of our children could benefit from.
Howard B. Wigglebottom Listens to His Heart is an inspiring and delightful book about a bunny named Howard who one day decides to stop doing what he loves because everyone is making fun of him. He decides to try out all kinds of other activities in hopes of fitting in and making others happy. After failing miserably, and feeling even more alone, he is inspired by his grandfather to “listen to his heart,” and do what he loves best. Howard learns an important lesson to stay true to himself, and never compromise who he is for anyone or anything!
While this book is recommended for children ages five and up, my twin girls who are almost two still really enjoyed it. I know that they don’t understand the meaning behind it now, but they will as they get older. My nine-year-old son connected well with it, and said that it reminded him to always be himself no matter what.
Howard B. Wigglebottom and the Monkey on His Back: A Tale About Telling the Truth is a realistic and humbling book learning to tell the truth even when it’s hard. Howard continues to make bad decisions and then lies about it, because he thinks it’s the easy way out. However, lying makes him start to feel like he has a monkey on his back, and with each lie, the monkey gets bigger and bigger to the point where he can’t take it anymore. He finally decides to listen to his conscience and tell the truth. With each truth he tells, the monkey gets smaller and smaller. He feels so much better telling the truth and knowing that he can be trusted!
This book definitely hit home with my son. He had recently gotten in trouble for lying, so he could relate to the feeling of having a “monkey on your back.” After reading the book, we had a nice discussion about how telling the truth seems harder, but in the end it is so much easier than having to dig yourself out of a lie. I am looking forward to using this book as my girls get older. I think it will be a great resource to have!
All of the Howard B. Wigglebottom books come with “Suggestions for Lessons and Reflections,” that you can complete with your children after you read the books. There are also tons of FREE resources on the We Do Listen website that you should check out. They have animated books, lessons, posters, etc. that would be great to use, especially if you are a teacher!
If you would like to purchase any of the Howard B. Wigglebottom books, you can purchase directly from the We Do Listen Foundation for half-off publisher’s price, or from places like Barnes & Noble and Amazon.com.
If you would like to WIN your own autographed copy of Howard B. Wigglebottom and the Power of Giving: A Christmas Story by Howard Binkow, it is part of my “Children’s Christmas Giveaway Package” for the Coupon Cabin’s 25 Crazy Dayz of Giveawayz. Click here to head on over and enter to win it and a PlasmaCar!
